You were born December 10, 2015 at12:39 pm in Vicksburg, Mississippi at River Region Hospital. You surprised everyone with your size! 11 lbs 1 oz, 21.5 inches long and a head circumference of 15.75 inches! We knew your head would be big because at 28 weeks it was in the 88th percentile. But it is the perfect head for your body!
Your life is a miracle and we are so thankful that you are part of our family! We prayed for over two years to have another child. We were just finishing the foster care classes when we also decided to try one more month of clomid to conceive a baby. I had read in Alma about how Alma fasts and prays for Alma the Younger who is passed out because of his experience with the angel. I knew we needed fast and the Lord would let us know if foster care or natural conception would bring us our second child. I found out that I was pregnant with you the day we moved into 215 Redbud Dr. What a joy!
Here is an excerpt from our family blog:
Taft was due December 9th. I had supposed I would naturally go into labor like I did with Alyssa and this time I had a plan. Me and the shower were going to be good friends and I was going to be strong, yea, even mighty and in control.
Yet my mistake was in the assumption that this labor would start like Alyssa's. It didn't. December 8th came and I still had no signs of contractions. After consulting with my doctor combined with some incredible fears I had concerning the well being of this baby, I was convinced to be induced on December 10th.
We went in at 6 AM. Emily Stephens kindly came over to watch Alyssa. I ate a bowl of oatmeal even though I wasn't supposed to and then we were off to the hospital! I was wearing my pregnancy uniform - Teen Age Mutant Ninja Turtles shirt and stretchy pants! It was a foggy, humid humid morning.
By 8:30 AM the petocin had begun and the epidural was on its way. Erik and I engaged in a good game of Scrabble, which we finished before I gave birth. I won 272 - 260. By 11:30 AM or so the epidural was wearing off and I could feel the contractions. This was fine with me because I didn't want to be a 100% wimp. I was smooth and in control. I did manage to master that part of my plan. No shower though...darn.
At 12:39 PM Taft entered our lives in this air breathing world. They put him on me and he was BIG and swollen but alive and I was so happy and so relieved!!
Alyssa came to visit shortly thereafter. The adjustment didn't seem traumatic, but she was a little weary of her new little brother.
After two days in the hospital we finally got to go home! I love home and I was so grateful to be taking my little man with me!
Now let me sum up by sharing an excerpt from an email I sent Claire:
"My heart is so full of gratitude and appreciation that Taft is here safely. I have had a really hard time being totally excited because if he hadn't made it, I would have been devastated. But he did make it and I see that God's hand has been in it. I also feel such a strong appreciation for the Savior and His Atonement. It is important and related to everything. He strengthens us through His grace. He is real! And our Heavenly Father is real too. It is a feeling that goes with knowing that the conception and birth of Taft is a manifestation of His love for me and the desire He has that I be happy!
So I wanted to go natural for awhile. That seemed to be the most exciting thing...ya know, the drama of sudden pain and anticipation ending because the time to work was finally here! But after seeing the doctor on Tuesday, which was an ordeal in and of itself because she was delivering babies during my appointment and I had to go back later, I realized scheduling to be induced would be smart. That and I felt as I prayed about it that Heavenly Father knew my desire to go natural...at least start that way, and if there was a reason I shouldn't, then the induction would be set up.
His heart rate was fine during labor. It was all uncomplicated and I'm not totally sure why God helped me be induced...but he also helped me have a wonderful experience. He blessed me with a great nurse, he blessed Taft's hand to be by his face so she could pull it out and it allowed the rest of him to slide out without complication or c section. He blessed us with a giant, healthy baby! I am thankful for that."
I really did and do have an overwhelming feeling that God wants us to be happy. The blessings we desire do not always come the way we want them to, but they come. I haven't been unhappy in my waiting for Taft. These last couple of years have been magnificent and we have had wonderful and joyous experiences. And now I am even happier with my wonderful children and the joy and light they bring into our lives!
