Winter

Winter is definitely among us up in the Frozen Tundra. Although the wind can be biting, there is something so magical about this time of year. When the snowflakes fall and you feel like you're standing in the middle of a snowglobe or when your baby is infatuated with the beautifully-lit twinkle lights around the fireplace, one realizes the wonder of it all.
Along with putting up our little Christmas tree and hanging our stockings on the fireplace, we have been digging into our Christmas and Winter storybooks. Some favorites include Olive, the Other Reindeer, a very cute story about a dog named Olive who goes to the North Pole to help Santa on Christmas Eve, The Polar Express, a truly magical story of child-like belief about a boy who gets to ride on a train to the North Pole and receives the first gift of Christmas, and Mickey's Christmas Carol, the Disney version of the Charles Dicken's classic.
We've also been doing a lot of winter-themed arts and crafts. We've made a snowman, a santa, and a cute reindeer using the tracings of Chloe's footprint (for the face) and hand prints (for the antlers). Yesterday we made blue play-doh and that occupied us for most of the afternoon.
Because of the freezing temps, we've not had many chances to play outdoors but we try to go during Annie's naps. Yesterday we pulled the sled around the yard, first me giving Chloe rides and then her giving her doll a ride. After the sled was put away, we decided to do some digging in the snow. Chloe informed me that she was filling up her bucket "as a present for Santa and the reindeer." Then she asked me, "Mommy, do you think Santa will be surprised by the present?"

Snow Much Fun!

Winter in the Frozen Tundra can be unbearably cold but can also be a ton of fun! Our first snowfall of the season came on November 13 and we were graced with 11 inches of sopping white slushy snow. Thankfully the temperatures were only slightly below freezing (about 30 degrees F) which is perfect snowman making weather; not too cold that it's comfortable being outside, but cold enough that the snow stays! Chloe helped Daddy shovel and the next day, she and I went outside to build her first snowgirl!

Chloe in her deer stalker

Dressed for the snow!

Mommy and Chloe building the snowgirl, complete with carrot nose

6 Month Stats

16 pounds 7 ounces (60%)
27 inches long (90 percentile)
Annie's comfortably wearing 9 month clothes and 12 month pajamas and I've had to extend two of her diapers to accommodate her growing torso.
It's difficult for me to remember all that has happened in this past month because of the sleep deprivation we're all experiencing. Every three or four nights, Annie will awake just once or twice and that is her saving grace because the rest of the week, she feels the need to be freakishly awake. The other night, after putting her down at 7, she woke up at 9:30pm and didn't go back to sleep until after 2am! Will and I tried EVERYTHING to get this child back to sleep, but she just resisted. I'm not a fan of letting babies cry-it-out to learn to put themselves to sleep but we are looking for alternative solutions so everyone can have a better night sleep.
Perhaps the latest development has been Annie's interest tn toys. She loves toys! Especially ones that sing (like her glow worm) or ones small enough to hold and chew on (like her little pink duck). She's also getting really strong and wants to learn how to move and crawl. She is still the recipient of loads of attention and admiration wherever we go.

Even after a terrible night's sleep, all she does is look at us with her big blue eyes and smile her big Annie smile and all the frustration melts.

Success

I've finally got it down.
No, not this whole parenting thing.
I'm talking about the diaper sprayer.
When we first started using cloth, I thought I was the cloth diapering queen bee. "Cloth is the easiest, most convenient, and economical system. Who wouldn't want to use cloth diapers?"

And then Annie started eating solids foods.

You see, when babies are exclusively breastfed, the poop is water soluble which means that regardless of what's in the diaper, you don't have to do anything with it. No rinsing, sloshing, or remotely touching what just came out of your baby's backside. So you throw it in the wash and the diapers come out squeaky clean.
But then around the age of 5 or 6 months, babies need a bit more in their diet besides breast milk. And of course, what goes in the mouth, must come out on the other side.
And it's gross. And stinky. And makes this mama want to gag.
So a friend of mine suggested an investment in the bumGenius diaper sprayer. It was $45 but worth every penny. My awesome and handy husband hooked it up to the toilet and it reminds me of my time in Brazil when we had bidets in our bathroom.


Here's how it works:
Baby poos in the diaper. (since Annie's poo is still a bit like clay, there's nothing to shake off into the toilet). I take the diaper to the toilet and spray off into the toilet as much yucky stuff as I can. I put the wet diaper into the diaper pail until it's ready to be washed in the machine.
Sounds easy, right? Well, the first few times using this new gadget, I had the angle all wrong and ended up getting slashback. Major yuck. But today, I finally had success! I got all the poo off without getting anything on my pants or shoes or floor or the wall!!!
I guess I can go back to being Cloth Diapering Queen Bee now.

5 Months!

This has been quite the busy month for little Miss Annie! During her fourth month, she conquered many milestones including her two new favorite things: rolling over with ease from tummy to back and discovering and chewing on her toes. She actually rolled over for the first time when she was two months old, but now she does it easily and almost automatically when placed on her tummy during play time. I think she likes the freedom to roll on her command because she'll roll over and then look up and smile her big Annie smile!


She's sitting up on her own and getting stronger everyday. I still put the boppy pillow around her in case she wobbles, but she's fairly sturdy on her own. This is especially fun in the bath. Bath time now includes lots of splashing in the water!
Last week, she had her first food. We tried the rice cereal, but every time the spoon went near her mouth, she started to cry. So we forwent the rice cereal and went straight to food. Mmmmm.... avacado! She gobbled it up on the first sitting and has proven to be a lover of food. She's now had avacado and this week has tried butternut squash. I spent an afternoon making and freezing lots of babyfood so we're set for at least month or two!
A miracle happened this month: Annie fell asleep in the car! She still mostly dislikes the car, but it's improving and a few times this month, she has actually napped in the car. With driving three days a week to and from Chloe's preschool, Annie is forced to endure the car for forty minutes daily (10 minutes there/10 minutes back home twice per day). And because of the schedule, sometimes her nap time is delayed or interrupted because of the commute. As a result, she has fallen asleep in the car; something I never thought I'd see. And she looks precious all snuggled with her blanket clutching her teething toy.
I think I can officially say we're obsessed with our baby. I want her to be this age forever! She's so sweet and snuggly and her little chubby rolls are absolutely edible! She's 100% kissable and loveable and I can't get enough of her! She makes me smile every moment I think of her or look at her. She's just cutie-licious!

Anxiety

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7

While walking back to our car after a fun morning at the park with some friends, Chloe started melting down. It was the typical 3 year old who was tired (nearing naptime) and hungry (definitely lunch time). She was refusing to walk with us and shouting, "NO!" So I took her by the hand and told her she either walks by herself or Mommy will help her. My friend, who has an 18 month old who was sitting calmly in his stroller, said something that struck a chord within me. "Thanks for being an example of a great parent. I have so much anxiety for when my son reaches this stage."

Anxiety.

This is a subject that keeps reappearing in my life. Often times God speaks to me through repeated phrases or occurrences that I can't deny are from Him. This is one of those character traits I can't ignore in myself.

It started this summer when our pastor's wife, Laura, did a sermon titled "Worry: How do I trust God More?" She spoke of a time in her life when she had two young daughters and the circumstances in their lives were causing her a great deal of worry. And then she continued on to tell us about some current worries she has had on her heart including the health of her friend, job placement for her daughter and financial worries. While listening to this sermon, I started to identify the places within me that were wreaking of worry. Most of my anxiety involves my children. What if Chloe falls down and gets hurt? What if she runs out into the road and gets hit by a car? My worry about Annie being affected by SIDS just about drives me to insomnia. But I also worry about my husband; especially when he travels. Endless scenarios of terrorists attacking the airplane he's in or something terrible happening to him therefore leaving the girls and I on our own frequent my mind when he's traveling for business. Laura suggested that rather than worrying and allowing anxiety to be our focus, we start praying through the situation with thankfulness.

The subject came up again while reading Beth Moore's new book, So Long, Insecurity. I could do a whole blog post about this amazing book and what it has done in me. But for now I'll focus on one aspect. Chapter 17: What Are You Afraid Of? She says, "The moment you're cognizant of an outbreak of insecurity, learn to check your heart for what you're afraid of." She goes on to say that in those moments, we need to trade our anxiety in for trust in God. "Trusting God with yourself. With your husband. With your job. With your health. With your family. With your friends. With your threat. I'm talking about entering into a transforming, two sentence dialogue with a very real, very active God who sees all things and is intimately acquainted with everything concerning you." And if that weren't enough, she goes on to share a story about dealing with her fears and how God spoke wisdom to her heart. "As long as I insist on torturing myself with these terrifying possibilities, He seems to suggest that I think them all the way through the other side." And what happens on the "other side"? If even one of these horrifying thoughts came to fruition, God would still be God. He would somehow carry me through the pain of losing a loved one. He would be by my side even if everyone left me on my own. He would still have a purpose for me and, if I cooperate with him through the healing process, could even bring good from tragedy.
"When you feel that familiar panic begin to rise in your heart like a river coursing its banks and your soul begins to roll with another round of "What will I do if....? what would happen if you were willing to hear the voice of God whisper these inaudible words?

Child, you are asking the wrong question. Here's the one that would assuage your fears: What will God do if...?"

Whoa. All along, I've been asking the wrong question. It's not What would I do if... it's What will God do?
And I'm convinced that "neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39
So now when anxiety, fears or insecurity rises it's ugly head, I identify it. I say, "That brings me ______. I'm trading that in for trust in God. God is for me. I'm clothed in strength and dignity. I'm praying with a thankful heart for the blessings God has given me."

Top 5 Guilty Pleasures

Being a stay at home mom is wonderful. I wouldn't trade it for the world even on the toughest, most sleep-deprived, toddler-whiny days. Really. I love my girls and am so thankful God has called me to be home during this time in their lives. That said, sometimes a mama needs a break! And with my husband working full-time (thank you!) along with getting his Master's degree and being a part of groups at church, let's face it, I'm worn out! So when I need a little pick me up or a brain break from the kids, here are my top 5 guilty pleasures:
1. Blogs. I love reading blogs. Especially ones about families with young children who are parenting with a purpose. I get inspiration and ideas on how to be a better parent. Recently I've been into reading blogs about moms who homeschool. I've found some really awesome sites that have free preschool material and Chloe has been loving the one-on-one attention and playing the fun games!
2. Chocolate. The great thing about nursing is that I burn 500-600 calories per day just by feeding my child. Therefore, I can justify eating any chocolate that I want :) My favorite is 71% dark chocolate. Or perhaps Cadbury's chocolate with mint bits. Or semi-sweet chocolate chips. Or maybe.... well, any chocolate is good chocolate.
3. Magazines. But they have to be quality magazines. I hate gossip mags or ones featuring celebrities. I could care less about their dramatic lives. My current subscriptions include Minnesota Monthly, and two parenting magazines. Occasionally I enjoy reading Oprah's magazine (my mom has a subscription) but there are so many ads!
4. A Hot Bubble Bath. I can only do this after my children are both in bed otherwise Chloe strips down and tries to climb in with me. Usually after I put her to bed, I'm so tired, I have a quick shower and go to bed too. So this is a special treat for me!
5. Decaf Coffee. Yum. I LOVE coffee. But, because I'm nursing, decaf it is which is fine by me because it still tastes delicious! My very sweet husband will brew me my own small pot on the weekends and I enjoy two large cup-fulls with each pot. I really love the Cinnamon Dolce Lattes at Starbucks but it's seasonal drink (that will soon be coming!) so I get that a few times a year.

So, there you have it. The top 5 things that give me joy (besides my family, of course). What are your guilty pleasures?

He-Man Marathoner

Inspired by the opportunity to raise money and awareness for Zambians who are living in poverty and in need of clean drinking, my husband decided to run a half marathon at the end of August as part of Team World Vision. He began his training 8 weeks prior to the race and accumulated 150 miles of tread on his running shoes this summer. The week of the 13.1 mile run, he came down with a very high fever (103 degrees) that lasted two days along with headache, fatigue and muscle soreness. Despite not being able to get in his runs during that final week, he was determined to conquer the half marathon that Sunday.
He completed the race in 2 hours 18 minutes and raised almost $800!
Very impressive, my he-man running husband!

A picture of the whole family after the race. That's Annie in the babybjorn.

Chloe's Birthday Extravaganza!

So my daughter is 3. Yes, I find it unbelievable. Everyone told me how fast kids grow up; now I finally believe them.
Chloe thoroughly enjoyed celebrating her birthday on her actual birthday and again the following Saturday with my side of the family. On her real birthday, she opened presents sent via mail from her family in England. Here's what she received, with a very grateful heart!
From Great Nana and Great Grandad
What could it be?

A Tea Set!

Later this day, her best friend came over and they played tea party!

Enjoying opening her cards


From Nana and Grandad a penguin rolling suitcase! (maybe that's a hint we should come visit!)


Complete with a matching backpack that Chloe brings with her to school now


For a special treat, Chloe got to go on a date with Mommy and Daddy to the baseball game! It was our first time at the new field and Chloe LOVED it! She had been asking to go to a baseball game all summer long and was so thrilled that we could finally go!
Chloe and Daddy as we are entering Target Field


Chloe enjoying the game and cheering for Joe Mauer :)


She had a great birthday!


The following Saturday we celebrated with my side of the family.
Photos to come once I upload the pics from the other camera...

Happy 3rd Birthday, Chloe!

Oh, my sweet firstborn, how you've changed my life in so many ways.
When we first found out we were pregnant, let's just say we were very surprised and very excited! After a very uneventful pregnancy (thank you, God) you finally made your arrival after 54 hours of labor squeaking in a September birthday. Yes, 54 hours. But you came out perfect and beautiful with full cheeks a fuzzy hair. I didn't think I could love you more than I did the moment Dr. Jaegger put you on my squishy belly.
But then you looked up at me and I was hooked. And I've come to love you even more and marvel at the little person you're becoming.
I studied your little squeaks, noises and movements. Everything was new and amazing and we had a fun time figuring out how to do life as a family of three.



Now, let's reflect on what this past year has brought.
The day before your 2nd birthday Mommy went back to work for the first time in your life.
Two weeks later, you started daycare (or preschool as we called it) at Loving Shepherd. Your first day you were a little sad, but after that, you loved going to school. You talked about your friends and your teachers. I think you got bit once, but you're a survivor.
We were amazed at the expanse of your vocabulary. You've always been a talker, but this was the year you went from saying 2 or 3 word sentences to full on conversations. It's so much fun. Even if Daddy and I can't have a conversation anymore because you're too busy asking questions.
In early 2010, you moved from your crib to a new room with a big girl bed. You helped pick out the paint color and your only request for your new room is that you wanted a heart pillow. You fell out of bed the first night (despite the guard rail - still not sure how you managed that) so I put you back to sleep in your crib for the night. That was your last time in the crib.
Mommy's tummy continued to grow and you accompanied us to the ultrasound when we found out you were going to have a little sister. You enjoyed looking at the pictures; however, you started to get a bit nervous as Mommy's tummy got really big. You obviously understood what was happening because we got a report from school saying that you and Bella had put pillows up your shirts and told the teachers you had "tummies like Mommy" and that you were going to have babies.
In the spring, you took an interest in using the potty. Since Bella and the other kids at school were getting treats at school for peeing in the potty, you wanted a treat too. So we began doing some potty training which was quite funny. At first, we let you run around in the nude so you could tell when you had to pee. This worked great and we did this for a few weeks. Then we put on big girl undies. You picked out blue underwear with cars and trucks and were so proud to wear them. After some accidents, you mastered wearing undies and still making it to the potty. So then we stopped entirely with the diapers and you did marvelous! Your favorite place to eat is Jimmy John's so Daddy created a sticker chart with JJ logos and everytime you went on the potty, you earned a sticker. Once the chart was full, you got to go the the sandwich shop for your favorite lunch - cheese sandwiches with salt and vinegar chips. And now when we go on walks and for playdates at the park, we bring along what has been termed "the pee bucket." You're great at squatting and peeing on your little blue bucket and really enjoy pouring out the contents near a tree.


You definitely hit the terrible twos. Thankfully it didn't last very long but we had a few days when I wanted to send you to Grandma's!!!
You learned how to ride your trike and are very eager to put on your Sesame Street helmet "so I don't fall off and break my head open." Pretty sure Daddy taught that phrase to you.
One of the most exciting things about your year as a 2 year old was the arrival of your baby sister, Annie. You've been amazed at her arrival (and still need reassurance that she did indeed come from Mommy's tummy) and have nothing but love for her. Except when you dinosaur roar at her and she cries. I know when you're trying to pick her up that you just want to cuddle, but just give her a hug, please.


And now you're 3 years old. And starting preschool in a few days. I can't believe how fast you're growing. You have opinions about almost everything. You're probably the loudest toddler ever - besides Auntie Becca when she was little. You love to swim and play in water. You love to laugh. You love the park. You love being outside. You love your best friend Bella. And you love Mommy, Daddy and Annie.
We're so grateful to have you as our daughter. You have brought spunkiness and loads of laughter into our lives. I love you more than I could have ever imagined. Thank you, God for such a blessing.


Happy 3rd Birthday, my sweet Chloe.

Who Knew?

High school is a conglomeration of many different people that we, as teenagers, felt the need to label and belong to. Although I was never associated with the "hippie" group, I've always had an appreciation for the lifestyle they chose to display. They always seemed so free and unburdened, attempting to be one with the universe, accepting they are a part of nature and living with such a style that resisted the consumer culture we live in.
The reason I could never be a part of this group is because the women didn't shave and they all smelled like patchouli (yuck!).
Now, as a mother, I have realized that I have become a bit of a hippie (minus the hairy legs, well, sometimes, and stinky perfume) and I love it.
I exclusively breastfeed my baby. Nope, no chemically-engineered breastmilk-wannabe formula for us!
I cloth diaper. The thought that disposable diapers remain in the environment for 500 years makes me wretch. Arguably, we use a lot of water washing the diapers, but I wash the diapers everyday filling the washer half full.
I wear my baby. This is how mamas around the world get stuff done. We wear our babies in slings! You either do it with one hand or you put the babe in the babybjorn and clean/cook/walk/push a toddler on the swing/read stories/blog while baby sleeps peacefully nestled with mommy. Among other benefits, studies show that babies who are "worn" are calmer and are more securely attached to their caregiver. Click on this wikipedia article for more information on babywearing.
While I didn't embrace the life of a hippie as a high schooler, who knew it would fit my style as an adult?

2 months!

Happy 2 month Birthday, Annie!
In the last month, you have perfected smiling and it melts our hearts. You smile whenever someone talks with you. You smile when you are done eating and have a satisfied tummy. You smile after you wake up and are glad Mommy came to pick you up. You sometimes even smile after a bout of crying. You are sooo stinkin' cute!


You like baths now! Mommy puts you in the big bath tub and sets you on your sponge to bathe you. Chloe even joined you this morning.

You're still a stinker to get to sleep. Especially at night. The whole putting baby down while drowsy but not asleep has only worked once. For 15 minutes. On your two month birthday, you have had very little daytime sleep. Does that mean you'll sleep great tonight or does that mean you're very overtired and we're in for a long evening of soothing you to sleep? Grandma told me that babies will fall asleep if they're tired but that hasn't been the case with either you or your sister. You just get crankier and will scream until Mommy soothes you to dreamland. Maybe Daddy and I just make super-alert children. If so, that's okay, because I love interacting with you!

We have also mastered cloth diapering. We have an assortment of cloth diapers ranging from gDiapers (which is what Chloe wears at bedtime), Thirsties (Fab fitted and the duo diaper, both which I love), and GroBaby. I'm loving the cloth and am so glad I made the effort to switch.

We have gone on a lot of outings. We go for a walk everyday and that is usually when you have your morning nap in the babybjorn. We've been to the splash pad, the Children's Museum, the library several times for storytime and also to get new books, the beach, many many parks

You took your first trip to see Mommy's hometown. We had a baby shower for Great Grandma's 16th great grandchild. Chloe is great grandchild number 12 and Annie is 15.

Here are some more pictures from this month:

What we've learned about Annie

She Loves:
Eating! She's a very efficient eater - it takes her about 15 minutes per meal and she eats every 3-4 hours.
Being snuggled in the BabyBjorn and going on walks with Mommy (Daddy and Chloe too).
The sound of the bathroom fan or the dryer will calm her down when she gets upset.
Sleeping in the bouncy seat outside the bathroom listening to the fan - this is where she is all night.
Watching the mobile go round and round while she sits in the swing.
Clearing her throat and making grunting-like noises.


She Hates:
Getting wet - baths are no fun yet.
Getting naked - diaper changes and getting dressed are included in this territory.
She's not a big fan of riding in the car although she's getting better.

It's so much fun watching her grow and change. The more we get to know her, the more we fall in love. She's the perfect addition to our family and we all adore her so much!

1 Month Old!

Sisterly Love!


Sweet little Annie is already one month old! When I was pregnant with Chloe and when she was just a tiny infant, every mom told me, "Enjoy this time as it goes way too fast!" And now my firstborn will soon be 3 and my second babe is already a month. It does go way too fast. I think Will and I are appreciating the littleness and the beginning few months even more now that we know how quickly time passes.
In Annie's first month, we have marveled at her ability to sleep. Sometimes it takes a considerable amount of effort to get her off to dreamland, but once she's there, she'll sleep for some long stretches of time. In the first 3 weeks, I had to wake her up during the day to feed her every 2.5-3 hours. After that, my milk supply was more than sufficient and she was growing and gaining so I allowed her to let me know when she needed food. At night she's waking up every 4-4.5 hours and she's to the point now where she'll semi-easily go right back to sleep. We are so grateful and appreciate this stage as we know it can quickly change! At Annie's one month appointment, she weighed 9 pounds 14 ounces and is 22.5 inches long. That means she has gained almost 3 pounds and has grown 3 inches since her birthday!! Mama's got some good milk :)

Annie sitting in her bouncy seat


Happy 1 Month Birthday!


Despite the cold and rain, we have been enjoying our summer so far. Chloe goes to preschool on Mondays and Tuesdays, which is when I do my baking and resting! Wednesdays we go to storytime at the local library and Thursdays Chloe is in a dance class through community education. We've gotten together with some friends for playdates and BBQs and have enjoyed lots of outdoor time. Chloe loves to ride her trike around the neighborhood and of course, take walks to the park. Because of the rain we've had recently, she has done a lot of splashing in puddles! I love experiencing life through the eyes of my toddler. Everything is an adventure and the world from ants to dinosaurs is met with curiosity.

Chloe on her trike



Splash!!

Annie's Birth Story - 27 hours of back labor, meconium in the fluid, and a drug-free labor and delivery

It wasn't until 35 weeks of pregnancy that the reality hit me that I was having another baby. With the busyness of working full time, chasing after a two-year-old, loving up my husband, and trying to keep the house in working condition, I just hadn't thought about it. I had given birth before and sort of knew what to expect but I wanted this birth to be different. With my firstborn, I wanted to do a natural delivery, free of any drugs or medical interference. Unfortunately, after being in labor for 48 hours, making it to 8 cm in dilation, my body shut down on me. I was too tired. In the end, I had to get pitocin and because that made my body contract almost violently, I ended up with an epidural. And 6 hours after that, my first daughter was born.
So this time, reasoning that because it's my second child and second deliveries tend to be shorter than the first, I decided I was going natural. I did a bit of searching online and found a great book with accompanying CD called HypnoBirthing The Mongan Method: A Natural Approach to a Safe, Easier, More Comfortable Birthing by Marie Mongan. The basis of this approach to childbirth is that delivering a baby is natural and is nothing we should fear. If our body is in a relaxed state during labor then it can work in the way nature intended: without pain. This method is more about a mindset and along with relaxation, breathing and visualization techniques, the bottom line is that birth without fear is birth without pain. Sound too good to be true? Well, it's not. This is the real thing and Annie and I are proof of it's success.
Around midnight in the wee hours of Thursday, May 13, I began having semi-regular surges that were felt mostly in my hips and my back. They were coming and going throughout the night and into the morning anywhere from every 10 - 15 minutes. I woke up Will around 3am just to let him know what was going on so he came out to join me in the living room - each of us resting/sleeping on a sofa. Some of the surges were quite uncomfortable and I had to use my deep breathing techniques to help me through them. By morning, they were still coming but I distracted myself by getting Chloe ready for school and cleaning up the house. Since I hadn't slept too much that night I decided to have a nap/rest as this could be a long night.
By one in the afternoon, I was getting a bit restless so I decided to take a walk around the neighborhood. Contractions were every 4-7 minutes and were coming with regularity. My dad called to check in and I told him what had been happening so far. He advised me to call my mom, who was on stand-by to look after Chloe, and tell her to come to our house after work. By the time my mom arrived, contractions were 3-4 minutes apart but, still not believing I was in real labor because of where the surges were coming from, we waited until 6pm to head to the hospital.
We checked in labor and delivery and at my initial assessment, the nurse told me I was dilated to "a good 4." She also confirmed that I was in real labor and should stay at the hospital. So we walked the halls, called my mom to update her, and let my body and the baby do their thing. As labor progressed, I found different positions to help me stay comfortable. I swayed on the birthing ball while Will massaged my back, rocked on my hands and knees hoping to move the baby - she was sunny-side up and that was why I was feeling all the contractions in my back and hips! I rested on my side in the bed and Will rubbed aromatherapy spearmint scented lotion on my legs. And towards the final stages of labor, I stood in the shower with warm water pouring on my back and hips. During all of these positions, I was using deep breathing during each contraction and visualizing the baby moving downward.
Around 10pm my water broke with a pop and a gush (on the toilet!) and when the nurse checked my dilation, I think I was around 7cm. She noticed a bit of meconium in the fluid, meaning the baby had pooped in utero, and went to alert the NICU staff. Around midnight, my water broke again and this time we could see the color of the fluid. It looked like the color of diarrhea. The nurse explained what would happen after the baby came out; the doctor would swiftly hand her to the NICU nurses and they would suction out any meconium that got into the baby's lungs.
Around 1am, I started to get really uncomfortable. I was about 9cm dilated and feeling very tired. I was starting to get the shakes so Will put the hypnobirthing relaxation CD on in the room and immediately, my body relaxed. There were some very strong surges and Will talked me through each one - reminding me that my body was made to do this. I knew she was coming soon and so with each contraction, I would remind myself that we were closer to meeting our little girl. Soon I felt the urge to push. The nurse told me I was at 9.5cm but it seemed like the baby's head couldn't quite get through the cervix (because of her position). The doctor came in around 2am and during a contraction, I pushed and she was able to stretch the cervix over baby's head (not gonna lie, that was not pleasant). Shortly after this, I became fully dilated and what felt like only a few pushes later, our sweet baby girl arrived at 3:10am. The NICU staff cleaned her off and were suctioning stuff out of her mouth. She was having a difficult time breathing.
I got to say a quick hello to my newborn and then they took her to the NICU. Because she couldn't breathe very well on her own, they thought she might need an IV of antibiotics. Thankfully Will was able to be with her the whole time! One of the nurses took and printed out a picture of the baby (she still had no name at this point) and brought it to me - that was so thoughtful!
At 4:30am I was able to transfer from L & D to the Mother/Baby rooms which meant I could finally go visit my new daughter! She was doing really well in the NICU and the staff said they would keep her there until 8am just to watch her and make sure her oxygen levels stayed at 100%. Nursing her was so easy. She took to me right away and started eating. After her first nursing session, I went back to my room to sleep for a bit while Will stayed with Annie. By 7:30am I went back to see Will and Annie and nurse her again and the NICU staff said that when she was finished eating, we were released!

That was a long trip!


Annie and Mommy


Proud Daddy and amazing birthing companion!

Happy Mother's Day!

It was so fun to celebrate my third Mother's day with my lovely family. Chloe is such a treat and I'm so proud to be her mama. Here's what we did:
I received a VERY fun surprise at 7am! Chloe bought me a delicious fruit bouquet from Edible Arrangements. Chloe and I enjoyed our fruit breakfast in bed.



Chloe enjoyed the melon...


While Mommy enjoyed the chocolate-covered strawberries!


After our yummy breakfast, we headed toward the Children's Museum for some fun!
Daddy teaching Chloe about the Great Wall of China


Mommy and Chloe tracing the outline of a brachiosaurus


Chloe "reassuring" Mommy the dinosaurs aren't scary


Taking Mommy for a ride on the city bus


A picture of me - 9 months pregnant!


And to finish off our afternoon, Chloe earned a trip to Jimmy Johns - her favorite sandwich shop. She filled up her potty sticker chart and got to enjoy the deliciousness of a cheese sandwich, salt and vinegar chips, and a chocolate chip cookie. She was so excited about earning her trip to the sandwich shop, she went potty on the toilet 6 times yesterday and is enthusiastic about being fully potty-trained! YEAH, Chloe!!!

We're so close!

This week I have been officially on maternity leave. I have gotten everything checked off my to-do list and with the exception of buying a couple of gifts, I'm all set! I had another doctor appointment this morning and it looks as though baby will be staying put for at least a few more days. I'm about 40% effaced (the cervix has thinned about 40% and needs to get to 100%), 2 centimeters dilated, and she's stationed at -1. Station is measured from minus 5 to plus 5. Minus 5 station means the baby is floating above the pelvis. Zero station means the baby has dropped or engaged well into the pelvis. And plus 5 means the baby's head is visible at the opening of the vagina (also known as crowning). Before I went into labor with Chloe I was only dilated 1 cm so this seems like progress :)
Another task I took on this week was researching cloth diapers. We part-time cloth diaper Chloe (although she's in the process of using the big girl potty!) but would really like to use cloth full time for this little one. Since we haven't had the greatest luck with cloth, I decided to purchase a trial offer through Jillian's Drawers. For $10 we can try several different kinds of diapers and then decide which ones work for us. I'm really hoping we find a good fit cloth diaper! I've heard so many positive reports from moms who use cloth full-time and along with saving about $1500 per child, it's better for environment and the baby's bottom.
As an update to the most recent post, we have decided to give birth at the hospital rather than the birth center. This was a very difficult decision for me to make as there are so many advantages to the birth center. It came down to the fact that by the time we would have switched, I was already 39 weeks pregnant, leaving me with one week to get to know the midwives and the location. Since I gave birth to my first daughter at the hospital, I'm already familiar with the location and that gives me some comfort. We had a positive experience at the hospital and I can only hope this time around, they will accommodate my wishes for the baby immediately after birth. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that the baby be placed with the mother after emerging from the womb to make skin-to-skin contact (and for all other hospital procedures to be delayed) until after the first nursing session. That is my wish as well.
Hopefully the next blog update will be some exciting news about the arrival of our little one!

(almost) 37 weeks

Well, she is moving and kicking a lot with not a lot of space to do it in! With just a bit over 3 weeks until delivery day, we are making a list of things to get done before we become a family of four. After my doctor appointment on Friday when the doctor told me, "You're in for the long haul," (meaning chances are very small that I'd deliver before my due date) I'm not feeling rushed to get too many things done yet. I'll wait for the nesting instinct to kick into high gear before finishing off the few things we have to do. I have two weeks left of work and then my plan is to work mornings for the first week in May and then baby will make her grand arrival!
I've been practicing my HypnoBirthing relaxation and breathing techniques daily in the hopes of having a natural, drug-free delivery and have finished filling out my birth plan and other various paperwork for when we are ready to go to the hospital. With a new Birthing Center that recently opened in our city, I'm contemplating switching to the birth center rather than delivering at the hospital (it's literally 2 blocks from the hospital). Hopefully we can check it out this week and make an informed decision as to where we want to deliver our baby girl. Unfortunately (and stupidly), insurance companies usually don't cover the cost of deliveries at birth centers even though the cost is significantly lower, as are the risks to the mother and baby.