Welcome to the world, Natalie Grace

It's so hard to believe that Natalie has been with us an entire week. Well, at this point longer than a week.  She really was what we were missing and in so many ways, she really does complete our little home.  

I am obsessed with our birth story.  I think that's in large part to the fact that when I tell it to moms and former L&D nurses, they all look at me like I am crazy.  We had the most picture perfect birth experience and I like to think it's because we had such a hard time getting pregnant.  Brandon and I left our house for the last time just the two of us at 4:15 in the morning.  I ate a poptart on the way to the hospital since I was too anxious to eat much of anything else.  We got to the hospital at 5:00 the morning of Wednesday, November 13th. I did the registration paperwork and by 5:30 we were in our room on the labor and delivery floor.  Room 17.  

At 6:30 in the morning I was at 3cm and we started the pitocin.  I didn't make progress very fast, so we broke my waters at 9:30.  By noon my contractions were picking up and my pain level was about a 4 and Dr. Masiky said the contractions looked rough and suggested I get the epidural. I thought I could keep going but Dr. Masiky made a valid point - there is absolutely no reason to feel pain in this process. The epidural was painless.  I totally expected this horrible pain and scary experience, but it really wasn't anything.  Some of my menopur injections hurt more than the epidural.  Dr. Masiky came in to check me around 2:30 and I was at 5 cm.  Around 3:00, Dr. Levy and Jordan called to check-in and see how things were going.  Yet another reason I love my boss and my team.  Dr. Levy said the way I was progressing, he thought I would probably deliver around 9.  I was already 8 hours into this process and feeling really great, so what's another 7 hours.  Brandon turned on the movie Shooter, one of my favorites, and I took a little nap. Yep - I took a nap.  Dr. Masiky came back around 5pm to check on us again and I was at 9cm. She told me that things looked good and we'd probably be pushing soon.  I didn't believe her.  Sure enough, at about 10 minutes to 6pm, Dr. Masiky said it was time to push. 

At this point, I was starving.  I had one goal - get this baby out and get something to eat. So when it was time to push, Brandon turned on Sports Center so I had some form of distraction. Dr. Masiky said first babies can take anywhere from 1 hour to 3 hours to deliver.  So I mentally prepped and Brandon promised that if I was still pushing at the 1 hour mark, he would turn on the Spice Girls. (That was my entire birth plan - push in the calm for an hour and if I was still pushing after an hour - I wanted the Spice Girls.) We pushed through 9 contractions and then, BOOM, Natalie was here :)  25 minutes after we started pushing, we had our baby.  It didn't feel real.  It was entirely too easy. Brandon cut the cord and they took Natalie to weigh her and check her stats and I just laid there.  I looked over at Brandon and he had tears in his eyes and I asked him why - he looked at me like I was crazy and replied "you just gave birth to our daughter". Huh - I guess I did.  

Natalie is here.  She is home with us and life is perfect.  We're learning and adjusting to life with each other, but it really feels like we found that missing piece. 

40 Weeks!

How far along: 40 weeks.  We made it! Now get this baby out of me. k? thanks.

Baby is the size of: still a baby.  I am hoping that she hasn't gained the 8 ounces I was warned she might gain.  I would love a little 8lb 2oz (maybe 4oz) nugget, but we'll see what happens.  According to thebump.com, the baby is the size of a jackfruit... whatever that is.

Weight Gain: still under the scary 40lb mark, so I am ok with that.  And at my last appointment I was down two pounds, so yay me! I am hoping that I can lose at least half this weight by time I go back to work... it's a lofty goal, but I think it might be manageable... especially since I will lose at least 10lbs of it right off the bat at the hospital.

Maternity Clothes: I am down to just my favorite maternity items: jeggings, leggings and some tops.  I put most things away which will push me to eat right and lose the baby weight ASAP.  Obviously, I kept a good amount of stuff out because I am not stupid and I was seriously warned by my friend Jessica that no matter how much weight I think I have lost - my clothes will not fit me three weeks after delivery.  Let's just hope my rings do :)

Labor Signs/Sleep: The other night I slept so hard I woke up drooling. It felt good. I have been doing quite a bit of sleeping in between spurts of energy where I clean the house.  WARNING: the following information is graphic.  On Friday morning I lost my mucus plug, which seems like a huge possible sign of labor, but then I remembered Dr. Masiky telling me that some people lose the plug weeks before giving birth so I decided not to read too much into it.  I told Brandon and he proceeded to google it - he too was let down by the fact that it could be 2-3 hours until you go into labor, or 2-3 weeks until you go into labor.  I did quite a bit of nesting over the weekend - all the clothes are clean and put away, all the towels are clean and put away, I got rid of clothes that I didn't wear before I was pregnant, I washed all our bedding and have it ready to go so that after Natalie is born I will be crawling into fresh clean sheets (aahh the little things in life). Brandon also did a bit of nesting: lots of laundry, mopped and swiffered the floors, cleaned up the yard, etc.  Guess we're both ready for the little bundle of joy to show up already :)

Food Cravings: nothing really.  I hear certain things and think ooh that'd be lovely, but as with the rest of my pregnancy, I have yet to feel compelled to go out and get something or send Brandon to the store to get something. I have been really digging a cup of hot chocolate in the morning though, but that's a cold weather thing, right?  

What I miss: my sanity. I am getting to a point where I am struggling with being pregnant still. I am a planner. I need order and structure and plans.  This waiting game is killing me. I don't know when she will show up or if I will be in the middle of something that I really want to finish - which would not only be my luck, but would seriously annoy me. 

Movement: yep.  Sometimes I think she is starting to slow down and then I sit down from all the running around and she is moving like a crazy lady reminding me that we're doing things on her time.  Ugh.

Best Moment of the Last Week: The Turnpike Troubadours concert, of course. I was so happy that we were able to make it.  I was also so relieved when we got to the Birchmere and, at my husband's request, the manager provided me with a seat for the standing room only concert.  My husband never ceases to amaze me at how thoughtful he is :)  It was also fun to have Michelle at my last OB Scan appointment with me.  I have been getting to spend a lot of time with her lately and it's definitely been a huge bonus.

What I/We are most looking forward to: getting this baby out, drinking beers on Sunday during football and Thanksgiving.  I am a little bit crazy and I am planning on hosting Thanksgiving for 10 adults and 1 (with a possible 2 more) child(ren) under the age of 3.  I have my grocery list and entire menu ready to go.  I have planned out which menu items I can make ahead of time and which have to be done the day of.  I have even planned out the seating arrangements and floor plan of the main level of our home in order to accommodate all of the people.  This is my favorite holiday and I refuse to have a small human interrupt that for me. I have an incredible husband who is not only more than capable of stepping in to help with the cooking, but he is also quite capable of holding and feeding his daughter.  I also have an incredible family who is excited to spend time with the baby and hold and care for her so this should be easy... or at least, I hope it will be :)

39 weeks... it's the final countdown!

How far along: 39 weeks, 2 days! 5 days until the due date! Woot!

Baby is the size of: a baby. I mean I guess she is also the size of a watermelon, but let's be honest - if she could come any day now, she is the size of a small human.  I did have an ultrasound today to see where she is measuring and I was told she is looking like 7lb 14oz.  I am so ok with that.  I was also checked by a former midwife here at work yesterday and she said that she thinks that Natalie is between 7.5 - 8lbs.  So between the ultrasound and Mickey - I am feeling pretty good about the size of the baby. Definitely not scary!

Weight Gain: this is getting seriously touchy.  Let's just say I haven't hit the 40lbs mark and if things go well, I shouldn't hit that mark between now and Natalie.

Maternity Clothes: I am in mostly maternity at this point. It's funny to me that it took me to 39 weeks to get to a point where I would be in mostly maternity.  I am excited to slowly start the process of moving back into my normal clothes.  Yes, I am aware it will be several weeks(/months), but given how big I am - even just being able to wear my favorite tshirts again will be a victory.

Symptoms/Labor Signs/Sleep: all still the same.  I have developed a new one though!  I have added reflux to my repertoire of symptoms.  I am not a fan.  At my appointment last Friday before we left for New Jersey, I was 50% effaced and 1-2cm dilated.  Yesterday I was told that I was (a tight) 2cm dilated and still 50% effaced.  We'll see what happens :)  I am hoping to make it until my due date and it looks like that will probably be the case.  And if by my due date, Natalie has not made her grand entrance into the world, then we have a back-up plan.  I love having plans :)

Food Cravings: nothing really. Sometimes it's hard for me to even eat thanks to the reflux.  I get so scared of eating too much and certain things make it worse.  No bueno.

What I miss: obviously my rings. I miss being able to put shoes on without struggling. Sometimes it takes both of us to get my boots on in the morning which is just pitiful and the days I can do it all by myself - well hot damn do I feel good. I miss waking up in a different position than I went to sleep in - you know, not waking up every time I have to roll over.  I miss not struggling to get out of the recliner and out of Michelle's car. Oh the simple things in life.

Movement: yes. The little girl is not slowing down and neither am I!

Best moment of the last week: The best moment of the last week is a bittersweet one.  Against the wishes of my OB office, Brandon and I made one last visit to New Jersey prior to Natalie's arrival. What?  Dr. Levy sees me on an almost daily basis and he gave me the green light to go.  At any rate, it was so good to see Brandon's parents and brother, aunts and uncles and cousins.  I just wish it had been under better circumstances.  Brandon's grandfather, the only grandfather I have really had in the last decade, passed away last Wednesday (10/30). It was a rough weekend, but it was nice to see the family come together and really support each other.  You could really see and feel the love between everyone. It was fun to sit and tell Pop stories and laugh - just the way he would have wanted us to do it.

What I/We are most looking forward to: I had one goal and that was to make it to the Turnpike Troubadours concert and I did it!  They were absolutely amazing, as always.  I really loved getting to have one last major date night with Brandon prior to Natalie's arrival.  So that's what I was most looking forward to... well, that and I guess Natalie's pending arrival too :)  Here's to hoping we can make it another week :)

38 weeks!

Life has been pretty crazy the last week, so I am only now getting this up... don't judge me.

yes... I was as tired as I look

How far along: 38 weeks - holy crap. #thisisreallyhappening

Baby is the size of: a pumpkin :) how fitting for the week of Halloweenie

Weight Gain: ...do we really need to talk about this still?

Maternity Clothes: a little this and a little that. I have cleaned all of the donated and lent clothing items to be returned to the generous people who let me borrow them. I figure better to do that now when I still have the energy.  I have enough of my own things (thanks to Nydra giving me all of her maternity clothes to keep) to get me through the next two weeks or so (plus that time post-baby when my clothes still don't fit).  It's absolutely crazy to think about.

Symptoms/Labor Signs/Sleep: Unfortunately, the super sexy swelling has not gone anywhere and my hands are still in rough shape.  Ugh.  And to top it off, I have been having some Braxton Hicks contractions almost daily.  They are just lovely.

Food Cravings: Ice cream and shakes. I have been loving the cold beverages. I have been eating a lot of cereal lately - frosted mini wheat to be exact. 

What I miss: my rings. I am so ready to have them back on.  I am really hoping that my swelling goes down enough by time we do maternity pictures that I will be able to wear them then.  I am also really starting to miss sleeping on my stomach and know that I am so close to being able to do that again.

Movement: Yes. TONS. My mom has warned me that when she stops moving so much, it's probably very close to go time.  Part of me wants the movement to stop... a bigger part of me wants her to keep it up until at least November 7th.

Best Moment of the Last Week: I got to see a lot of my older sister and my parents which was really nice.  Brandon also made sure that I had a wonderful birthday complete with a pumpkin shake, a trip to the car wash, shopping trip to Khols, a three hour nap and pizza from Little Cesars.  I don't care who you are - that's romance.

What I/We are most looking forward to: I am really hoping that I can make it to the Turnpike Troubadours concert on November 6th.  We have the tickets and a plan for the dogs and I just really hope that Natalie does not arrive before then. Selfish, yes.  Do I care? No.  Brandon and I were just talking about it and he is adorably clueless.  He said regardless of whether or not Natalie is here, we should still go to the concert.  We could get a baby sitter.  I love how naive he is about this baby stuff sometimes :)