Introductions...

I've finally given into the blogging trend. I decided this would be the easiest way to write about Tanner as he grows and post pictures- then I'll have it printed up as a book and that will save me from writing in a journal. Which I've pretty much given up on anyways...

So if you've already heard Tanner's birth story than you can ignore the first post, I'm going to get caught up on his life then I'll write about whats going on with us now.



Tanner was born on August 24th, 2009 at 2:32 p.m. He was actually due on the 22nd of August, but he decided to check out late. When I went in for my 40 week check-up appointment my blood pressure was elevated, and it had been slowly climbing for the last few weeks. The doctor decided he was going to induce me- which was fine because my sister was heading back to BYU and she didn't want to miss Tanner's birth.

Chris and I went to the hospital at 6:00 am on the the 24th and we checked into our room. By 7:00 am they had me hooked up to the pitocin to induce my labor. At 8:30 the doctor came in and broke my water- that was a really weird feeling. Like I was constantly wetting the bed but I couldn't control it. Anyways- When I came in that morning I was dilated to almost about a 1 1/2. At first I couldn't feel any of my contractions. Then as time went by they got gradually stronger. At first it felt like Tanner was just kicking me, then it was like really bad cramps in my back. Then it had progressed to full on back labor. VERY PAINFUL! At that point I asked for some pain meds. It wasn't horrible- but I figured "Why be in pain if you don't have to be?" I was dilated to a 2 at that point. They gave me stadol- which was great- but it made me really loopy. I started hallucinating and saying really crazy things. By that point my Mom and sisters were also in the room with us, and the things I was saying were cracking them up. I remember thinking my tongue was a piece of wood and it was really heavy. And my head was block of wood and was too heavy to hold up. The room kept spinning and so I had to close my eyes. I dozed on and off until the pain meds wore off. At that point I was dilated to almost a 3. The doctor came in and gave me an epidural. I remember my hormones were making me shake so bad the nurse had to hold me still for the epidural. After I got the epidural I lost feeling in my left side, but I could still feel the contractions on my right. So the nurse had my lay on my right side and let gravity work its magic. By the time the epidural kicked in on my right side it was about 1:30 p.m. I was feeling good and even able to close my eyes a bit. At about 2:00 p.m. the nurse came in to give me a catheter and check me again to see how much I'd dilated. At that point she got a confused look on her face and said she couldn't feel me- she said I was complete. (meaning completely dilated). She got another nurse to double-check, she agreed and the nurse started to help me practice pushing. The doctor came about 15 minutes later. I pushed 4-5 times and Tanner was here. I had dilated from almost a 3 to a 10 in about 45 minutes and then our little baby was in our arms. It was a really easy labor and delivery- I can only hope it is always that easy.

While I was pushing the nurse said "Oh my, he has lots of hair" but even with that preparing us, Tanner's head of dark hair was a big surprise. I LOVED his hair though. He came out and it was love at first site. I couldn't wait to hold him. They let me hold him briefly while Chris cut the cord, then they took him to the warmer to get cleaned up. Then they brought him back to us. He was absolutely perfect to me. I couldn't get over how much I loved him. It was the most amazing thing ever. Tanner and his dad also bonded right away. The first time Chris got to hold Tanner, Tanner's little eyes were closed, but as soon as Tanner heard his dad's voice, he opened his eyes and looked up at Chris. It was like he was saying "Oh yeah- I know that voice- that's my Dad, we're buds" Chris and I were both in seventh heaven. They had my breastfeed him right away, and then my family was allowed in the room.

Sarah and Mom were of course crying from the moment the nurse said "he has so much hair," during delivery. So they both were so excited to hold him. I was kind of out of it at this point. I'm sure he was passed around and pictures were taken, but I don't really remember any of that going on.

We stayed the night in the hospital and Tanner was brought into us every 2-3 hours for me to feed him. At that point we still hadn't picked out his name, so we were just calling him baby. We talked about the names we liked. For me, Tanner was the only name that fit. Chris however, threw a new name on the table. When Tanner was born Chris felt impressed that his name should be Michael. Chris felt like we need to name him Michael because just as Adam (Michael) was the first of Heavenly Father's sons to come to earth, our baby was also going to be the first of many things for us. So by the next morning we had decided on Tanner Michael Herb. We got to check out of the hospital by about 3:30 p.m. on August 25th.

When we got home, my mom had turned our bed down, put flowers on the table and a "Its a boy" balloon outside our house. It was quite the welcome home. For the next few days we just got use to having a baby. Tanner slept ALL the time. Which isn't unusual for newborns- after all the trauma they've been through, but we were convinced God had sent us the easiest baby ever. He was so easy to take care of- all he did was eat, sleep, and poop.

By the end of week 1 we felt like we had an idea of what was going on- and Chris headed back to work. My mother-in-law flew in on that Saturday after Tanner was born, and it was nice to have to around to help after Chris went back to work. When we'd left the hospital, Tanner weighed 6 lbs 9 oz. By his first week check-up he weighed 6 lbs 14 oz. They told us he should gain 2/3-1 oz/day. We woke him every 3 hours to eat- even at night. And it was getting old. I hated waking him in the middle of the night to eat. I figured if he was hungry he'd wake up, but the doctor stressed the importance of waking him every 2-3 hours.

Week 2- At his week two check-up Tanner weighed 7 lbs 4 1/2 oz. He had gained the right amount that week- so we figured he was getting enough to eat. My mother-in-law returned home and my best friend from grade school, Adrian, came up from Florida. It was so nice to have her. She is the biggest sweetheart. Then about 4 days later she left for home. That's when my alone time with Tanner really started.

Weeks 3-5 are kind of a blur by now. Tanner slept really well though- I do remember that. I have been so lucky, because Tanner has always slept good at night. At this point I have him sleeping for 4-5 hours at night between feedings. We were able to take him out and around more too. We started feeling like we might be able to handle be parents after all. Each day it got a little easier.

Weeks 4-7- Tanner started having reactions to things in my diet. I've had to cut out milk- because it gives him tummy aches and makes him cry- which by the way- is the saddest sound ever. It just breaks my heart every time he cries. Its hard to even by annoyed because I just want to make him feel better. After cutting out milk, Tanner did awesome. He sleeps about 6-7 hours at a time during the night, only waking up once to eat, and sleeping in until about 8 or 9:00 am. At that point I'm getting up anyways to make Chris breakfast and see him off to work. So then Tanner and I just play until he wants to eat and fall asleep again.
My life is so wonderful. I think if all of our babies are this perfect-I'm going to constantly be pregnant. OK- maybe not- but it sure leaves a lot to look forward to.
At 5 weeks I had Tanner weighed and he was at 8 lbs 15 1/2 ounces and 20 1/2 inches. He is quite the chunker. Its so cute.

Now Tanner will be 8 weeks tomorrow- and I can't believe it. He is so adorable- every time I look at him I just fall in love all over again. I know I probably sound really conceited, but I can't help it. I just think my baby is the cutest thing ever- but I'm sure all moms feel that way. I haven't had Tanner weighed since week 5, but I'm pretty sure he's close to 10 lbs now. My arms get a little tired holding him all the time- so that's a good sign. Chris is such a good Dad. He gets to come home everyday for an hour at lunch- and him and Tanner play during that time while I get a little me time. Its wonderful. Tanner adores Chris, but every once in a while- he just wants mom- which makes me feel like a million bucks. I love being the one to make him happy again. Last week Chris blessed Tanner in church, He gave a beautiful blessing. Made me cry- which isn't saying much,because with these post-baby hormones, everything makes me cry. But it really was a beautiful blessing. I was so proud of Chris!
Also last week- Tanner made his first big car trip- 4 1/2 hours to St. Louis. We had a ward Temple day, and Chris, Tanner and I rode up with my parents. We left on Thursday and Tanner did wonderful the entire weekend, but he was happy to be home on Saturday. He loves car rides- He slept for almost the entire drive both ways. Such a good baby!

Anyways- that's life up to this point.