Here we go again, baby!

I was lucky to be able to start my maternity leave at 39 weeks this time around. I was still feeling really good, but work was slow & things at home were hectic (Christmas, baby, regular life!) so I took advantage of the time. It was also really nice to have the extra one on one time with Aleesia, not something her and I were ever really able to enjoy.

I had prodromal labor, again, for a week! This time though I was much less concerned with it and almost embraced it! I knew that I had been there, done this and that when it was ACTUALLY time I would know – that took the uneasiness I had last time away. I had an appointment on a Friday, 39w5d, and knew that I would have her strip my  membranes that day (I was at 4cm at my appt, I knew things were moving in the right direction!) which I did. Gianna spent the night with my parents and Aleesia and I had a date night at Target followed by dinner from Wendy’s, complete with a frosty!

I woke up on Saturday around 6am with contractions and I knew this was the real deal. I took the time to drink some coffee, bounce on my ball, and enjoy the quiet before Aleesia and Mike woke up. I knew this wasn’t going to happen too fast so I took my time! I ate breakfast, eventually packed my bag, called my midwife, had my sister come and get Aleesia, and we decided around 9:30 to head to the hospital because my mom was getting anxious!

 

The hospital was busy busy busy that day, of course, so it took awhile for us to get through triage and into a labor room – but there were no questions on whether they would keep me or not this time. I was having good contractions, bloody show, all the right signs!

 

I was getting questions from pretty much everyone about actually being in labor, just like last time, since I was talking, laughing, being totally normal during and between contractions. At this point I was 5/6cm. We got into a labor room around 12:30/1pm.

{{We were lucky to have Christine (Bella Rose Photography) with us to photograph the birth again. There are going to be some images that tell this story that are quite dynamic – you have been warned.}}

This is when things got a little strange – no one ever really checked me into the room, I had one rude nurse come in and say “I’m not taking her as my patient”, eventually someone came in and put my hep-lock in and got me some water. Our midwife came in (we went over my birth plan quickly), and then we were pretty much left to do what we wanted. I didn’t even change out of my clothes at this point!

We walked around for a little while.

Hung out in the room and goofed around between contractions and ice-chomping.

I got a labor ball and bounced. And had a popsicle snack.

Before I knew it was around 3 – my contractions were picking up in intensity but I was still relatively comfortable. I decided to go ahead and change into a gown and I had Theresa recheck me at this point and was disappointed when she said there wasn’t much change. I stalled at this exact same spot with Aleesia, so I asked her to break my water then in hopes it would help the baby move into a better position. I hung out in the room – walked around, bounced, etc.

Mike and my mom traded places hanging out next to me!

After a big gush of fluid she noticed a slight bit of meconium – all that meant was if she came out crying there would be no change in plans, if she didn’t, they would have to take her before I got to hold her. I didn’t let it freak me out or mess with my head though. I ended up having to stay on the monitors longer than I wanted because as my contractions picked up, she had a few decels that our midwife wanted to keep an eye on. This was slightly frustrating, but I made the best of it. I wanted to stand up almost the whole time – it was more comfortable, actually.

The hard work started around this time, but I made the best of the time between contractions. I could even still laugh!

 

More ball bouncing thanks to my close monitoring.

I don’t really remember taking my glasses off, but obviously thinks were serious at that point. I asked Theresa to check me again around this time to be incredibly disappointed with little progress. 

I got pretty flustered but Theresa and Mike were great at reassuring me that things change quickly and to stay focused. So I cried a little. And then I did just what they said, got my focus back.

I was working hard at this point – my contractions were intense about 90% of the time and I was breathing through them with the occasional need to make whatever noise emerged from my mouth. Mike was fabulous, as usual. He made sure I was drinking water when I couldn’t remember to do anything but breathe.

I was pretty much done talking now and focused totally on the peek of each contraction.

Welcome to out world

Vivian Marie
Saturday December 20, 2014
8:53pm
8 pounds 11 ounces
22 inches

After a 15 hour unmedicated labor and delivery, this dark haired girl joined us!

We have had a LOT of life happening over the past 2 weeks - so please forgive my delay on announcing her arrival. More details, pictures, birth story, reflections coming soon!

Squeezing in the holidays some more

I know I mentioned the other day about how we are squeezing in lots of holiday cheer – so let’s recap what memories we have been able to create so far in December:

Mr. Kringle’s Inventionasium

Gianna’s school program

(she’s in the 2nd row, on the right behind the little girl with the walking cast)

Breakfast with Santa with the little cousins

And a holiday party date night with a handsome guy!

a letter to my {third} daughter

hey there baby girl -

It’s been 39 weeks since you started growing into the little tiny person who is kicking around on the inside today. I have spent nearly that amount time wrapping my brain around the fact that you are our third child, our third little girl. Trying to figure out how are we so blessed and being abundantly thankful that we ARE so blessed.

I have to be honest with you, though. I haven’t been able to to spend much time reflecting on how life is going to change with you in it. I haven’t been able to hand write you a single letter that is just for you. I haven’t been able to take as many pictures to document how you have grown inside my belly. But I have been able to enjoy every wiggle, kick, flip, spin, and dance move from the inside. Sometimes you put on quite the show and we can all see how you move by the way you wiggle around in there. You will even move away from (or toward) my hands when I set them on my stomach. The last time we got to see you we found out that all that heartburn mommy has been complaining about is in fact due to a full head of hair on your little head!

I am thankful to have felt really good this entire pregnancy, so thanks for going easy on me. You have two big sisters who are anxiously waiting on you to come out and meet them. Gianna is beyond thrilled to hold you, to take care of you, to love you. She is also excited to teach Aleesia how to be a big sister. Aleesia, she doesn’t really know what to think right now but I know she is going to love you so much. She’s been practicing how to hold a baby, and how to rock a baby, and she really is the best little cuddler you have yet to meet. Daddy is getting really excited too, he is practically begging you to come out anytime now!

My newest little friend, I need you to know that just because you are the third doesn’t mean you are any less loved than your sisters. I know now that our hearts grow to accommodate each child and love them each to the moon and back. And sisters, oh sisters they are so awesome. I have two sisters (plus bonus step sisters!) and you know what, you all might not (ok, won’t!) always get along  all of the time, but I truly pray that you will be each others best friends for all your lives. There is truly no other relationship like it in the whole world.

We are ready for you to come and live here – your room is ready and Gianna even spent time today making it look extra perfect for you. The swing is set up. The car seat is out and ready for you to ride in. Your closet is full of adorable, teeny, tiny, clothes for you to wear. I even heard that Santa has a little something special for you if you arrive in time! We prayed for you, we have been waiting patiently for you to get big enough to come out, and I can’t wait to see who you are!

*Bella Rose Photography

I’m ready to share your wiggly self with the daddy, Gianna, and Aleesia (and everyone else, too, I suppose!) and we are all just so ready to love on you from the outside.

xo

Mommy

Memory catching

I was reading through some blog posts from the end of Aleesia’s pregnancy. So many things are so similar right now – and I’ll get to that, but first – some memory catching NEEDS to happen.

Things to remember about Gianna:

• The age of five is seriously great. She is such a grown up kid but still very much my little girl. Our conversations are hilariously logical and I wish I could record all of them! Lately she has been ending stories she tells me with “it was classic” or “you just wouldn’t believe it”
• She still mispronounces some things. For example, she made a pilgrim bonnet at school and kept telling me it was a vomit! And a bench = vench.
• Gianna LOVES to just rock out in the car. Taylor Swift is a big favorite of hers, but she will sing along to any song she hears and she usually asks me to turn it up!
• She can tell a story with her eyes – they sparkle when she is excited, they show every ounce of frustration or sadness before she says anything at all, they light up when she is surprised or happy. Those blue eyes are the key to her heart and sole, no doubt about it.
• Gianna is a wonderful big sister. She is helpful and caring and nurturing. She also likes her space, which is okay.
• She still loves to help clean and to just generally be helpful! She is so proud of herself when she is a good helper.
• Her dream is to be a ballerina one day. And maybe a horse rider or a pop star.
• Gianna has one of the most vivid imaginations and it comes out in so many ways – she will play with her toys for hours on end making up stories/adventures for them, she likes to color/create things and she makes up songs.
• The older she gets, the more she likes to snuggle up together.

Things to remember about Aleesia:

• The age of 1.5 is so super fun and Aleesia is on a serious language explosion. I can’t possibly list all of the words that she can say but new favorites are “sinta” (santa), “thank you mommy/welcome mommy” (she says them all together!), “muncle” (uncle), “selsa” (Elsa), “nakey” (naked). Not a word really, but she likes to sing too and will randomly sing parts of ‘Let it go’ and the thinking chair song from blues clues!
• If Gianna has it, she wants, or wants to be looking at it/playing with it. She for sure looks up to her big sister.
• Coloring is one of her favorite things to do. And puzzles.
• We are getting into independent play and it is really fun to watch her play and imagine as well. Tonight, in fact, she put an Ariel doll to bed before we went into her room!
• She is still the sweetest snuggler I have ever met!
• Binkie and blankie are never far from her, although we are getting to the point where binkie needs to stay in bed when she is awake because we don’t want her to talk with it in her mouth. Although, admittedly, I am slacking on enforcing this at the moment but plan to get a lot more serious about it when I am home with the baby!
• She loves shoes and clothes. But mostly, she loves accessories. She wakes up every morning and says “I wanna bow” and makes just about anything into a pretty!
• Aleesia also has a big personality – she knows when she is being bad and has this look that she will give you that makes you want to scream and crack up laughing at the same time. She has a big time pouty lip and can bring on the crocodile tears easily. She also just started literally dropping to the floor or putting her head in her hands when you tell her no as if you just devastated her beyond repair! She also has such a big, bright smile and bright eyes that you can’t be mad at her for long.

To remember about this pregnancy:

• I have felt so good (with a few exceptions) the entire time. Seriously, I don’t have a thing to complain about.
• Except the heartburn – but I know she has hair so it’s worth it, right?!
• I am 38 weeks pregnant and my feet just started to swell and I am just starting to really “feel” as pregnant as I am. But my wedding rings still fit!
• This little lady is no different than her sisters in that she is super super active and strong! And she also prefers to lay on the right side.
• There hasn’t been much focusing on being pregnant, which I think attributes to how good I feel, but every day on my way to and from work I enjoy the quiet time with her and usually have my hand on my stomach as I drive.
• I am not sleeping much these days, which isn’t very fun, but she is so active sometimes at night one swift kick to the ribs or punch to the hip wakes me up!
• Her big sisters are very excited to meet her. Gianna can.not.freaking.wait until she gets here and Aleesia, well, she has no real idea of what is happening but she’s excited because Gianna is.
• My hair was fabulous until a week or so ago – I want my nice pregnancy hair back!
• My stomach is much rounder this time than I remember it being before. And I apparently look like I am going to give birth at any moment the way people have been acting!
• I’m starting to get a little cranky/extra hormonal but I know that has a lot to do with the holiday season, constantly doing all the things that need to get done, and just you know being unavoidably tired!

To remember about life in general – it is so good right now! We all have our moments and not all the days are great, but I can’t truly remember being this happy and content with the way life is playing out around me – possibly ever. I know a lot of that is my general outlook on things, but it’s also a lot of hard work that has paid off to get us here. While I could do without winter and a little more certainty around when my newest peanut will be coming out to meet us, there is just so much to be thankful and joyful for I feel like I am living in an alternate universe sometimes! But I sure am enjoying the ride.