We decided to tell our families at almost 8 weeks. We FaceTimed the Morthlands on Friday night and had Ellery walk up to the phone with this t-shirt on:
It took a second for them to catch on, but once Corliss read the shirt she kept saying "It says big sister! It says big sister!" John said "Well that happened sooner than I had thought it would!" Corliss said she had been waiting. Haha! Aunt Marilyn was there so we were able to tell her as well!
We were in Lake Charles for my cousin Kalie's wedding on Saturday. Plus my mom's birthday was that Monday so we decided to celebrate that weekend. We had her open presents and cards on Saturday. She cried because Kelsey got her a Wizard of Oz card and then cried again because Anna bought a sentimental card for the first time in her life. Once mom got to our card we asked her to read it out loud. She was a mess and could hardly finish it but was able to say that Papa Rick was going to be so excited!
No one asked me why I wasn't drinking at the wedding so that was a relief. I figure everyone assumed it was because I was busy chasing Ellery around all night. Lucky for my family they had a designated driver at the end of the night!
We had a follow up appointment at 8 weeks and 5 days! Bitty grew so much in 2 weeks! His/her heart rate was at 176 and Dr. Gautrea said she was very pleased with Bitty's progress. I marked the sonogram up so everyone can know what they are looking at. I know to most it just looks like a lima bean.
We are excited to announce that Bitty Boo #2 is on his/her way! We found out on September 14th. We had just returned home from church and the chinese buffet at Hunan's. I was a week late already and we planned to wait to take the test but I was too anxious! Of course for good luck I used First Response, which is the same brand that I used when I found out with Ellery. I stared at the test waiting for that second line to show. I had a gut feeling that it would. Once the test was positive I made a little sign that said "Big Sister" and told Ellery to bring it to daddy. Geoff just kept saying "No way!" with a big smile on his face. I immediately went to the office to see how we could arrange the new nursery. Always thinking ahead.
It is always hard to "hide" the pregnancy. First of all, everyone is expecting baby #2. When my mom found out Kate Middleton was pregnant again, she sent me a text that said "Kate is pregnant! You and Geoff had better get busy!" There is also the fact that I am not getting any younger and if we want more kids we had better make it happen sooner rather than later! For many reasons, baby #2 probably won't be as much of a surprise as baby #1.
The big challenge was Kelsey and Jeff's Engagement Party on September 20. I had to not act exhausted or moody (which I really am both this pregnancy). I had to avoid picking up heavy things while decorating. I had to make decaf coffee in the Keurig while no one was paying attention. And most importantly, I had to drink O'Douls and not act alarmingly sober as everyone had Casa Margarita's and Fireball shots. Geoff kept the beer in the car and kept going to fill my cup up. Teamwork!
I'm not sure I ended up hiding it so well though. My cousin Haley caught me instinctively rubbing my belly and gave my huge bug eyes. Kelsey's friend Grace asked me if I was pregnant. And apparently Kelsey told her friends that she knew I was pregnant and was expecting an announcement on Sunday. She did not get that announcement as I had not been to the doctor yet!
Our first doctor's appointment was Thursday, October 2. We had missed Dr. Gautreau! I felt like a pro walking into the doctor's office, talking to the insurance coordinator and prepping for the sonogram. I kept thinking about how nervous we were with Ellery. The unknown is always nerve wracking! The second time around was much easier than the first. We found out I was only 6 weeks and 4 days along, which is a week earlier than I had thought. Bitty Boo #2's due date is May 24, 2015! His/her heartbeat was at 118 which they say is strong. Geoff could distinguish between the head and the bottom on the sonogram but it just looked like a blob to me!
6 Weeks 4 Days
We are already throwing around names and of course we agree on none. I am the most excited about Ellery getting a sibling! I dream of the day when Bitty Boo #2 is born and Ellery comes to meet him/her in the hospital. Hopefully she does not scream and try to shove the baby out of my arms so she can sit in my lap like she does now when I'm holding another baby. Meat is really grossing me out and I barely have an appetite but for the random cravings for chocolate pudding pie, apple pie and Coca Cola. I'm nauseous throughout the day but not enough to loose it. Let's hope that goes away soon!
July 3rd was destined to be eventful! We went to the doctor at 10:15am to check on Ellery. It was her due date and we needed to check fluids to see if/when I needed to be induced. A breathing test was performed during the sonogram. The baby "practice breathes" during the last few weeks in the womb to prepare their lungs for the world. They like to see her do these practices breathes in 30 second intervals. Ellery wasn't quite meeting the 30 second mark so they gave her a low score. Believe it or not, this didn't worry me at all. I knew she was ok.
We met with Dr. Gautreau after the sonogram and she said that the low score gave her a reason to induce sooner rather than later. She told us to be at the hospital on July 4th at 2:00am for induction! Needless to say that I didn't return to work. Geoff went back to work to wrap a few things up while Kelsey and I went to lunch and to find a red, white and blue baby headband! My mom and Anna got to Baton Rouge around 6:30pm that night. We ate burgers and I took a bath and got in bed around 9:00pm so I could try to get some sleep before leaving for the hospital. I doubt that would have happened anyway. As I was praying about still wanting Ellery to pick her own birthday (seriously, right in the middle of praying) I felt a pop and 3 gushes around 10:00pm. I gasped and walked downstairs to say "I think my water just broke. That or I soaked up too much water during my bath." It felt like a Home Alone moment when the family missed their flight. Everyone jumped off of the couch and ran upstairs to get ready to leave for the hospital. I decided to take my time and jump in the shower. My contractions started immediately. I don't know what I expected, but I was surprised to find out that contractions feel like extreme intense period pains. Mom said we should time them and I said there was no point! I called the hospital to let them know that we would be there a little bit earlier then planned. The Morthlands were already on their way down to Louisiana and were about an hour outside of Baton Rouge.
We got to the hospital around 11pm and it was confirmed that my water broke. We were admitted to the hospital and assigned to our labor and delivery nurse Hayden. She was very informative and honest with a hilarious attitude. She found a way to make us laugh which was much appreciated. I decided to get an epidural at 4 centimeters around 2:00am. While watching the lines on the contraction monitor create crazy high mountains one after another and feeling nothing, I knew I had made the right decision. Geoff and I were even able to take a couple of cat naps. By 4:00am I was 8 centimeters. No need for Pitocin to speed up the process! I was 10 centimeters by 6:00am and ready to start pushing. I had a moment of panic because who isn't freaked out by the thought of pushing a baby out of down there!? But she couldn't stay in me forever. Geoff was able to participate by holding my left leg while I was pushing. Each push session consisted of 3 sets of 10 second pushes. At 7:30am I was told to stop pushing until Dr. Gautreau could get there. She was on call for 8:00am and was headed to the hospital. She arrived a little before 8:00am, we did some final pushing and out Ellery came! I decided to watch the final moments in a mirror. And after months of Geoff refusing to even consider looking, guess who watched the entire delivery? We both agree that it was the most incredible experience of our lives so far. When they held her in the air and immediately put her on my chest....WOW! For a split second I thought "Whose baby is this? Is she really mine?" It all felt like a dream. She was BEAUTIFUL! 8 pounds on the dot, 19.5 inches, light brown hair, blue/gray eyes and olive skin. PERFECTION. Geoff went out to tell everyone in the waiting room that Ellery was here! They all came into the room to see her and as you can see from the "paparazzi" picture, she was instantly a star. Everyone said she looked just like Geoff.
In the waiting room: John, Corliss, Ally, Ricky, Tricia, Kelsey, Anna and Nana.
We were in the hospital for 2 nights and came home on Saturday, July 6. We couldn't wait for Norman to meet his little sister! He loved her immediately and is now her little guardian, which is exactly what I hoped for! My family had decorations waiting for us all over our house. It was the perfect welcome home :) We are slowly but surely settling into our routine. My mom is staying with us for the next 2 weeks to help me adjust to mommy hood. Kelsey, Anna, Corliss and Ally have been here for a week just staring at Ellery and helping any way they can. We are so fortunate to have such a strong support system.
Every morning, I can't wait to get the day started to see what Ellery will do. Geoff gets home from work early these days! Our lives have changed forever, and for the better.
Happy Due Date to us! I cannot believe it is July 3. It feels like yesterday that I saw those two pink lines on a stick. I also can't believe that I am still pregnant. Well, yes I can. Deep down I knew I would never be the one to go early. For the past 2 weeks I have been walking the neighborhood, bouncing on an exercise ball and eating spicy foods with no results. Pregnant Chicken sent an article to me today on ways to induce labor and I wish I had known about some of these sooner! We have a doctor's appointment today at 10:15am. Depending on how it goes, I may have to go buy a pineapple. The good news is that I am feeling surprisingly great at 40 weeks! Maybe even better than the past couple of weeks. My energy is at a good level and I'm not feeling TOO large. It could just be all of the anticipation, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! I personally think that Ellery is waiting for the Royal baby to be born so they can share birthdays.
Geoff's 31st birthday came and went without Ellery's arrival. He seriously wanted her to be born on his birthday. We did a lot of walking and I even ate an entire raw jalapeno, but nothing worked! She obviously wants to have her birthday all to herself. I know what people say: "All good things come to those who wait!" and "She will come when she is ready!" I once told my friend Maggie that her baby Charlie just needed a little more time in her belly. She said "You don't understand. I'm just ready. You will see when you are pregnant." I totally get it now.
I am self diagnosing myself with pregnancy carpal tunnel syndrome. My hands have been going numb during the night for a few months. But as I type right now I can't feel the tip of my fingers on my right hand. This syndrome is prevalent during pregnancy due to excessive fluid and should go away after birth. It's not like it wakes me up in the middle of the night. You have to be sleeping to be woken up ;)
2 days to go until my due date! Looks like I will be taking that 40 week bump picture after all!
Thursday, June 27, 2013
We had our 39 week check up today! Even though I am super uncomfortable and ready for her to come out, I'm so thankful to be able to say that I am full term. I am 2 centimeters dilated and almost fully effaced. My doctor would like to see Ellery's head drop a little bit lower into the birth canal before she induces (if she has to). I will go back for a sonogram on July 3 (my actual due date) to check on my fluids. If they are low, she wants to induce on July 4. If my fluids are ok we will induce on July 8. I REALLY want her to come on her own and chose her own birthday. But it is exciting to know that we will be a family of 4 (I will always include Norman in the count, people) by July 8 at the latest!
I took a few maternity pictures 2 weeks ago. I wasn't planning on taking them, but they came with Ellery's newborn picture session. Thankfully for everyone, I insisted on being fully clothed the entire time. I do have swollen face in a few, but I think they turned out ok! I got the black maxi dress last minute from Target. Black is definitely maternity friendly.
I went to Lexlee Kids today to make sure that we installed our car seat correctly. I had to make an appointment and fill out a form online prior to the appointment. These people do not mess around with safety. I played with a 7lb baby doll and got tips on how to put Ellery into the car seat and make sure she is secure. Geoff's car seat installation was approved with an A+!
The one tip that stood out was not to forget the baby in the back seat. Apparently this happens! They recommended the Baby Reminder phone app that tracks your driving and giggles and asks "Did you remember your baby?" 2 minutes after you reach your destination. I'm going to download it because you can never be too safe, but lets hope that I never have to use it (or admit to using it).
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