Our first week as parents

In some ways I can't believe all these things have happened in one week (it's been the busiest week we've had in a long time) and in other ways I can't believe Elliott is a whole week old. Parenthood has already been challenging and rewarding. We are so blessed and in absolute LOVE with our beautiful baby. 

Elliott's Birth Story

Last Sunday night we had just finished decorating the house for Christmas. We were on our way to bed when my water broke. We got to the hospital right around the same time my contractions really noticeably started. 

Five hours later I desperately asked for an epidural and received one shortly after. After feeling such sweet relief, Zack and I took a nap. All this time was going by but absolutely nothing was happening. I'd only dilated one centimeter from where I had been for the last couple weeks. So, they started me on Pitocin to get some consistent and efficient contractions going. 

Things were going great, and I was finally moving along. A couple hours later I was being checked by my doctor when the baby's heart rate dropped. They put me on oxygen and started flipping me over side to side to see if the baby was pinching the cord. No one could figure out what was causing the drop. Within minutes I was in the OR about to be put under general anesthesia. I was greeted by about 15 different people in OR rushing around all tasked with their own jobs. Everyone was reassuring me everything would be okay. I honestly wasn't nervous at all. God was comforting me and I was overcome with peace. I was grateful my doctor was on call that night. I trusted his judgement and was comfortable with his call to get the baby out as quickly as possible. I wish Zack could have been with me, and I wish that at least one of us could have witnessed the birth of our son. But...I woke up with the news that a healthy beautiful baby boy was waiting for me with his daddy. Through my groggy eyes I could see a white board. I kept reading it over and over Pittman 0650 8 lbs 6 oz 21.5" I was so happy!

A few hours later I got to meet our little man. I was wheeled into the room as tears started streaming down my face. It was incredible to see Zack holding a little bundle. Elliott opened his eyes to let me talk to him and feed him. It was amazing. 

The hospital was a busy place not offering much rest. We were happy

to go home in time for Thanksgiving. Luckily granmama was with us...because I'm pretty sure we wouldn't have made it though the week without help! Elliott had some other visitors, too. Thankfully daddy is off work till we move and training begins again. We get family time for the three of us to bond.

Things I don't want to forget about you, Elliott, at 1 week old:

-You talked to everyone in the hospital. You had so many funny sounds. You're much quieter at home. 

-You love to put your hands by your ears and your fourth fingers by your eyes. No matter how tightly you're swaddled, your hands get free!

-Daddy wore his flight helmet and ear plugs one day when you were extra fussy. Don't worry, you're not fussy now that you're getting enough to eat! You're just a happy babe. 

-You love to wait till your diaper is off to make a mess across the room, against the wall, into your bed, on our bed....you name it. You're definitely a boy. 

-You don't mind bath time too badly, and daddy is the best bather. 

-Hazel protects you. Hadley is jealous of you. Both of them are curious. 

-You have the cutest sneezes and the funniest almost sneezes. 

-Daddy's favorite is when you sleep on his chest. Mama's favorite is watching you and daddy together-you're going to be best buds. 

Thanks for coming into our lives. 

Elliott William Gordon Pittman

November 25, 2013

0650

8 lbs 6 oz

21.5"

Due Date

Well, we did it. We have reached my due date, and are anxiously awaiting Elliott's arrival. Trying to stay patient and enjoy all this time we have. People are sending all kinds of advice, but what we hear the most is to enjoy this time. Trust me, we have been. With neither of us working we have been spending 24/7 together doing all the things we never had time for. We have been finishing books right and left, making headway on our never ending reading lists. Zack runs with the dogs while I take long walks each day enjoying our perfect fall weather. We watch movies, make meals together, and sleep for sometimes up to 11 hours a night...yes, we know that is going to end real quick! We even have half our Christmas shopping completed and wrapped... we're running out of things to occupy our time!

 

We've planned our next move, which is rapidly approaching. Zack is going to be brave and move on his own. He'll leave here with the dogs and make the long drive to Albuquerque. I am also going to be brave and fly with a newborn to Reno for a visit, then drive with my brother to meet up with Zack at Kirtland. Pretty excited to start off the new year with a vacation and then new home (even if it is only for a few months).

 

Hopefully my next post will include ever-so-cute pictures of our little one.

We are ready for you, Elliott!

Maternity Photos

Thanks to Carlie at Fitz Fotography we had these beautiful photos taken at Elliott Bay Marina while we were in Seattle this September.

 

 

This was my belly at 30 weeks. Today I am full-term at 37 weeks and ready for him to arrive. I still feel great and everything has been going well. We have truly been blessed this entire pregnancy. Zachariah and I completed a birthing class at our hospital this weekend and now we are rather impatient for the big day. C'mon lil guy!

 

 

Road Trip

October has been splendid. I am no longer working and Zachariah only flies and/or works a shift at the squadron occasionally. We have plenty of time to spend together and enjoy before the baby arrives. 

So, we planned our last pre-baby road trip to see some places before we leave the south. 

We started with a stop in Atlanta to check out the aquarium. The whale sharks were our favorite part. 

 

 

Then we spent time in Greenville with the Kelloughs. We got quite the tour of their lovely downtown and enjoyed time with family. 

Charleston was a must see destination for me. I'd always wanted to explore the city. The weather was perfect and we showed up on the "2nd Sunday" where they close down King Street for vendors and musicians. We walked all around looking at all the historical buildings, beautiful harbor, and quirky houses. The marketplace was fun to check out. And our favorite part was an organic, local dinner out on the balcony of an old mansion. We made sure to try a bowl of she-crab soup before we left town.

  

 

Our favorite stop was, without a doubt, Savannah. What a gorgeous city. We stayed right downtown near the river and had a great view from the rooftop pool-which was Zack's first stop. We walked along the riverfront and through the city squares and parks. The new SpongeBob movie was being filmed as we walked through Main Street to shop, so look for us on the sidewalks :) Our favorite part of Savannah was dinner, too. I think we like eating! But it was in a historic mansion, as well. The waiters told us all the history behind the house in between courses. We would love to come back one day and spend more time.

 

 

 

Seattle in September

Zachariah received orders for SERE school in Spokane, and we were able to turn his training trip into a little vacation. We flew to Seattle at the beginning of September and were able to visit family, friends, and our favorite places.

As soon as we landed, we were greeted by Matt and Madeline! It's pretty awesome when life brings friends together randomly. Then, we headed home to Centralia, over to Tri-Cities, and back to Centralia for some good time with family. We went back to Bellevue to spend a day with our favorite family, settled into Seattle for a perfect weekend, and snuck off to Port Townsend to have a little getaway-just the two of us. It was absolutely wonderful. Thank you to everyone who hosted us, made time to see us, and gave us rides/let us borrow their car.

 

Elliott was spoiled along the way. Each stop someone very special in his life showered him with a gift. From a hand painting of a helicopter, to the beginning of his childhood library, to a precious quilt...we are so blessed to have people who already love our son so much.

As our vacation came to an end, I had to send Zachariah off to Fairchild AFB and say goodbye for the next month. I headed home to the pups and my last few weeks of work. 

The rest of summer

August

 

After graduation, Zachariah took a road trip with his dad around Alabama. They visited relatives around Mobile, Tuscaloosa, and then I met them in Phenix City.

 

I completed my second trimester and got ready for the final weeks. We toured the maternity ward at the hospital, and are very happy with our choice of doctors and hospitals. Everyone at the squadron was considerate about keeping us updated on our next steps to make sure that dates would work out with the delivery. I am so thankful we will be here to deliver.

 

Work kept me busy, even on Zack's birthday and our anniversary. But we celebrated as best we could and knew that we would have more time to celebrate on our upcoming trip to Seattle.

 

Zachariah turned 26 and the next week we shared our third anniversary!

 

Alabama was extremely hot and extremely rainy this summer. We got rather cranky and bored being indoors for months. Luckily summer came to a close, and we take back all the negative things we said about living here...well, most of them. We are grateful to be here for the rest of the year because so many exciting things are on their way. I promise to blog about them a little more promptly!

Sweet Shower

To add to the graduation festivities, we had a baby shower thrown in the midst. Our dear friend, Angela, wanted to host a baby shower for us. Since we are both Air Force wives, the planning went a little like this, When would you like me to host your baby shower? I don't know...I don't know how long we'll live here after graduation I don't know how much longer we'll live here either. And so just like that the day after graduation seemed like a grand idea! Plus, family was in town!!!!!

 

Angela did such an amazing job. And, Angela...I continue to get comments from guests about the wonderful job you did. Thank you for all your hard work putting it together. It was simply lovely. She had everything prepped and packed up that morning, drove from Pensacola, and just had to set everything out when she got here. In a matter of moments, really, we had this...

 

 

 

 

 

All the food was delish! We played some fun games, including a very funny mad libs, and everyone helped decorate Elliott's first ABC book. Thank you to everyone for coming and for great gifts for baby. Now that we're pretty sure we'll be here for delivery, I'm starting to set up everything in the nursery. Sadly, we won't have a completed nursery till two moves away when we're settled in LV, but I can start some nesting in the meantime!

 

 

Thank You, Angela!

Zack's Wings

For the last six years, Zack has worked very hard to get these wings. First, getting through ROTC and being selected for pilot. Then moving on to UPT at Vance on the T-6. Then moving on to SUPT-H at Rucker on the TH-1. After all those academics, sims, flights, and countless hours of studying, Zack has reached his goal and is now a winged aviator of the United States Air Force! (he also is commercially rated for both fixed and rotary wing-so its just a matter of time before he gets to take me up!)

 

Graduation Day

zack teaching us about the huey

so long huey...

...hello pavehawk

Zack and Zach checking out their new ride
 

just a boy and his dad



the 60 cockpit



miles, mom, zack, and me

All these pictures are from our morning activities. We had a meet and greet at the squadron, got to try out night vision goggles, and took a peek at the TH-1 and HH-60G. We have to wait for the professional pictures of the actual ceremony because ours turned out so dark. But the ceremony was short and sweet. LTC Denehan, the 23rd FTS commander, spoke, as well as, COL Thomas McCarthy. Zack's class gave out some great gifts, then they were given their wings. I got to pin Zack's wings on and give them a good first punch. Zack had quite the crowd on stage to give him his wings--a great part of being from a large family. Zack was then awarded the AETC Commander's Trophy, the Military Leadership Award, and was the Distinguished Graduate for the class of 13-09. We are so proud of all his hard work. He is deserving of these honors.

 

 

can you see his shiny wings?



Zack is pretty happy with his graduation present!

 

 

Congratulations to SUPT-H Class 13-09

 

 

 

A Trip in Pictures

The rest of Dad's visit.

 

checking out the huey

with the pilot right before drop

our bellies!

Pensacola food. yum!

 

exploring ft pickens

 

We also did some sushi, Ft. Rucker museum, Mother Rucker's, Dothan Botanical Gardens, and a class dinner. Oh, and a little something called Drop Night.