first week

-maggie spent her first three day's in the nicu for blood sugar issues (don't even get me started. ha.)

-they must have poked her (for labs and blood sugar tests) and switched her iv around a million times.

-i didn't even get to change her diaper and see her little goods til day two of her life. it kind of helped solidify that she was indeed a girl!

-i felt back to normal by day two. this recovery has been a breeze, believe it or not!

-i could be speaking too soon, and i know she could flip a switch anytime, but she is the EASIEST baby. doesn't cry, wakes up twice a night and fusses til i feed her and then it's right back to sleep.

-the boy's are doing so good with her. griff is as sweet as can be and asks lot's of funny questions. like, why does she have a little butt in front, mom? and why do you have milk in your boobs?

-nolan is still a turkey. he is good with the baby but he still flips out at nap time and bed time. i am seriously sleep training an almost 2 year old and it's ridiculous! other than his sleep issues, he has been awesome. lot's of loves for maggie all day long.

-my mom has been here and has been a great help!

-girlfriend had her first photo shoot! and the sneak peek is HERE. it's titled Baby M.
scored the photo shoot for free from an awesome girl who just moved here and wants to promote her business. she is the sweetest thing and the most talented photographer!

maggie's birth

july 20th 2011

got a phone call early wednesday morning from labor and delivery

arrived at 6:45 and got everything started by 7:30 (iv, pitocin)

water was broken at 8am and things started to really pick up shortly after

wanted to labor for a bit on my own so i could feel some good contractions and not slow the process down with the epidural

waited a tad too long!

before i knew it i was an 8 and wanting my epidural (badly)

they had one anesthesiologist there and he had two people ahead me

at this time the contractions were ONE minute apart and extremely painful and intense (like loud moaning, bawling and freaking out)

it wasn't pretty!

there was talk about me having the baby naturally and i started to panic because i so didn't want that

they talked the epi doc into bumping one of the other girls so he could get to me quicker

got the epidural in, in between some crazy, very close together contractions

but it didn't work

my belly was numb but i could still feel and move my legs and feels TONS of pressure everywhere "down there"

then i started considering thoughts of natural delivery and it was freaking me out ( in hindsight, i should have just done it!)

so there i was 10 cm dilated and 100% effaced and ready to push with no epi

the doc tried one last thing and i was finally numb! maybe too numb but at least i was calm and ready to push

pushed for maybe 30 minutes and she was out!

as she was coming her head popped out and everyone said "ohh that's a boy face and a boy head!" and then her huge shoulders came out "those are some boy shoulders!"

all the while i was like NO way, i know this baby is a girl, i just know it!

and then there she was, a HUGE girl with ton's of dark hair and lot's of rolls

we couldn't be more thrilled to have a sweet little girl join our family

as for now, all my stresses about having a girl are gone and i feel so complete having her here

it does seem very surreal and maybe it hasn't sunk in yet, but we all adore her!

here are some pics of the big girl:


she is quite the combo of both boy's...griff's face, nolan's hair and dark complexion

my friend offered to take birth photography so i jumped at the chance! it was amazing not having to worry about who was going to take pics and if they would turn out good or not.

she did such a good job and i can't wait to see all of the candid shots of maggie's fast little birth!

it's a she!

yes, it's true!

we had a GIRL!

still in shock and denial and still in the hospital.

girlfriend has had some blood sugar problems and has been in the nicu since she was born.

it has been rough to say the least.

will post birth story and pics soon!

hoping and praying she gets well soon and can join us at home ASAP.

Maggie Kate
7/20/11
12:20pm
9lbs 2oz (my BIGGEST baby!)
21 inches (as well as my longest)

last day!

this is my last day being pregnant! hallelujah!

i am so done, beyond done, done-done.

i am sure this baby is plenty ready and plenty big.

or more like MY BODY is ready but the baby is still comfy, cozy!

almost a week has passed since my last check so who knows where my body is at now.

have had plenty of ouchie contractions and some very consistent one's (only to have them stop, grrr)

but i am glad i have had these few extra day's to get ready.

i think i am ready!

having second thoughts about my names so this baby might not have a name when it comes out...dang it.

freaking out at the thought of having to push a baby out tomorrow. goodness.

any last minute guesses on the sex???

i suppose i am thinking girl, but it won't surprise me one bit if this little one is a boy.

my head has been more occupied with girl thoughts this time so a boy would be a wild little surprise!

everyone i know thinks it's a girl so we shall see!

38

4cm dilated, 75% effaced

heartbeat 140

membranes stripped!

going to power walk like mad tonight to get this party started!

if not, induction is scheduled for wednesday morning at 6am!

thirty seven

3.5 cm dilated and 50% effaced

heartbeat of 145

measuring 38 weeks

baby will be here on the 20th!

can't begin to say how happy i am about this :)

this will be my earliest (and maybe smallest???) baby to date

it's not that i want a small baby per say, i just don't want to push for 3 hours (griff) or even an hour and a half (nolan)

no thank you!!

been walking my booty off like crazy, drinking my red raspberry leaf tea and taking a little evening primrose oil

11 more day's and i will get to meet my little one and finally know who has been hiding in there this whole time!

nolan nolan nolan

this kid is in for a rude awakening in a few weeks.

he is an extreme momma's boy....

he sleeps through the night some nights but still joins me in my bed most nights.

he is obsessed with hair, almost anyone's hair but he loves soft, flowing girl hair.

when he joins me in bed he says "hair" and if i am not lying with my back toward him (so he can fondle the garbage out of my hair) he tells me to "turn around".

oh me, oh my.

if he is upset and i can't get him to chill out, i just tell him to play with my hair and he calms down right away.

he is getting better at talking these days but he is still a little behind.

got his tongue checked by an oral surgeon and the guy told me that nolan's tongue tie probably isn't as bad as i think it is and then he took a peek and was shocked. it's bad.

dang it. so the kid has to get a little surgery to clip the little thingy below his tongue because it's way too tight and it could be the cause of his speech delay (i don't really think he is delayed necessarily, but griff talked in small sentences by now).

so who knows?

the surgeon also said that even if i had the pediatrician clip it when he was a newborn, it would have had to be re-done anyway.

this guy has done many, many tongue tie surgeries and nolan will be the first one he will do, who hasn't had it done by a regular doc in the office with a little pair of scissors.

so i guess i am feeling pretty good about it but the guy warned me that the healing won't be a fun process. so that will be awesome.

nolan is such a fun little boy. we are loving him and his silly little way's.

but really, the whole new baby thing is going to flip him out. i am sure of it.

36 weeks

up 26 lbs

measuring ahead

heartbeat of 135

dilated to a three (yay! although it doesn't mean much i don't think)

feeling pretty good still, not 100% miserable yet!

baby is head down and the doc could feel it, woooo!

the way this kid moves and wiggles, i thought for sure it was still in there wrong

started my power walking routine to get this ball rolling some more!

going crazy not knowing the sex of this baby! the hard part is getting past the ultrasound but the last few weeks are so so hard.

the bond just isn't there because i don't know who's in there and i can't really daydream and imagine. sad huh?

but as soon as the babe comes out it hits me like a ton of bricks, so that's good.

it's just strange not having that sweet little bond right now.

but it's still so worth it!