Mason

Just about a year ago, I found out I was pregnant with my second child. It was, frankly, a bit of a surprise. We weren't trying. And I was about 3 1/2 months into studying for the LSAT (an entry exam for law school). 

I am not going to sit here and type all these giant exclamations about how excited we were and how blessed I felt. Because honestly, I didn't feel that way. I was overwhelmed. I had made my mind up that I was going to try to go to Law School and work on that part of my future. Emerson had been my whole life for the last year and a half. She was (is) everything to me. I really didn't know how she would understand having a sibling that would take all the attention away. Even if only for a little while. I wasn't sure if I was ready to be everything to another person, let alone another little person.

I was sick as a dog, again, for about 15 weeks. It was a different kind of sick this time.  Instead of having my head in the toilet for the majority of the day (Every. Single. Day.), I mainly just felt like I was severely hung over for like 4 months straight. Being hung over for 4 months will basically change your opinion of ever wanting to be hung over again...

I started to get into the idea of Emerson having a little sister. I thought about how much my sister means to me (we are only 14 months apart in age).  She is my best friend. She is my rock. She is a  comedian. A rock star of a Mom. And everything I hope to be as a Mom going forward. I guess I must have made myself believe that I was having another girl. I was certain of it.  Then at 22 weeks, we had our "big" ultrasound and sure enough, we were having a Boy.

After going through child birth one time already and the whole sha-bang of "the first baby" I wasn't sad or mad. I actually welcomed the thought of having one of each. A little brother for Emerson. It still sounds sweet when I say it. We couldn't decide on a name. My husband did not like anything I liked and only had one name that he felt was kind of acceptable, Hunter. Now, ok. Hunter is a real cute name. But I just wasn't feeling it. We did agree that James would be his middle name. My husband is a III. So, having a IV was out of the question. My son is not going to be the King of Toledo, Ohio. He, in my opinion, needed his own identity.  My Brother and my Father are also named James, so this I felt, was a small homage to the Men in our lives who share that name. We eventually agreed on Mason. Which is funny, mainly because I have probably called him that all of 4 times since he's been born. Somehow, we all started referring to him at "Buddy" and it just stuck.  

I was not entirely motivated this time around. We had some issues with our roof and had to have it replaced before we could even begin to renovate the baby's room.  Which made it even harder to get motivated.  Eventually, we got the roof done and began to rip out the bedroom and replace the drywall. It took about a month to finish but now its an amazing space that we couldn't be prouder of. My husband really did a great job on his first ever drywall experience. I painted and decorated. Baby Mason got a beautiful baseball room. We even moved Emerson into a Toddler Bed at the beginning of June and she took to it like a champ. I have since updated her room to more of a "big girl room."  My bff Cakes decided that Em needed a teepee for her room.  Which Em adores. I made the space a little reading nook.

Our due date was June 25th, and we were set to be induced that morning.  The night before, the baby was kicking and punching and doing flips like crazy. So badly, that I was up most of the night pacing laps around the living room because I couldn't sleep (I still swear he was trying to tell me that he needed out of there). I was induced and they began to monitor us all day. It turned into another really long day (just like the last time). Later that evening, they noticed that every time I had a contraction, the baby's heart rate dropped. Once the contraction was done, his heart rate went back up to a normal speed.  The doctor eventually decided that he needed to come out and we were rushed into surgery. It was so scary. But, I will say that the way the Labor and Delivery Staff treated that emergency surgery was absolutely brilliant. It wasn't chaotic or unorganized. They ran that operating room like a well-oiled machine and for that we are eternally grateful.

 

 

The cord was wrapped around Mason's neck and he couldn't breathe. Once he was out, he was a completely perfect, happy, hungry, little guy. I can say now that I am so blessed. I am so proud to be his Momma. Emerson loves him. She loves to help us with him. She will bring me diapers or the baby powder. She likes to help pick out his PJ's after bath time. She carries around her "baby" and pats her on the back to burp her, imitating me.

 

 

Our life is forever hectic. We are always running late and I am pretty much always tired. But, I am happy and we are healthy and enjoying the chaos. I am realizing that being Emerson and Mason's Momma is my first priority. Law School will always be there. But these years with the kids being young is only for a short period of time. I want to enjoy all the firsts and be present and available for them, always.