Saturday, July 21, 2012

Introducing...

After almost 18 months of continuous pregnancy, we are finally parents who have a child. Last year I didn't leave the hospital with my baby, this year I'm the happiest mother ever. Our family is complete.

Whit Thomas O'Brien

Before and after!


Contractions started to get painful around 5 cm after my water broke. I "pole danced" around to music to distract myself.

Our hospital performs Skin to Skin as soon as baby is born. He was IMMEDIATELY put to my chest for a couple hours, then Ben had his turn.


Whit had three hospital cuffs for security reasons. Poor fellow :(



First family photo, thanks to Waledah- one of the incredible midwives who has helped us on this journey.

My boys sleeping in the hospital. They are my world.


I made this special decal for his newborn kimono shirts to ensure we left the hospital with the right baby!



My mom was waiting on our steps when we came home. She finally meets him!

Mom's reaction to hearing that we named him after her father!

Ben covered our living room table with flowers, balloons, and candy for us!

Happy Birthday, Whit.




21 comments:

  1. Beautiful. I AM SO HAPPY. This made my week. I am thrilled for you!

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  2. Congrats you guys. I'm so happy for you. I love the name. really cute. enjoy every moment. You look beautiful.

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  3. Congratulations to y'all that is SOOO exciting! He is perfect & I love his name.

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  4. So, so happy and excited for you! I loved seeing all the photos and I hope everybody is adjusting well to life together. Can't wait to meet little Whit!
    By the way (since I can't comment on anything without talking about myself)... I LOVE the name. Whittaker is a surname in Brooke's family, and I've always thought it'd be cool to have a little boy named Whittaker, called Whit. "Whittaker Shiffler" is a little too sing-songy for my taste, though, so you don't have to worry about me stealing the name. :)
    Congratulations again! He is just beautiful.

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  5. He is precious! I am so happy for you guys! :)

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  6. So happy for you! He is perfect!

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  7. Hooray!!! Welcome little Whit! Cannot wait to meet him in person. He is perfect. Susannah, you are gorgeous. Love, love, LOVE this. :)

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  8. You are beautiful. Your baby boy is beautiful. I am so SO happy for you!!

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  9. Love it. Love it all. So glad he's here and safe.

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  10. I am thrilled for you guys! Congratulations!

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  11. I am sittin' here awash in happy tears for you two, no three. Hearty, joyful congratulations to you all! And Whit! I love it! What a great name!

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  12. Congrats beautiful mama and baby!! Love the name too!

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  13. Love everything about this post! He's adorable and you look beautiful! Congratulations!

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  14. We are so happy for you guys! I'm so glad you solved the great name debate and it's such a cute name! I'm thrilled to have a new adorable little nephew!

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  15. Congrats Susannah!! Isn't it so wonderful to bring a sweet spirit into your home!! So so happy for you guys!

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  16. Congratulations, guys. I hope Whit will be the whisper in your heart that calms you when you worry and makes you laugh when you're down. They are both part of you, E and W, and they are part of each other. Enjoy these days.

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  17. AHHH!! I'm crying! I'm so, so, so happy for you "four." What a beautiful, amazing family. You're all smiles, Susannah... I love it! Keep it up.

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  18. Congratulations.
    The bad news is that now that you have a child of your own, you are no longer "perfect" parents. You are now in the process of makings millions of mistakes, trying out theories and habits that are wrong or simply do not work. You are certainly going to put way to much thought into thousands decisions, and not nearly enough thought into thousands more. You will soon know weariness and frustration well beyond what you have known before. And, even though you know that this is one of the greatest tasks of your life you will sometimes push the importance of it out of your mind.
    The good news is that in your imperfection you will come to know and love your own parents and Heavenly Father like never before. You will marvel at how selfish you were back when you were still "perfect" (i.e. perspective) parents. You will find joy in your parenting mistakes, laugh at your bad theories and silly worries, and quietly smile at your frustrations. You will forgive yourself of current and past mistakes as you forgive your son of his, and you will know such joy in your imperfection. Because it is not the things that we first get right, but the things we first get wrong and then get right that make us grow.
    If you should ever despair (and at some point you will at least a little) remember all of your early failings and fears that are failings and fears no more; then smile and find the courage to fail some more. Then one day you will find that you are (truly) perfect parents once more.

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  19. Tears of joy came down my cheeks as I looked at this post! What a wonderful little family of four!!

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