Callen's birth

Callen's birth was easy, smooth, and actually very enjoyable for Nick and I. I had been having false labor and painful contractions for a week before the final day. It was horrible and it made that last week a nightmare and super stressful. I felt like I could have the baby any minute! When I finally started having regular contractions on Jan 25th (after spending all morning walking around Ikea) I was so excited.  Of course labor had to start at the busiest time of day...4 o'clock. I had just woken up from a nap and all the kids needed me for something and I had to make dinner. I was having super bad contractions while trying to help Scarlett with math. She was very concerned but I told her it would all be okay. Nick came home and I told him that I was in labor. We loaded the kids off on Emily around 7:30 and then Nick and I timed contractions. I finally said it was time to go to the hospital at 8:30ish. Of course when we got to Henderson Hospital my contractions slowed down. I got nervous going into labor/delivery and have them send me home or have them keep me, give an epidural and then have labor really slow down. So we walked around the hospital grounds for almost an hour until my contractions became regular. I got into triage at 9:30 and I was dilated to 5cm. I quickly got an IV and then a while later got an epidural (which ended up being amazing. I had no back pain later and was able to really enjoy my labor) . My doctor was in the hospital for a c-section so he came and broke my water. Just 30 minutes later and after just about 5 minutes of pushing sweet baby Callen came into the world. 

born 12:30 am

weighing 6 pounds 7 ounces

20 inches long

They immediately put him on my chest as they dried him all off.  I was shocked, as everyone else was too, at how much hair he had. He didn't cry right away and it made me a little nervous but then they suctioned him out and he let out a wail. That first cry is always such a relief. He looked perfect, sounded perfect, and was perfect!! I had been carrying such an anxious/nervous/fearful weight on my shoulders this whole pregnancy. I was so afraid something horrible would happen and with that first cry I finally felt relief! I just looked at him with such amazement. He was here and safe and I was safe and everything would be okay. 

Callen was a name that Nick had loved my whole pregnancy. I went back and forth with it but when I saw Nick hold him for the first time I knew and how much he loved him I knew his name needed to be Callen. Martin is a family name on my side. Martin Williamson was my Dad's grandfather, who in 1846 crossed the plains with a handcart. He was just 20 years old and would settle in Lake View, UT by Provo. My grandma Margret was not born until he was 75 years old and all Martin wanted was to live to walk her kindergarten. He was able to and he passed away just 2 weeks before my grandma turned 6. My grandma was an actual daughter of a pioneer! Martin had such a unique story that I really wanted Callen to have his name. So there you have it ... Called Martin and we call him Cal. 

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