I was able to get caught up on my blog so that I can finally do this post. It's been a LONG time coming! This will probably be a long one and I won't be offended if you don't all want to read it, but I need to write it down for me. We finally got moved back to Idaho 2 weeks before I was due and I was SOOOO happy to be done with packing and cleaning for awhile. I was really anxious and ready for my little Halter to make his appearance. I had my bags packed and baby clothes washed and was ready to go for about a week or so before he came. I was so ready and in so much pain in the weeks leading up to him coming. I tried to keep myself really busy to distract myself. I got up early with Tyrel and Tytyn every morning and helped move wheel lines and turn on pivots, I sat in the shop with the guys while they worked on stuff., I tried to get a lot of stuff done to do with our house that we're building, etc. The Thursday and Friday before Halter was born, Tytyn went to Salt Lake with Tyrel's Mom and brother Collin. They went with some cousins and went to the zoo and a waterpark and had lots of fun. I had a nervous breakdown when he left. I know a lot of it was pregnancy hormones, but I have some anxieties when it comes to my kids going places without me. It was nice to relax though while he was gone and have some alone time with Tyrel. The night before Halter was born (Friday) we decided to go to Idaho Falls on a date. We went out to dinner and did some temple sealings with Tyrel's brother, Logan and his wife Karissa. My stomach was pretty huge and it was very obvious that I was close to having a baby. I had a lot of people ask me when I was due and I overheard all of the ladies in the dressing room saying "Oh bless her heart, it looks like she should have given birth yesterday." ha ha! The sealer asked me when I was due as well and I told him the next day was my due date. He said he had notified the doctor in the temple just in case I had any issues while I was there and said he'd pray that I would have it soon. Funny side story: When I took Halter in for his 2 week check up with our family doctor we were visiting and he mentioned that he had seen Tyrel in the temple about 2 weeks earlier. I said that he had mentioned that and that I was there too and I was sorry I didn't see him. Then all the sudden it was like a lightbulb came on and he was like oh my gosh you must have been the one they came and notified me about!? He said that a couple people came and told him that there was a lady in the temple that was due the next day and that we needed to be watching her closely and that they were just really shocked that I had come to the temple in my "condition." I really hadn't thought it was a big deal at all, but apparently it kind of was to them ha ha. Then Dr. McKinlay was like so when did you go into labor and I told him that I did the very next morning. He said when he went to the temple next to work that he was going to tell everyone that I had my first labor pain that night in the temple, which I had, but he thought that was pretty cool:) Ok that's the end of my side story. I had a distinct impression when I was in the temple that I would go into labor very soon and would have my baby in my arms by the next day. I had my first labor pain in the temple that night before we left and lots of people telling me good luck. I started getting really nervous because it brought back memories of Tytyn's labor and delivery which was very traumatic for everyone involved. I prayed so hard that night that everything would go smoothly with no complications for anyone. I remember waking up about 4 or 5 times that night during a contraction, but was always able to go right back to sleep. When I woke up Saturday morning I was still having them and decided to time them to see how far apart they were. They were about 10 minutes apart. I got up to get some breakfast and shower. Tytyn had gotten home really late the night before so he was sleeping in, but I was really anxious for him to wake up so that I could ask him about his fun trip and tell him that I thought the baby was coming today. Basically as soon as I got out of bed and started walking around the contractions started being about 6 minutes apart. Since I didn't go into labor on my own with Tytyn I wasn't sure if I was in real labor or not. I called the maternity center at the hospital and a friend from our ward who is a nurse there answered the phone. It was nice to talk to someone that I knew. She ended being my nurse that day. She told me that if they continued getting closer together and stronger to come in and get checked. They moved to about 5 minutes apart and were definitely getting stronger, but I really really really didn't want to go in just to be told to come back home! Tyrel had been out working all morning and knew I had been having contractions, but told me to just let him know if I needed to go in. I wasted a little more time and then finally called him to see what he was doing. They had had some mainline blow up and water was going everywhere. I felt bad asking him to leave because that's a pretty big issue that needs to be fixed right away. I gave him a little more time and then decided to drive out to where he was with Tytyn because Tytyn hadn't seen him yet since he had gotten home from Salt Lake. When we got there he took one look at me and said do we need to go to the hospital? I was starting to get nervous and told him I was probably fine if he needed to work a little longer. He said to give him a half hour more and then we'd go. Trevor, a guy that has worked for the family for a very long time, was there helping with the problem and basically told us to just go, that he'd get things figured out. We came back to the house and loaded up our stuff and took Tytyn up to Tyrel's Aunt Connie's house. Then we headed in to the hospital. I was so sure that they were going to check me and send me home. Once we got there I got changed and hooked up to the machines and the doctor came in to check me. On a side note.....I obviously had to find a new doctor 2 weeks before having my baby. I had been seeing my other one in Vernal the whole time. I picked out a lady that I had hear good things about and met her twice before going into labor. I just happened to have Halter over Memorial Day weekend and she was out of town, so I got to be delivered by a different lady doctor, but it turned out to be a really good thing. Anyway, Dr. Arya, came in to check me and said would you like to know how far dialated you are? I thought she was going to tell me a 2 or something, but I was at a 5 almost a 6! I was so relieved to not have to go back home disappointed. I was going to have my baby today and I was so excited and nervous!!! We didn't find out the sex the whole time I was pregnant and I was getting really anxious to meet my sweet little angel. I was about 90% sure it was a boy the entire time, but didn't want to disappoint all of the people that were just sure it was a girl. Girls are scarce on both sides of our family. My contractions compared to Tytyn's were a huge difference. I think it was probably because I was induced with Tytyn and supposedly that makes your labor pains worse. I just felt really good and very calm through the entire process. I opted to get an epidural, but had to wait quite a while for one, which was fine. The pain was very tolerable. Both of my experiences with epidurals have been really good. I haven't really ever felt much while they were doing it and it hasn't ever caused anything lasting. My blood pressure dropped quite a bit when I got this one, which they said happens quite often. I was pretty out of it for a long time because of that, but other than that everything was good. My new doctor came and checked on me regularly and she seemed really nice and sweet. We checked into the hospital around 10:30 or 11 in the morning and I started pushing around 6-6:30. The day went by really fast though, neither of us felt like we had been there for a long time at all. I started getting really close and they called my doctor to come in. She came in and did a bunch of practice pushes with me. I'm actually very glad that my other doctor I had chosen was out of town and that I ended up with this lady. There was just something about her presence that was just so calming and soothing. She was there from my very first push until my last and was so encouraging the whole time. I can't tell you how many times I prayed and pleaded that this labor and delivery would go really smoothly. I just wanted a good birth experience and everyone to be happy and healthy. Tyrel was the best coach! He was so awesome and encouraging. I could not have done it without him. I know everyone has their different opinions about who they want in the birthroom, but I have a very strong opinion about only my husband being in there with me. It is such a spiritual experience for both of you; to watch a new life come into the world that you created together. My labor and delivery were amazing to say the least. I can't even describe how amazing it was. Like I said we didn't know the sex of the baby "for sure", but I knew this little man as soon as they put him in my arms. There was just this instant bond that I had with him that I cannot not even describe. Tytyn was taken away from me instantly after birth for health reasons and it was very sad for both of us. It was so nice to have my little Halter placed in my arms. We waited for him for a very long time and he was well worth it. Kindra and Collin brought Tytyn in that night to see us. He was SOOO excited to meet his new little brother. People have told me about the instant bonds that siblings have and I was so excited to see it. Tytyn is pretty cute with babies, but the way he is and has been with his brother since he was born is just too cute for words. We constantly have to get after him to be soft and careful, but the love they have for each other is so evident and obvious, I love it! Tytyn had been starting to question why he didn't have a brother or sister like his friends? It would break my heart when he would ask questions like that. I am so grateful and feeling so blessed that he now has a sibling. Halter fits perfectly into our family. He is the BEST baby ever! He is not a cryer and doesn't fuss much. He has been sleeping through the night since he was 2 months old and before that only waking up once a night. He is constantly smiling and so happy. He loves to jibber jabber, but his favorite thing to do is growl! He growls ALL the time, it is hilarious! He rolled over for the first time about 2 weeks ago (at 3ish months.) And he started grabbing things a week or two before that. You forget all these fun stages and I've been trying to enjoy every minute of them.We are so happy and grateful that he is here, he brings so much joy and happiness to every one around him. Little babies are truly angels sent to us by our Father in Heaven.
Our little Halter came on his exact due date which was May 24th. He weighed 8 lbs. 14 oz. and was 21 1/2 in. long. We named him Halter Ted Bingham. His middle name was an obvious choice. We named him after his Grandpa who had passed on just a couple months earlier. It gives me comfort to think that they were able to spend a little time together before Halter came to us on earth, but we are missing Tyrel's Dad very badly, especially on special days like this.
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| Sooooo happy to have my two boys in my arms! |
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| Tytyn came to see us the next day after church, he wanted to hold his little brother. |
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| Cute boys! |
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| Couldn't be happier! |
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| Halter has the ability to just stare intensely at me like he already knows me so well. I feel like I've known this little one for a very long time. It's a really special feeling. |
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| Grandma came to visit at the hospital and brought Halter this really soft monkey blanket, he loves snuggling with it. |
