This blog was started to keep friends and family in the know about us and our stay in San Diego while keeping from flooding Facebook newsfeeds. It just so happens that we are still down in San Diego on the day of Joey’s birthday. So this entry is going to have that as its focus. It may bore you to read so many details about someone else’s child but the primary intention of this entry is journal-like and yet we hope you enjoy any way. I write this as he fights sleep in the next room, screaming.
Joseph Reuther Clark was born at 12:36pm on May 9th, 2014 weighing 8lbs 2oz @ 21". Between this day and my wedding day I can narrow down the two best days of my life. That morning I woke up around 2:00am thinking I had to use the restroom like so many pregnant women do. When it dawned on me that this may not be a regular trip to the restroom I woke up Eddy and we then discussed what we should do. We had an appointment with the OB later that morning – so do we wait for that appointment or do we go to the hospital? Our fear of rejection keeps us from going to the hospital as first resort.
Eddy called the maternity ward at the hospital to ask what we should do. The first thing he said was “I think my wife’s water broke….” Immediately after he said that the woman at the other side of the line gave a slight chuckle. Eddy’s initial thought is that the chuckle was to reduce us as first-time parents – not knowing what we were talking about. Later we realize the chuckle was in response to how busy the maternity ward was at this time. We heard one staffer say “Is it a full moon today?”
Our bags were already packed and we were prepared for immediate departure – but I wasn’t about to spend the rest of this long day without a shower! I knew we were going to be there for a long time and I was confident the baby wasn’t going to come within the next 30 minutes.
It was very early so we had to enter through the ER. The security guard didn’t even ask any questions – he just said congratulations and let us through the door. The maternity ward was so full they put us in the area used for mothers who need a cesarean. After 30-45 minutes in that room we had to be moved quickly for an emergency cesarean. The look on that poor mother’s face was not good.
While I can't say it was an easy labor it sure was fast! We went to the hospital at around 3:00am @ 2cm dilated and I didn't feel a real contraction until about 9:00am, also at 2cm dilation. The nurse suggested Pitocin but I asked for more time. No way I wanted that if I was doing an all-natural birth. They came back three hours later, checked the dilation and said it was go time. Thank God because the contractions were hurting. I was thinking that if the contractions hurt this bad now at 2cm, how much worse at 8-9cm? About 5 pushes later our little man was here!
My response when I first held him? Laughter. I laughed. I was so happy he was here. Eddy remembers my first words to him as “You’re so cute.” He still makes me laugh, he is still cute in my eyes, and he still does things quickly.
Joseph now weighs 24lbs and is over 28" tall – with a huge head like daddy and big feet like mommy. We can see physical similarities in him from so many other people. People like mom, dad, grandma(s), grandpa(s), great grandma(s) and great grandpa(s). He, like us all, is truly one-of-a-kind.
He walks, he talks and he never wants to miss a beat! Seriously though, he would rather not go down for a nap because he doesn’t want to miss out on anything. But giving him the daily nap(s) he so sorely needs is for our benefits as parents too.
His favorite words: Hey! Dada(dadada), mama(mamama), Charlie (Jason &Davy’s dog) and something that sounds like "tlkdhsn" – and he especially enjoys talking your ear off while using hand gestures. It is so cute! When he first started using his words he would say “mama” for when he was hungry or hurt.
He tackles dad at the door when dad gets home from work. Sometimes dad doesn’t have time to put his bags down. Eddy was definitely saddened the day Joey walked to him after coming home, instead of crawling.
Getting him to sleep was a growing pain in our lives. We finally found a nightly routine that would help get him ready for bed which consisted of reading the book Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site.
Right now, at his one-year mark, he has seven teeth and he is walking confidently.
His favorite things to do: waking up in the morning, getting into stuff, being outside, giving mom and dad kisses and making people smile. He is definitely a flirt.
His favorite foods: sweet potatoes, crackers, mangoes, breads, cheeses, carnitas and milk. He and dad have a morning customary of watching cartoons on dad’s lap while drinking milk.
He is growing so fast and we are trying to soak up every minute of it. Unfortunately he doesn't listen to my pleas for him to stop growing. We are open to suggestions on this.
Here's to another great year as a family of three with many more adventures to take!
