Hello friends ~ so excited to introduce you to the newest member of our family! He showed up a few days ago at 7lbs 13oz, a little over a pound more than his sister.
Won’t go into many details like with Nori’s birth story, but I was a few days overdue, trying to get comfy in bed (an impossible task), when what I thought were Braxton hicks / practice contractions started to feel increasingly more painful. Not long after, I was hollering loudly from contractions every 30 minutes, while a groggy Nick uttered his famous last words “just try to relax and get some sleep…”
You’re usually advised not to go to the hospital until contractions are at a 5-1-1 frequency (5 minutes apart, 1 minute long, for 1 hour), and with Nori it took half a day at home to get that point. Nevertheless I barked that we needed to get going ASAP, and sure enough, by the time we checked into the hospital at 2AM, my contractions were ~ every 3 minutes and I welcomed that epidural with open arms!
My first time giving birth at this hospital, I was much too nervous to look at the big mirror they offered to roll into the delivery room. Curiosity got the best of me this time, and WOW…all I can say is our bodies are amazing and I can see why my husband looked so ashen!
Everyone kept telling me that pushing would be quicker the 2nd time around and that baby would slide right out, but my first was definitely the easier delivery ; ) I learned at the hospital that baby boy was positioned “sunny side up” or head down, but facing my belly instead of my back (which apparently can result in more intense contractions, and a more painful or prolonged birthing experience). The doctors tried manually turning him as I pushed, and I also recall a lot of olive oil packets being drizzled down there to facilitate the process!
All in all I’m grateful for a fairly straightforward labor & delivery – especially considering the additional precautions during COVID. For my hospital that meant you or your support person can’t leave your delivery room once you’re in, less hands-on interaction with postpartum nurses, and while I did have a mask on the entire time during labor and pushing I barely noticed it to be honest. Every hospital is different, so if you’re birthing this year definitely check with your hospital beforehand.
As far as recovery goes, oh how quickly we forget this stage … even though I knew what to expect, it hasn’t made it easier (especially since each birth can be quite different!). I do know to lend myself much more grace this time around, and having my mom here to help has been a godsend! Nori has been spoiled by her beloved “po po” with daily home baked goodies and trips to her favorite parks.
Big sister Nori practicing how to hold the baby!
Nick in a bit of disbelief that he’s now a dad of two!
What a beautiful baby, and what a sweet, happy family! Seeing you four fills my heart with joy and hope. Exactly what so many of us need right now! Congratulations!
Congratulations! Rio is so handsome! He and Nori are adorable together!
I’m so glad you have your mom there for additional help! I have 4 kids and I am a firm believer that moms need at least one month of help postpartum!
Wishing you all the best!
Congratulations and my best wishes for your lovely family! ❤️🙏🥰
CONGRATULATIONS on your beautiful new baby boy!! Nick and Nori are truly beaming with joy and pride for little Rio. Rest up, Jean, so you can love on that sweet baby.
I am so happy for you and your family, Jean! Rio is so handsome and Nori looks like she is already a good big sister. Wishing you a quick recovery!
Congratulations to your beautiful family!!
Thank you for sharing about your hospital experience; that is a great idea to check with the hospital to see what their COVID protocols are before delivery!
Congratulations on baby Rio! My oldest son, now 34, was also a “sunny side up” baby–he came into the world looking up and that has been his personality since birth facing the world head-on! Today he is the Associate Head Basketball Coach at Stanford University, and honestly, I think his determination to have things his own way was determined at birth…so just a bit of maternal wisdom for you!
Amazing! Enjoy!
Congratulations on your new bundle of joy. amazing welcoming a new life into the world.
Aww congratulations! And second baby is different from the first for sure
Congratulations to you and your family, Jean! Love Rio’s name! My son is 3 months younger than Nori, & I’m pregnant with #2. I had back labor as well and am 5’0, and it was awful 🙁 Thank you for explaining it and that it’s not easy! I’m hopeful to not have it the second time around. Were they able to turn Rio around? Mine couldn’t, but that’s amazing if they could!!
Congratulations! So happy for you and your family! These pictures are just so precious! I love the name Rio! Best wishes to you and your beautiful family!!!
Congratulations to you and your lovely family!
God bless you.
Best whishes to you
Angelika
Congratulations mamma and pappa!! I am happy to see you and baby Rio are fine. Double responsabilities :))) Nori is so cute 🙂 and baby Rio 😇is a blessing. Best wish for you and you beautiful family. 🙏
Hi Jean, I have been following your blog since 2011 (!), but haven’t left a comment until today. I can’t believe you are now a mother of two and your blog is still going strong. Actually even stronger! So many congratulations on your new addition Rio. I enjoyed reading your birth story.
Over the past 10 years I’ve regularly checked your blog. It’s helped me develop my petite Asian college student self from 2010 into a well dressed confident professional.
You are amazing! I am so glad your blog hasn’t become full of ads and impersonal articles like many I used to follow. It still retains that helpful, practical, and unique voice that it did from 2010. Sending you lots of kudos and encouragement. Congratulations again.
Congratulations! Rio is absolutely perfect and I just love how excited Nori looks holding her little bro. 🙂
I had a rough long time pushing too, because Penny was almost sunny side up and coming out at an angle. It’s crazy how fast you forget this though. Enjoy your time home and lots of sweet snuggles with the little man.
Congratulations to you and your family! Baby Rio is adorable! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Congratulations Jean! Great birth story; enjoy your babies!
Congratulations and welcome Rio!
Omg!!!! So happy for you guys 🤗 Glad you had no complications 👍🏼 Rio is beautiful and Nori is so cute holding him 😊 you guys will do great 👍🏼 Also, your “puffy legs” look like my legs all the time 😂 Hoping for an easy transition for you guys as you go from family of three to four 🤗 Congrats again!!!!
He looks so sweet. Congratulations!
Congratulations on your beautiful, precious baby boy! He shares his Birthday with my grandson! You are a beautiful family!
Ahh congratulations!!! What a gorgeous happy family and so happy for you, Jean, Nick, and Nori! Hope everyone’s doing well. My kiddo came out at a slight angle (not fully face down or sunny side up), but I remember the anxiety and maneuvers. It took me many hours of pushing which definitely made my entire lower half (especially the nether regions lol) very swollen! It goes away quick though.
Congratulations to you both! You are definitely such a brave woman, I am a mother of two also a girl and boy. I can’t wait to hear about all the details about being a boy mom.
Congratulations to the Wang/Nelson Family! Baby Rio is so precious and Nori already looks so happy to embrace him. I wonder if that bruise on Nick’s arm was of part of the aftermath from the labor and delivery.
You are still gorgeous, as ever, even with the puffy legs. That’s only temporary you will bounce back in no time! 😉 Hope you have a safe recovery. Best wishes to you and your beautiful family!
Congratulations to you two and your family on the newest member, baby Rio! He’s so adorable and precious! Love Nori’s loving look toward her little brother. Praying for your speedy and well recovery, Jean!
Congratulations Jean! He looks so precious and I especially love that photo of Nori and Rio. Take the time and have a smooth recovery!
Beautiful baby Rio! Congrats on becoming a family of four! Wishing you a quick and painless healing process. 🙂
Congratulations! I just gave birth too to baby number 3. Thank you for taking the time to share with us. I hope you have a smooth recovery!
Jean, he is beautiful! Congratulations to you, Nick and Nori!
Congratulations!! Your baby boy is so adorable. Nori looks like she’s going to be and amazing big sister, so sweet and so gentle. Best wishes!!
Welcome to the world, Rio!!
Congrats, Jean, so happy for you and your family!
I’ve heard the same about the second but also had friends whose seconds were sunny side up and gosh it sounds rough. I’m so glad you have your mom there to help out right now, that postpartum recovery time is really something else.
We’re working on our second as well and hoping really hard that the little one will arrive in the small window when we have help so I can have a support person.
A big congratulations to your growing family. Rest easy!
Congratulations and welcome Rio!! Looking forward to seeing how Nori will care for and play with him! Would love to know the story behind his name one day!
Congratulations on your new blessing! So happy to see your family grow. Wishing you all the best and rest up!
Congratulations on your smooth delivery, healthy baby boy and happy family. 💕
Congratulations to all of you on the sweetest little addition to your family!!! 🥰
Awwwww sooo adorable❤️ Loved to read the birth story… last year this time I was 6 months pregnant Nd it brought back so many happy memories🥰 Rio is so cute looks like you exactly😘
Congratulations! I love the grace and reality that you mix in your posts. Take care of yourself, rest, and give yourself all that grace in the coming weeks. Birthing a baby sunny side up is no small feat, especially when you are petite. What a beautiful family you have and you look amazing.
Congratulations to you and your beautiful family! Pictures of Nori with her baby brother are so adorable!
Congratulations! Same thing happened to me, my first was a girl, second a boy who they told me would come out easier but then he was head down but facing the wrong direction too! The shoulders have a tougher time coming out that way. Thank goodness that was with the 2nd and not the first kid! I also actually looked around and saw the placenta with baby #2, definitely more comfortable the second time around. Enjoy these precious days, My babies are 17 and 14 already, time flies.
Same with my second and expecting to push less but he was sunny side up also! And I also loved the nursing tanks from target…actually they were my favorites!
Congrats! A girl and a boy! A “好“ 字! 🙂
Congratulations Jean! You have such a beautiful family. Hope your post partum recovery goes well 🙂
Ahhhh congratulations!! So happy for your family, Jean. Baby Rio is perfect, and 姐姐 Nori is so precious!! Wishing you a speedy recovery <3
Congratulations on your smooth delivery, healthy baby boy and happy family. 💕
Wishing your beautiful family the very best! May you find grace❤️
Akiya
Beautiful!!! I was hoping for more details! Hope all is well and recovering well ❤️
Beauty babe, beautiful mama!
Wishing you health in your recovery!
Congratulations! The pictures of you and your family are wonderful!
Rio is just gorgeous! Congratulations!
Congratulations!! He is adorable, I’m so happy for you and your family. My second baby was also the more (ahem) challenging birth story, so I can relate! 🙂 Blessings to you and your family!
Congratulations to you and the proud dad and newly promoted big sister! What a blessing! Congratulations to the whole family!
I’m so happy for you Jean! I’ve followed your blog for several years now, and while I have always loved your fashion, I have also fallen in love with your life.