A Natural for the Camera

The hospital had a photographer who came around the take pictures of all the newborns.  She tried getting some of Tucker just in his diaper, but little man would have none of it.  He was so cold and could not go without clothes or he would start screaming.  So we slapped some Baby Armour on him and got some great pictures anyways!

In daddy's hand. 

So tiny.

If this does not melt your heart I don't know what will!

Daddy loves his little man so much!

Yes, our two day old son has on sweat bands and Under Armour. 

I am so glad we paid the outrageous prices for these sweet pictures.  It is so special to have such great pictures of Tucker when he was only two days old.  He changed so fast and it meant a lot to capture what he looked liked fresh out of the oven!

Day Two of Life on the Outside

Tucker's first night was great.  The whole thing seemed so surreal.  So much so that Chris had no idea what was going on when the nurse brought Tucker into our room for the first time to feed him during the night.  The nurse came in our room flipped on the lights and said she was there for me to nurse Tucker.  As I proceeded to get situated Chris rolls over and says "Tucker who? What? Who are we feeding?" If I had something to throw at him I would have.  I was scared the nurse was not going to leave Tucker with us because she thought I had some crazy person in the room with me.  It was hilarious. And he will never live that moment down. The moment that tiredness and delirium got the best of him!

The second day at the hospital Tucker had some more visitors come to see him and the new parents had lots of lovin' to do on their new bundle of joy!

Aunt Kathy came back to visit. 

So did Nana.

I was so excited for one of my besties, Ashley Crocker, from work to come meet Tucker.

It sure meant a lot to both me and Tucker!

She brought a sign that her class made for Tucker.  

Each student wrote their names in little baseballs along the bottom. (It is kind of hard to see in this picture)

All the students from school were just as excited for Tucker's arrival as everyone else. 

Spending some time with my little man in between visitors.

I loved playing with little Tucker toes.

Teeny Feet. 

In heaven with my little man in my arms.

My pride and joy. 

Still not believing it is real.

It was so special having my sister there with me through it all. 

We have a picture just like this with Riley when she was born. 

Daddy changing his first diaper ever. 

His first of many!

Riley was so excited to finally meet baby Tucker. 

She could not wait to hold him!

These two will become best buds!

She already loves him so much.

Friend and neighbors Kristen and Jeff came to see Tucker! 

Day Two of parenthood was amazing.  It was still hard to believe the time was finally here to be a parent for the rest of our lives.  We knew the time in the hospital was coming to an end soon and felt an overwhelmed yet excited feeling of taking on the challenge of taking care of Tucker on our own.  I remember we kept asking the nurses how much it would cost to just stay there for several more months and get 24 hour help and advice as we needed it! Of course our request was denied, and ready or not we were going home the next day!

Meeting the Peeps

Tucker had lots of people anxious to meet him.

Meeting his MeMe and PawPaw for the first time.

Hey MeMe

Getting some hugs from my PawPaw.

Aunt Beth

Getting some love from Nana.

My PaPa

Aunt Kathy

Tucker's first day was a big one.  He met lots of family who was excited for his long awaited arrival.  It was a day that he may not remember but many of his loved ones will never forget.

Introducing Tucker Jackson Nall

31 unforgettable hours later...

  

He is finally here! 

At 7:36am, September 2, 2011, Tucker Jackson Nall entered the world!

One of his first pictures.  Getting all checked out by the nurses.

Getting weighed and measured.

8.2 lbs. 19 1/2 inches long

Perfect

Daddy and his little man

Holding my son for the first time.

The best feeling in the world.

Tucker has been so alert from the moment he was born.  He was ready for the world!

If looks could kill...haha.

After not eating in close to 31 hours they brought me breakfast A.S.A.P. 

Due to the crazy hormones from the delivery I was shaking...more like convulsing...and could not even feed myself.  My sweet dad was cutting up my food and feeding me. It appears I was afraid he was going to take my muffin right out of my hand because it looks like I am holding onto it for dear life. 

I had to break from eating to hold Tucker Man.  

I was missing him already!

He was about to meet everyone for the first time so I wanted one more hug before everyone else got theirs!

And So It Begins...

Finally. A computer and a blog.  I have a lot of catching up to do on things that have happened in our lives in the last 4 months. After my long beloved computer crashed in August, I finally got a new Mac from Santa and can now keep a blog I have been anxious to do!  I look forward to capturing and recording all of our greatest memories and milestones in our new family's life.

Taking a look back before it all began...(our new family that is)

I was 4 days past due in this picture.  We went to dinner with our friends (also soon to be parents) for one last outing just the four of us.  I was scheduled to be induced the following day.  Little did I know...at 12:30 that night I would go into labor on my own! 

I woke up at 12:30 am having contractions every 6 minutes apart.  After getting over the shock that it was really time, Chris and I went to the hospital around 5:30 am.  There, we found out I was only dilated to 1cm and the doctor sent us home and said not to come back until I was having contractions 2 minutes apart.  I knew this was ridiculous and called my doctor's office when I got home.  They were outraged that I was sent home and said to come back to the hospital because I was in REAL labor.  But, I decided to just labor at home for awhile where I could be more comfortable.  Around 2:30 that afternoon I'd about had all I could take and we returned to the hospital for the real fun to begin.  

This is me and my mom walking the halls.  When the nurse wanted me to start walking I thought..."okay...easy does it I am having major contractions." O. No. We were speed walking faster than I ever have in my life.  Even my mom was sweating!

My sister cheering me on. 

My niece sweet Riley came to visit.  She was very excited to meet Baby Nallstar.

Me and my mother-in-law

Anxiously awaiting

Finally 4cm.

If I only knew just how slooooooow this process would be.

7 cm.

It's probably 3 or 4 in the morning. The doctor wanted to discuss having a C-Section at this point but I was not about to give up after being in it this long!

With four or so more hours still to go the best was yet to come.  O how I loved my epidural running out of medicine four different times because I was in labor so long! And I remember being more thirsty than I have ever been in my entire life. The ice chips were just not cutting it!  I remember at one point telling whoever was in my room at that moment that as soon as I delivered and could drink again "I wanted (lined up on my beside table) a glass of milk, a bottle of water, a Dr. Pepper, a Gatorade, and an ICEE...the real kind spelled I-C-E-E. "And yes I got them all except the ICEE! :) 

The labor process was the most amazing thing ever.  Call me crazy but I truly loved every minute of it.  It was an experience I will never forget and one that brought me the most precious gift a person could have.  Nothing could have prepared me for the 31 hours of labor I had to endure, but I would do it all over again tomorrow to receive such a blessing in the end.