Birth Day!

All the kiddos at Jamie's the night before, ready for a sleep over!
My traditional hospital gown pose, 38 weeks 5 days.

All ready for the day!

My dad enjoys monitoring the baby's heartbeat and my contractions on the screens.

Just passing time......

Getting ready to push, going into deep concentration.

Here she is!!!

Will her hair be curly like brother's?

8lbs 14oz

Getting her ready to be swaddled up for momma!

Nothing sweeter :)

Proud daddy holding his second baby girl.

Number three! How does it all happen so fast?!

June 15, 2010:

My whole pregnancy, I had hoped that I'd be delivering at 39 weeks, like I did with Paxton. I had been induced due to his size, he ended up being 10lbs 1oz, so I figured the same thing would happen. The last few doctor appointments can be so frustrating because not much happens! I guess I was always secretly hoping he'd tell me some really exciting news, like what, I'm not even really sure!

At my 38 week appointment I was really hoping he'd start talking about inducing. At the beginning of the appointment, it didn't look like he was even going to bring it up. I was there with my mom and both of my kids. Finally, conversation started into that direction. It looked like she was going to possibly be on the bigger side if I went full term. So, he said he was going to check with the hospital and call me with the date and time I needed to be there. I was so relieved and anxious to hear when it'd be! I knew it was going to be the next week some time.

We left and ran all of the last minute errands, knowing it would be my last chance to get some things done for a while! Soon after, I got the call that we needed to be at the hospital on June 15 at 6:oo am. I felt a mix of emotions. Relief, excitement, anxious and a million other things!

I had intentionally waited to do everything to get ready for the baby. So that meant I had six days to do it all! Thank goodness I had an enormous amount of help. My mom and Jamie came over and just knew what they needed to do. It was such a huge relief for me. I had another lady come over and help to some deep cleaning. I wanted ever square inch cleaned! I called and scheduled for the carpets to also get cleaned.

The day before I had her, my mom took me to get a pedicure so that I didn't scare the doctor with my feet :) It was a very nice way to relax and it felt so good on my poor, aching feet! We ate some dinner, got ice cream and were also able to fit in a stop to Burlington Coat Factory and found a few last minute things.

Jamie was nice enough to have my kids spend the night at her house since we had to leave so early for the hospital. My goal was to get to bed nice and early, but that didn't happen. So when 3:30 am rolled around and I couldn't sleep, I knew it'd be a long day!

At 4:00 am I called the hospital to make sure there was a bed available for me. I had been so nervous that they would be full and post pone me, but thank goodness that didn't happen! We were on our way at about 5:15 am. It's always such a surreal feeling to know that you are on your way to have such a life changing thing happen!

I was really hoping that she would come a little earlier than Paxton had. With him, we got to the hospital at 7:00 am and he wasn't born until ten that night. But, with being induced, you never know how it's going to turn out! I had some really good nurses and my doctor came in several times to check on me and break my water.

My mom, dad, and Jamie all came in the early afternoon. I knew that I was going to get an epidural, so I went ahead and did it sooner rather than possibly waiting too long and not being able to get one! It took effect and I felt great!

A while later a nurse came in and had me sit in a different position, criss cross applesauce, as she called it, rather than laying down. That kicked everything into high gear! Within about 35 minutes I was ready to push. We had to wait for my doctor to come in because the nurse didn't want to deliver her :) One contraction and three pushes later and she was here at 7:47 pm.

I've always loved the whole labor. It's such an amazing experience. It makes all the pains of the whole pregnancy feel so worth it! I love when they place that fresh baby onto you for the first time. Meeting that little human that you have felt moving inside of you for the first time is so precious.

She weighed in at 8lbs 14oz and 21 inches long. She seemed so petite compared to Paxton! Her head was so small and her legs seemed like little bird legs! I am so glad that my mom, dad, and Jamie were able to be there and experience her birth with Mike and I. It is such a beautiful experience to welcome a baby into the world fresh from Heaven!