Pumpkin Story (turned birth story)

This post is LONG overdue and may not really mean much to most people but I think it is kind of a sweet story. If anything you might enjoy the pics. I actually wrote this in October but for some reason just never posted it. It ended up turning into a LOONNNGGG post. So... sorry for all my wordiness. I wasn't planning to write Brooks' birth story on here but it just kind of started spilling out. Enjoy or just scroll down to look at pics and skip the reading. :) 

On the day Brooks was born, I was lets just say in a pretty emotional place. I still have to control myself and not cry just thinking about this special day. Since I never shared his birth story I will give a very brief rundown of the day. I had prepared myself for a "Wham bam thank ya' mam" birth. Instead I got a 16 hour labor. Charlie was born in 10 hours, Sawyer 4 so I thought there was a good chance I might walk into the birth center and go straight to the tub. Well... it didn't happen like that.

I started labor at 2:30am. It was pretty consistent contractions for about an hour. I was so excited! I know most people dread the idea of pain in childbirth. Not me. I honestly don't get that. I have had people comment to me and say something to the effect of "Well, you must have had easy births to do it three times without meds." Um... no! I honestly resent that. I worked my butt off through those three labors. I did it out of love and because I know it is what was safest for my babies and me.

Anyway... back to the story... after an hour of good contractions, they sllllooowwweedd way down. ugh! I was in slow early labor all day. I took the boys to Fairfield to drop off cupcakes, went to Walmart, called the midwives, got checked, went to lunch. When I realized that I couldn't finish my lunch because the contractions were getting pretty strong I figured it was time to head home. On the way, I stopped quickly at the store because I had the idea to buy three pumpkins. One for each of my babies. I knew I would be bringing home a new little bundle that night. So... after an Aldi's stop we finally headed home. (looking back I think what on earth would I have done if my water broke???)

Once home, I cleaned up the house, plopped the boys down in front of cartoons and waited for Ben to get home. As soon as he got home, I went and laid down, no sleep. Just kept timing contractions. At 4 minutes apart I called and told the midwives and Ben's mom that we were on our way. We were all so excited on the ride there. I can remember us yelling, "Our baby is coming!" (between contractions of course)

Upon arrival at birth center, I kind of crawled my way in and sat on the floor crying. i was totally overwhelmed from being so incredibly happy, tired from being in labor all day and let's face it in some major pain. It was all worth it. I was having my third baby in the place I had dreamed of.

Unfortunately, once again the contractions slowed way down. Goodness. you have to be kidding me! I labored in the living room while bouncing on a birth ball. I talked to Rachel about birth and had her remind me why I was doing all this. :) I needed a little pep talk. She said, "You want the high right?" Yea, I want that. The total adrenaline rush of birthing on my own. Remembering all this. Experiencing this with my family right here with me. Showing my boys the reality of birth. And a whole lot more.

Ok, a few hours later, Rachel could tell things had picked up and knew if I was going to have a waterbirth, I needed to get into the tub NOW. So... in I went. My waterbroke within the next minute or so and after me yelling at Ben and Rachel in a little moment of panic, a minute and a half of some major pushing, Rachel pulled Brooks out of the water because I was just staring at him in disbelief. I cried and cried. I couldn't believe my baby was here. I asked if it was a boy or girl and Rachel said, "It's what you thought it was, A BOY!"

Fast forward to this past summer...

I randomly asked Ben what he had done with the pumpkins I bought on the day of Brooks BIRTHday. He said, "I threw them out back by the field. The boys and I went back and low and behold there were about 12 pumpkins growing right under the irrigation. I guess it was the perfect spot for them. Don't ask me why but I get choked up thinking about those pumpkins that I bought while I was going through the pains of labor for my boys and then watching them reseed and grow into 12 new pumpkins for our family to enjoy again the following year.

The boys and I checked on our pumpkins every day throughout the summer and fall. They kept begging to pick them. I wanted to be patient and wait for the perfect time.

October 14th. Brooks' 1st birthday was the perfect time.

I bought those pumpkins one year before and now I wanted to proudly display these pumpkins. 

So... after naps the boys and I trecked out to the little makeshift patch and picked all the pumpkins. I will admit that this is when I finally cried on his birthday. I had held it together the whole day. But not now.  

They thought it was a blast lifting up the big ones and rolling them around.

Look at those muscles Charlie!

Sawyer, I think that is the face I made when I was in labor. Actually I know it wasn't that cute. :)

Birthday boy Brooks trying to help.

Our harvest of pumpkins!

Right back where they started.

Afterward we waved at all the farmers working on their harvest. You know we love our tractors and farmers around here.

I made Ben promise that if we ever move I can arrange to come back and at least get one of our pumpkins in the fall to plant at a new home.

peace, a