Xander Bankz Erickson - the Name

 

I love names rich with meaning and history - or family ties.  We really struggled when it came to finding the perfect name for this little boy.  Some top contenders were Jake, Ryan, Ian Own, and Crew.  We just couldn't settle on one name and decided we were wait till he was born.  

The night before I had Xander, Christopher and I were talking about middle names.  We came up with the idea of making a name using our 5 other kids first letters of their names.  Christopher came up with Bankz and I loved it!  Bankz it was!  Middle name was decided, now we just needed that elusive first name - and Jake (my top pick) was now out since Jake Bankz didn't sound great together.

We still hadn't decided by the time I was walked back to the OR.  The nurse had taken our top names and wrote them on the board in our room.  We put Xander on the list - which hadn't really been a name we had thought anything about.  As I was laying there on the table I was really hoping I would know what his name was to be when I saw him.  As soon as they lowered the curtain Xander popped into my mind.  That was it.  His name was going to be Xander Bankz.  Talking to Christopher later on, he said he had the same impression when he saw him.  

With both of us having this experience I still had a hard time making it official.  I knew it wouldn't be a popular name, especially with my family (and I was right, my mom said "Wow, I've never heard of that name" and my dad said "why would they name him a hollywood name?  Christopher must have picked it out")  Not the reaction I was hoping for, especially since it meant so much to me, but it is what it is.  

Xander means "defender of Men" and Bankz is all of his people, Ben, Andrew, Nick, Kallie, and Zack.  I thought it held so much meaning and perfectly capped off our little family of six kids with one name.  I love it.

We have a baby!

 Today is the day I've been waiting for since I found out I was pregnant back in October....delivery day! I originally had a noon delivery time, but the day before my delivery they called and asked if I could do 11am instead (and told me my blood test came back as o positive blood type...which is weird because I'm o negative...that inspired lots of confidence in the hospital right before major surgery!)  Christopher has been crazy busy at work and has been going non stop since coming home from Hawaii - so I actually drove to the hospital while he finished up a conference call.  That was a first for me!  Before heading out, we took some last pictures with this big belly of mine - and as a family of 7!  We should've planned to do this the day before since Nick was still sleeping, but we did the best we could!

We finally made it to the hospital and got all checked in.  It was bittersweet knowing this was the last time I would be here having a baby.  It's always such a magical experience meeting this new little person you've been dreaming about for 10 months - and this was the last time we were going to experience it.

They wouldn't let Dad come into the operating room while I had my spinal put in (another first), so we took a few pictures as I headed out and he waited to be called back.  They got me all prepped for the surgery, then called Dad into the room.

This first peek of our little guy.  Look at all that dark hair!

This might be my favorite picture.  Xander Bankz entering the world at 11:41am on Tuesday, July 13, 2021.

My first sight!  I love that the doctor spiked up his hair before lowering the curtain.  

Once I was a able to see the baby they handed him off to the nurses and Dad went over to be with him while they finished with me.  This hospital staff wasn't great at taking pictures for us so there is no pictures of Dad cutting the cord or a nice picture of the three of us in the OR.  Shoot!  Poor little Xander didn't love being poked and prodded by the nurses.  He was over it by the time they wrapped him up and handed him off to Dad.  I thought he would be around 7 to 7 1/2 pounds and I was right!  He weighed in at 7 lbs and 5 oz, 19 3/4 inches long.  

I finally got to hold this sweet boy when I got back into my room.  He just snuggled right up and didn't stop telling all about his hard morning.  This little guy squeaks, talks, moans, groans, squawks, whines, and is just constantly making sounds.  The NICU nurses came in to check his breathing since they thought he was struggling because of the grunts he was making.  Nope, he was fine.  Just telling us all about life.

After we got into our room they checked the baby's blood sugar.  They were shocked it was so low, 35.  Ideally it would be around 45 an hour after birth.  Since it was so low they had to give him a sugar stick.  It looked like a honey stick, but with sugar inside.  He loved it.  

Xander was so alert and ready to take in the world!  He has the biggest eyes and loves looking at everything.  He loves noise and being right in the middle of it all.  Just like when I was pregnant with him!

While we were still in the recovery room Xander pooped!  The nurses were so impressed since most babies wait 24 hours or so.  This kid is a go getter!  haha!

I love these pictures of Christopher and Xander.  What an amazing photographer we hired......(me...from my bed...an hour after surgery.  See - an amazing photographer!)

Christopher trying to capture Xander's look for our kids at home.  Because of Covid all the kids couldn't visit so we did lots of facetimes and picture shares.

Two hours after being born a room opened up in the postpartum ward so we were moved to room 2207! 

I Graduated!

Let's just be honest for a half second, this pregnancy has been hard, really hard.  Like in bed all day every day, can't cook, can't clean, can't sleep, can't move, can't walk, can't eat, can't lift.....if it's a normal thing for a mom to do, I can't do it.  Then add in a few complications with the baby, pregnancy, me, diabetes, and we've got a whole party going on with doctor appointments 3 times a week, getting ultrasounds twice a week, checking my blood four times a day and having the baby on a heartbeat monitor twice a week.  Then add in the mom guilt because I'm doing nothing and everyone is picking up all the slack - and I'm a basket case.  It's hard when you see things that you can normally do and suddenly you can't do them and you just feel worthless and like a burden.

Around 25-29 weeks I started being able to drive and that was a nice change, but for the most part Christopher has been mom and dad, working full time, making all my meals, doing all the shopping, taking me to all my appointments, and caring for me.  It's been hard.  Thankfully we have amazing kids who will jump in and help with Nick.  I know COVID has been hard on many people and many families, but for ours it has been a lifesaver having everyone home.  We couldn't have had these last two babies without it.

So my last OB appointment was really something I wanted to celebrate.  Crumbl Cookie just opened in the next town over and I've been dying to have one.  Since I have to watch my sugars, and I react so weird to foods, I've been waiting for the perfect time to indulge.  It was soooo good and tasted amazing.  Yes it took me 3 days to finish it, yes it made my sugars go nuts, yes it made me so sick and I couldn't get off the couch for hours after a bite - but it was worth it :)  

 

Baby Boy 38 weeks 3 days photo shoot

While the rest of my family is beachside. I'm home with this little man. Today we went for our twice weekly photo shoot and check up for him. He is looking great and has the biggest lips and fullest cheeks. He always has his hands up against his face and turned cuddled up to the placenta, but I think the gal got some great shots today!  In 6 days I get to actually hold this little guy and kiss those cheeks!