i had no idea...

things sure have changed since my last blog post! we are now proud parents of a brand new baby boy!

owen patrick billett

november 20, 2009

9:28 a.m.

9 lbs. 4 oz.

21 inches long

the feature that caught everyone by surprise??? he has a TON of hair! it's a bit hard to tell who he looks like, but i think he has my nose, lips, and chin, and austin's head shape and hair! his eyes are a nice blue color and seem to be a combination of both mommy and daddy!

5:50 a.m. on friday, november 20. about to head to the hospital.

about to head into the operating room. i already had a bag and a half of fluid pumped into me at this point! hello puffiness!!

austin wheeled owen out of the operating room and "delivered" him to the nursery for a bath and to be examined by our nurse and good friend, staci shaw! he was greeted in the hall by proud grandparents and proud uncle kyle. (i was being stitched up in the operating room at this point!)

our first family picture outside the nursery before i was taken to my room.

what a gorgeous face!! i love love love his pretty eyes!

this has GOT to be the cutest little puppy dog outfit you ever did see! thanks mrs. patty!!!!!!!

this adorable little ensemble is from owen's "aunt riley." thanks aunt riley!!

owen and dr. owen (my ob/gyn and the one responsible for bringing owen into the world safely). we love the name connection even though we did not name owen after her!

his going home outfit was a bit big on him.......

.......but he sure did look cute!

the whole hospital/surgery experience last week was brand new to me. thankfully, my c-section went very smoothly and was completely free of complications. there was, however, some annoying face-itching and swelling from the morphine. needless to say, i was thrilled to have that wear off by friday afternoon!!!!!!!!!! i was up and around by that afternoon (friday) taking walks around the room and down the halls. the nurses and doctors were all top-notch which made it very easy to enjoy my three-and-a-half-day stay. the food was good too...and the bed was oh-so-comfy!!

once we got home, it was nice to start establishing some sort of routine for us and for sweet little owen. my mom has been here for the entire week...and what a blessing that has been! she has been helpful in so many ways...from time spent with owen to helping with chores to offering "parenting" advice to talking me through some difficult emotional times. austin and i are both so glad to have had the help. (she just left this afternoon so now "real life" begins.)

there are many things i have learned this week. i am sure i will be able to add more to this list as more days pass.

in nine days of being a mother, i have learned that:

1. i had no idea i could love someone as much as i love our son. it just didn't seem possible to have that much love in my heart.

2. i had no idea how good a shower could feel after a long day of tending to someone other than myself.

3. i had no idea how the once-important "to do list" could pretty much disappear out of my mind for hours, even days, at a time.

4. i had no idea how i could survive several days in a row without checking my bank account, facebook, blog, and e-mail! granted, i have missed my computer time, but other things have captured my attention...and my heart! even my cell phone has not seen much action!!

5. i had no idea how the touch of a nine-day-old human being could make me smile bigger than my face muscles could stretch.

6. i had no idea that i would or could ever think that "poopy diapers are no big deal."

7. i had no idea how incredibly wonderful my life with austin could become in just a matter of minutes.

in these early days of being a mom and in the beginning stages of learning how to care for an amazing, tiny person, i am reminded of the love of our Lord. He made this all possible and He will guide us to be the parents He wants us to be. austin and i are so incredibly blessed and happy to have a healthy, loving, calm, wonderful little boy.

i am reminded of a quote i heard back in college that i feel is appropriate in most "life" situations, but now more than ever.

"the task ahead of you is never as great as the power behind you."

God bless you all!

:) carianne, the proud mom