This one is for you, Emmett!

Here is a written and pictured record of Emmett's and our first week.  Click on the collages to enlarge.

1 day old
Monday, August 15

Today we got to experience hospital life--which is busy!  Someone seems to be knocking on the door every 10 minutes.  We spent the day napping, nursing and marveling over every little part of you--from your little tongue to the sweet hair on your ears to your long toes!  You love to suck on your fingers--sometimes one, sometimes two.  Your neck is so strong for such a little guy, and as always, your eyes are open wide and bright when you aren't sleeping.  All the nurses comment on how alert you are.  The nurses are taking good care of all of us as we recover and adjust to this new phase of life.  Today we filled out the paper work for your birth certificate, so it is official that you are Emmett Clark Schmutz.  How we love you!

2 days old
Tuesday, August 16

Last night you weren't quite as quiet as you were the first night, but maybe you were just excited about the big day ahead!  We spent the morning finishing up paperwork and meeting with various people at the hospital.  Today I put you in your "going-home" outfit that Aunt Beth gave you.  Even though it is a newborn size, it still looks so big on you!  You looked even tinier but oh-so-handsome as we buckled you in your car seat and headed home.  I think we were all relieved to be home with a little more space to move around and far fewer interruptions.

This afternoon Uncle Vaughn and Aunt Margaret came to see you.  They were so excited and drove all the way from Charlotte just to meet you and hang out for the evening.  They also took lots of adorable pictures of you, which I love.  Everyone just thinks you are the most beautiful newborn they've ever seen.

Late that night, Dad went to the airport to pick up Grandma and Aunt Beth.  How exciting!  They were so thrilled to meet you and love you.  I'm glad we get to spend the week with them.

3 days old
Wednesday, August 17

We were all a little lazy this morning and spent the time taking turns holding and snuggling you.   That afternoon you had your first outing, which was to no other place than Pelican's Snoballs.  Even though you are just a few days old, we have got to expose you to all our favorite places in town.

Tonight Grandma gave you your first bath.  You didn't hate it, but I'm not sure that you loved it either.  You sure made a lot of funny faces, and we all made a fuss over you as we packed in the bathroom to watch. 

4 days old
Thursday, August 18

Today was a big day!  We had your first doctor appointment this morning at 10:30 a.m.  This visit also included our first public nursing experience as we waited in the lobby!  You were a trooper at the visit and are doing everything and growing just as you should be!
After our appointment, we stopped home to pick up Grandma and Beth and then headed downtown to Scratch for lunch.  Boy, was that some delicious food!  We ate an amazing spaghetti squash salad, heirloom tomato sandwich, empanada and Spanish tortilla.  And the desserts were even better!  We enjoyed our coffee cake and doughnut muffins immensely and then had to take the four slices of pie home because we were so full!

 After lunch we went up to Lindsay's house.  She was kind enough to take some pictures of you so I can always remember how sweet and tiny you are as a newborn.  Taking pictures of newborns is a lot of work, and she did a great job [pics to come on their own post].  I am so grateful for her kindness and generosity because the pictures she took mean so much to me.  I already feel like you change and grow so much every day!  It makes me eager to savor every moment I have with you.
Tonight Dad had to go back to work.  His co-workers have done a great job of putting him on call and helping cover his shifts so he could spend lots of time with you, but we all knew that eventually he would have to return! 

5 days old
Friday, August 19

We had a quiet morning to recover from our big day yesterday.  We (mostly Grandma) worked on the nursery which is going to be so darling when it is all finished!  We ventured out this afternoon to run a number of errands.  The errands wore Mom out a bit, but you were amazing!  You slept straight through 4 hours of errands and a delightful dinner at Firebirds.  All that sleeping made it possible for the rest of us to really enjoy our delicious onion rings and coconut shrimp.
You have been a good little sleeper at night, too!  So far you've been eating around 10:30 p.m., 3:00 a.m. and 6:30 a.m.  Not bad for a newborn!  Right now, while you are tiny, you sleep in the cradle that Grandpa Moulton built for me over 30 years ago.  All of my siblings have slept in it, and now you are too!  I love that cradle and how much love and history it holds.

6 days old 
Saturday, August 20

 Today is a sad day because we had to take Grandma to the airport this afternoon.  Before she left we got the nursery practically finished.  It looks fantastic.  What would we do without her?  She was such a great help to me this week, providing me with lots of wisdom, insights, tricks and comfort.  She took such good care of you, too!  I was a rather sad momma at the airport and cried (a lot) when we dropped her off.  We will eagerly await a return visit from both Grandma and Grandpa in October.  

1 week old
Sunday, August 21

Can you believe you are one week old today?  I feel like you have already grown so much.  This morning you and I stayed tucked in bed, while Dad and Beth went to church.  That afternoon we had a delicious Sunday dinner prepared ahead of time by Grandma and with lots of help from Beth.  The exciting part is that Dan and Hilary moved to Durham today, so we got to enjoy dinner with them.  Like everyone else, they are totally enamored with you.

I can't believe you are one week old already.  I feel like each time I feed you, I can see those little cheeks of yours thickening up.  You grow more and more handsome each day.  You are a great nurser and sleeper.  We obsessively watch all of your darling facial expressions and listen to your different sighs and cries and grunts and squawks.  We absolutely adore you!

Dad got put on call for work again tonight, so we all got to hang out and relax together.  Dad and Beth have been having lots of fun playing video games on the Xbox.  He always has Beth laughing about something.  I really am grateful for my wonderful family.

Aunt Beth leaves early in the morning.  She has been a super helper!  Not all 13-year-olds are as sweet and responsible and helpful as she is.  We have been so lucky to have her here this week!

Emmett's story

[Clark's comments in baby boy blue]
I've spent over nine months wondering what my "story" would be.  Where would I be when I went into labor?  Would my water break?  If so, where?  Would I be one of those people with easy labors and deliveries?  How would this little baby boy make his arrival?

I was a little disappointed when I set an induction date.  It seemed so anti-climactic to go to the hospital in such a prepared manner.  On Saturday, Aug 13, we got the house all clean, packed our bags and went out for one final meal.  We arrived at the hospital around 6 p.m. or so, checked in and hung out in an antepartum room. Around 8:30 they put in the cervidil and an I.V.  A few hours later we were moved to our labor/delivery room where they hooked me up to monitors and told me to get some rest for my big day tomorrow.  This is about the time that Amy informed me that she had never had to get an IV and had never really been checked into a hospital ever.  I was aghast.  For one, everyone has had a major surgery by adulthood, I figured.  I certainly spent many hours in hospitals growing up.  Two, it was surprising how uncomfortable the hospital setting was making Amy.  I guess I take it for granted and get used to it, because it's like a second home to me, but she really felt uneasy.

Around midnight I was brushing my teeth when my water broke.  It was a little shocking but exciting that I was at least making some steps toward labor on my own.  However, the next few hours were really quite awkward as I continued to randomly gush water, particularly with each contraction.  Trying to rest on a bed of wet towels isn't super relaxing, especially when the contractions interfered with my ability to sleep.  At one point (around 3 a.m.) I called the nurse in to see if these were legit contractions or if these were really something I was supposed to be able to sleep through.  She wasn't all that helpful and just kept saying how labor is different for everyone.

It was a long night of no sleep.  Clark tried to comfort me the best he could but I pretty much just sat at the side of the bed trying to breathe through contractions and doze a little in between.  By the morning, I was pretty much over the whole being in labor thing and felt very tied down and attached to machines.  She wasn't, but I can see how she felt that way.  Like I said, the hospital made her a little uneasy.  The doctor came to check me about 8:30 a.m.  She found that the cervidil had come out at some point during the night and that I was dilated to a three.  I had made enough progress that I didn't need to be put on any pitocin, which was an answer to many prayers on my end!

With my spirits buoyed and my friend Laura there as a doula/support person/labor coach, I spent the next 3 hours laboring in the jet tub on and off the monitors.  Clark and Laura took such good care of me and helped me relax and breathe and meditate during contractions.  In all honesty, Laura took such good care of Amy and I was just there for support.  Laura put Amy in an absolute trance and I could tell immediately that Amy was able to relax fully through the contractions rather than just bear them.  It was awesome.  We owe a lot to Laura.  Something more than a giftcard, but less than the rights to our firstborn son.  With those parameters, does anyone have any suggestions?  I felt like the contractions had been getting pretty strong but the nurse told me that they weren't consistent enough to be considered active labor and that I should try walking around for a while.  When I was on my feet, I certainly didn't feel like walking around the halls as my contractions started coming every 30 seconds or so.   Instead, I walked around the room and used the birthing ball to lean on during contractions.  Around 1:30 or so I had to get back in bed for some more IV antibiotics (I was strep B positive), and Clark and Laura used counter pressure to try to help me through some intense contractions.  My goal was to get at least to a 6 or 7 before getting an epidural but at this point I was ready for an epidural regardless of my progress; and since the medical staff wasn't keen on checking the cervix often, I had them go ahead and call for the anesthesiologist.

Waiting for the epidural was definitely the worst part of labor.  My contractions were hard, and I was losing my ability to keep my cool and breathe through them.  By the time they had given me enough fluids and the anesthesiologist arrived (around 2:30), I was hurting big time and felt almost like throwing up during contractions.  I immediately asked where to sign for the epidural consent and was grateful to have an expert anesthesiologist who let me stay lying on my side there to administer the epidural.  I had to get through a few more contractions while the epidural took effect, but once it did--oh, how wonderful!  The doctor came to check me and gave me the great news that I was completely effaced and at a NINE! Amy had never been so excited as she was right then at being called a "nine." Wahoo!  I was pretty pleased with how far I had gotten without an epidural, and I was extremely pleased that I was no longer feeling any pain.

My nurse told me to take a little nap and rest up for pushing.  I gladly obeyed (remember, I hadn't slept all night) and woke up an hour (more like 2) later feeling much better.  We started the pushing phase around 4 p.m.  My epidural felt great;  I could still feel and (kind of) move my legs.  I was able to really enjoy pushing through each contraction.  The fact that the nurse kept telling me how great of a pusher I was, was also nice.  :)  I even enjoyed using the mirror, so I could see my progress.  This was after using the mirror to fix her hair and makeup incase of any upcoming pictures.  My wife's priorities were right where they should have been.  [In my defense, and as you will obviously tell by the pictures, fixing my hair consisted of putting it in a ponytail and makeup was essentially non-existent.  And after pushing, none of that really mattered anyway :) ] My contractions were coming about every five minutes, so we took our time and got baby out an hour and a half later.

Watching my little boy be born was one of the most wonderful, joyous moments of my life.  As soon as his little head came through I was all smiles and happy tears.  It really is inexplicable.  It's amazement and joy and apprehension and overwhelmingness all at once.  You have to experience it to understand, I think.

I was so happy that I didn't pay to much attention to the 15 minutes of stitches I got afterward.  I could never get an exact number out of the doctor of how many I needed...but boy did I feel them afterward!

The moments that followed were so sweet and tender.  We couldn't stop oohing and ahhing over each little feature.  He was calm and bright-eyed, taking in everything around him.  I honestly don't think he cried that whole first night.

First family photo.

 Baby is handsome as can be.

Proud Papa.

Emmett's tongue/mouth/hands obsession.

Overall, I am very pleased with our birth experience.  While the initial night was difficult and the last hour of contractions extremely painful, my support system was amazing.  I can't thank Laura enough for all her help; it made a huge difference.  I had a great nurse [Pam] that day of labor, and I actually ended up liking the doctor a lot even though I had a lot of reservations about her at the clinic.  I was so grateful to not have to have pitocin, to be able to use intermittent monitoring, and to have progressed so far without an epidural.  I was also so grateful to have the epidural at the end and really be able to enjoy the delivery.  It's amazing how the painful parts of the experience seem to become a distant memory once the baby arrives.  I second that notion.

Welcome, Emmett!

Emmett Clark Schmutz

August 14, 2011, 5:30 p.m.

7 pounds, 5 ounces

20.5 inches

Perfect in every way.  He has dark hair with a perfect swirl on the back of his head; bright, attentive eyes; a strong neck and long feet with a prominent big toe.  He loves sucking his fingers and sticking out his tongue.

We love every ounce of him! 

The picture I never wanted to post

Have you looked at the calendar lately?  It is August 11.  That is one whole week beyond my due date. 
And so here we are at the glorious 41 week mark...

I am trying to be patient.  I understand that "due dates" are estimates that doctors make, not our bodies; and that babies usually come when they are ready regardless of what one does to coax them here.  I was pretty chipper about it all last weekend.  This week has dragged on a bit more.

A mani/pedi was my due date treat to myself; and luckily, friends and food have made it easier to get through the long days that have followed. 


We got together with Laura, Chase, Rachel and Reagan for swimming, a cookout and a sampling of 8 delicious Cook Out shakes.  Margaret and Vaughn, Charlotte's newest residents, came up to Durham to spend Saturday and Sunday with us.  We are so excited to have family just two hours away!  I've also gotten to spend time with Jenny and swim with Cindy.   


In all honestly, I've mostly passed the time eating Durham's most delicious food.  Jenny and I checked out Scratch, a most delightful bakery in downtown Durham.  They specialize in pies, and deciding what to order is oh-so-difficult.  They also make these doughnut muffins that are AMAZING.  Chocolate and buttermilk.  Mmmmm.

Clark and I finally made it to Wimpy's, a ghetto-looking little burger place that is only open until 2 p.m.  We've been meaning to check it out for a while, and we are so glad we did!  Wow.  The garbage burger (a single is plenty big) even showed up in my dream during my afternoon nap; that is how good it is.


Throw in some Local Yogurt and a vanilla lavender shake from The Ox & The Rabbit and you've got a mostly content pregnant lady. 


Maybe all this good food I've been eating is actually my downfall.  Baby Schmutz just might be enjoying all my indulging a little too much!  I don't know if I have the will power to eat non-amazing food the last couple of days of pregnancy...



If I can't get this baby to come on his own by Saturday evening, we are scheduled to go in that night for "prepping" and start induction Sunday morning.  It's not the way I would prefer it all to happen, but if I don't have a say,  for 48 more hours I'm going to try to appreciate the fact that my hair is (relatively) long and (relatively) thick, my house is quiet and clean, my schedule is my own, and that I only have to wake up once at night. 



Come Sunday things might look a little different...