Macy's Arrival Story

I never would have thought a mere 8 hours after I posted "Slow and Steady" that I would go in to labor! At the time, I really thought that I had a couple days, if not a week, before baby girl would decide to come. But -thankfully- I was wrong!

Here is the story of Macy's birth... As a disclaimer: it is long, and I ramble. But I found it so hard to put in to words my experience with out OVER sharing or omitting the deets. Anyway, this what I took away from it all...

So as I said on my last post, Wednesday morning I went to the doctor and go my membranes stripped. I had a little bit of bleeding that morning, maybe for 2 hours, and nothing major. Otherwise I felt normal, ran some errands, went to see "What to Expect When You're Expecting" with my best friend Cassy, and when my husband got home that night I decided I really wanted to take a walk around downtown. So we walked to Subway to get dinner, and by the time we got back I was having a decent amount of lower back pain. I just figured it was from the walking. We went to bed around 10 and at 1230 that night I woke up from the pain of abdominal cramps. It was pretty intense, but it didn't have a beginning or an end, so I didn't immediately think of the pain being contractions. It wouldn't go away and eventually Kyle woke up, due to my restlessness. He suggested that I try to time the pain, so I would keep my hand over my belly and note when it got hard, then soften. Once I could start to define the pain, I noted it was coming 3 minutes apart. I got up and went to the bathroom and realized I was bleeding, so Kyle suggested that I go ahead a call the doctor. He called me back right away and said I should come on in, because it sounded like I was in labor. Whhhhatt?? I think was in denial because I was moving so slowly, but Kyle was up and out of bed, loading the car and looking at me impatiently like... LETS GO! I wanted to fix my hair a little bit, make sure I had everything I needed (yes, we were packed), make the bed, load dishes that were in the sink, etc. We finally headed to the hospital around 1:30am. Once I got in the car the contractions were INTENSE, very painful, and had a definite beginning and end. I did not like that experience! We got to the hospital around 2am and were checked in to triage. At this point my contractions were coming every 2 minutes so I was surprised when she told me that I was only 1.5cm dilated, but I was 80% effaced, so they would keep me and check me again in 2 hours. My nurse started an IV and gave me glorious pain meds(!) and I tried to get some sleep. I rested well in between contractions and luckily the 2 hours went quickly. She checked me again at 5am and I was at 3cm... she said "Looks like you earned yourself a bed"- yay!

By the time I got checked in to my room and settled, it was around 6:30am and I was ready for my epidural -STAT! Although I was only dilated to a 3, the contractions were KILLING ME and I was ready to relax and enjoy the labor process. I did ask my nurse if she thought it was too early, and she said "if you're in pain you should get it. If it slows you down, we can always start you on Pitocin" -That was enough reassurance for me.. Bring on the juice! The epidural went in smoothly and at 7:30 I told Kyle it was time we start notifying friends and family that we were having a baby today! I didn't want to let anyone know until I knew we were FOR SURE staying, and then I wanted to wait until I got my epidural because I didn't want to start gasping in pain in the middle of a conversation. After the calls and texts all I wanted was a NAP. -As a nurse i should have known this was a joke, because nurses are notorious for walking in to the room at all the wrong times. As my eyes drifted off to sleep my day nurse walked in to do an assessment and check me again. This time I was at 5cm and she was confident I would have my baby that afternoon around "3" -Boy was she good at her job! Finally my eyes drifted to sleep and when I woke up Cassy was sitting at my bedside. The rest of the morning/early afternoon was spent hanging out, watching TV, drifting in and out of sleep, and doing everything I could to keep my mind off of my insatiable hunger. I will tell you, not being able to eat was probably the hardest thing I had to go through during the whole labor process. No one told me that it would be so hard! Besides being hungry I remember sitting there thinking "this is what labor is?" I was actually bored! And the anticipation was killing me. I was ready to meet this baby girl! Finally my doctor came by around noon and checked me again. Little did I know my water had actually broken already (I didn't feel it) and I was at 7cm, 100% effaced and at a +2 station. Wahoo! She told my nurse to check me in an hour, and let me tell you- that was the longest hour ever! Finally around 1:15p my nurse came, checked me, and said, "Let's have this baby!"

Kyle took one leg, Cass the other, and I started pushing around 1:40. The first couple contractions that came I didn't know what I was doing and it felt like I wasn't making much progress. It is not easy to push, especially when you can't really feel anything. But the lower the baby got, the more I could feel what I was doing. After a few pushes my nurse told me she could see the baby's head and that she had JET BLACK HAIR... Umm what? My baby has black hair? I had them bring the mirror over so I could see for myself. Once the mirror was there, I decided I liked it, and that it was actually helping me focus when I was pushing. What seems like a push or 2 later my doctor arrived, I pushed one more time and there she was! She was born at 2:48pm, weighed 7lbs15oz and 21 1/4in long.

First meeting my our precious slimey baby girl

The next hour was a blur of meeting my precious Macy Jane, a million people in the room, me getting cleaned up, her getting cleaned up, and people in and out. I honestly thought it would be more of an emotional moment, but it was more overwhelming than anything.

So cute even minutes old

Getting sweet time in with my baby girl (please notice the menu on my lap, I did not waste any time!)

I have to say, I had a great labor process, no hiccups, and a healthy baby. SUCH answered prayers! All the anxiety, sleepless nights leading up to this moment were all worth it. The next 2 days at the hospital were spent enjoying all the visitors and learning how to be parents! I will say that it wasn't until I got home and sat in the nursery with my baby girl in my arms while Kyle unloaded the car that I let out that "wow I'm a mommy" sigh moment. It was amazing!

I can't wait to share more about my adventures in being a new mom to Macy Jane!

Week 39- Slow and Steady

Monday marked the beginning of Week 39 and the excitement/anticipation/anxiousness has really set in!

(Not going to lie, there isn't a picture I like of myself- I feel HUMONGOUS!!)

As I had posted before, I was kind of hoping to get induced by now, but as my body has revealed, baby girl is not quite ready! I showed zero progress between weeks 37 and 38 (including a cry session at the doctor's office) and knew then that the induction at week 39 was not going to happen. I was disappointed -mainly because I am just so ready to meet her! I think all moms-to-be can relate to that feeling this close to the end. Everything is ready, my body aches, I am not sleeping... and I just want her out!

Today's appointment went better though, as I did make a little more progress. My doctor was able to strip my membranes (sounds gross, I know) which can help stimulate the cervix to open up more -and in some cases, actually start labor. I am not expecting that to happen with me (going in to labor) but I am hoping that things start progressing a little more quickly. If nothing happens I go back on Tuesday (they are closed for Memorial Day) to get checked and schedule the induction. At that point I will be 40+ weeks and I am sure will be begging her to do it ASAP!

I am still working, staying busy and even spent Monday doing yard work! Not that there is much to do, living in a townhouse downtown- but I did manage to spend a couple hours pulling weeds, laying mulch, and planting the front porch planters.

Race weekend is one of the best weekends in Indy, one that I have enjoyed (maybe too much) for many years. So if Macy decides not to come, that is ok too, because I will be around all of our friends celebrating the weekend and doing my best to stay out of this heat! Either way I will either be spent inside in the a/c or in the hospital with a baby...But I am really hoping for the latter!!

37 Weeks... Full Term Baby!

Talk about a milestone... As of Monday, this baby is full term, and can officially make her appearance any day now. Wow!
As the official countdown has begun, Kyle and I have been busy nesting away. We have pretty much finished the nursery (for now at least), cleaned and scrubbed the house, washed her sheets and onesies, and even went "hospital bag shopping". Besides having the car seat loaded and the bag packed and sitting by the front door, we are ready for this baby!

I had my weekly checkup today and it looks like I am making good progress. I am dilated to 1cm and am 50-60% effaced. According to my doctor, that is pretty good for a first time momma at 37 weeks. I'll take it :)

I have definitely had to slow down though, the closer I get to the end. I make myself take breaks during the day, and try to prop my feet up as often as possible. By the end of the day my feet are pretty swollen and I can only wear my wedding ring for a couple of hours at a time. Other than the normal hip pain, restless sleeping, and the swelling.. I actually feel GREAT! I really do! I have been blessed with a pretty easy going pregnancy, that for which I am grateful for!

As Kyle and I thought about what we wanted to put up in the nursery, the idea of a bible verse kept coming up. But what verse? A generic verse? A verse about babies? What we decided was to find a verse that we wanted her to live by, our "charge to Macy". As we were laying in bed one night reading our bibles, searching for the perfect words for her, Kyle said "I think I've found it". After he read it to me I knew it was perfect. And what was even more perfect was the fact that her daddy picked it out. The verse is on the wall above our chair. It says,

"⁶ Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

 -Deuteronomy 31:6

As parents I know our job will be to keep her healthy and safe, but the most important job we have is to make sure she knows Jesus and has a heart for God.

Other updates in the nursery include a new bookshelf. I looked for weeks for one and ended up settling on this one from Target:

Once we put her gifts and books in it, it looks like this:

We also put up some pretty pink curtians:

One day while cruising around the shops in our neighborhood we came across these picture letters that were taken around the city, and we new we wanted to add a little "Indy flair" to her room.

The shelf was made by my grandfather in the 80s and Kyle just painted it white so it would match everything else. It is fun adding personal touches to her room!

And now every time I walk by...

...I can't help but think that it is my favorite room in the whole house!

Week 35: My thoughts on delivery, my doc appointment, working and more!

Wahoo! 35 weeks! I definitely feel like I am in the home stretch now and am feeling fabulous!

Because I am due on Memorial Day, I asked my doctor about getting induced early. I have a couple close friends who have gotten induced and had great experiences. I love the idea of having some "control" of the situation and knowing "today I am going in to the hospital to have my baby". My doctor told me she wouldn't induce earlier than 39 weeks and only if my cervix is ready. I respect that decision, and just hope I am "ready" by my 39 week appointment. I'd love little Miss Macy Jane to be out before the holiday weekend and be able to visit with family and friends that will be in town. I will obviously do whatever is best for her, and if she is not ready by then -then we will just have to wait! I will not push the issue but I am definitely all for induction! I am also a weird one that would totally be fine with a C-section too. (which is a risk for induction). As I nurse I am very familiar with what a C-section entails, the recovery time, etc.. and none of that scares me. I am not an OB nurse, so of course there is a lot I don't know, but I know enough that a C-section sometimes seems more appealing than a vaginal birth! There are SO many things that can go wrong with a vaginal birth, and the unknown scares the crap out of me. I like to have control over things (a DUH for those who know me well), and there is no sense of control during a vaginal birth. What if the baby's heart rate drops? the umbilical cord gets wrapped around her neck? she doesn't fit right? she rips the crap out of me? breaks my tail bone? --I could go on. At the end of the day what matters the most to me is that she comes out healthy and mommy and baby get to meet for the first time! So pumped for that!

I learned today at my appointment that MJ is right where she is supposed be. Head down, pressing against my cervix. I am starting to thin out, but am not dilated yet. Right on track, according to my doctor. I start going every week now, which is fun :) Thank goodness I only work 3 days a week, I don't know how people who work 5 days a week could fit in all of these appointments!

Speaking of work.. new this week: I actually had to get  a doctor's note that said I am only allowed to work 40 hours per week. Crazy right? Full time for nurses is three 12 hour shifts per week. At my job we are required to do that PLUS take call at night and on weekends. Because so many people have left recently the amount of call has increased tremendously -meaning that this almost 9 month pregnant woman would have to work full time plus an additional 20ish hours of call every week. YUCK! So I called my doctor and she said, um no you should not do that, and I totally agreed :) Thank goodness.. I don't know how I would have done that! I will work my full time schedule up until sweet baby girl decides to make her appearance though. Working 3 days a week... awesome... working 12+ hour shifts... sucks. My back hurts, my legs are swollen and I usually want to cry by the end of the day. But hey, like I said,  it's only 3 days a week!

In other news...this weekend we had our maternity pics taken and I can't wait to see how they turned out! I wasn't sure if we would get them done, but we got such a great deal (it was kind of included in the newborn pics) that I thought -why the heck not! Not something we will do again, but I think it will be nice to have a professional pic to remember this time of our lives. I am already picturing a collage of engagement pics, wedding pics, and maternity pics =) Here is a sneak peek of one of the pics:

Seeing this picture really makes me wonder... what will she look like?! Dark or light hair? I can't wait to find out!

xoxo

The Nursery!

The nursery has been put together and I couldn't be happier with the results! It is still pretty bare, we are looking for a bookshelf, we don't have curtains yet, and we also still have a couple things to hang on the walls. After those things are done I will reevaluate what we still need to do. I am not a huge fan of nurseries looking too kiddish, but I think she still needs a little "something" in her room. I have been browsing Pinterest (obviously, like every other woman in the U.S.) and stalking fellow Facebook friends with little girl nurseries, but I am not quite sure what else to do for her nursery. Ideas are welcome!

First we will start with her crib: Love it! So happy with the crib and her awesome Pottery Barn bedding. It is exactly what I wanted! Next is her changing table: above is my mom's painting, which I adore dearly and I am so happy it has found the perfect home!

A look closer shows her changing pad cover... pink zebra -of course!

Here is her dresser and hamper, nothing too exciting:

And our awesome rocking/gliding recliner that we love! We find ourselves sitting in it constantly

Next to the recliner is where I want to put a bookshelf/lamp.

A view from the bathroom:

And a view from the wall her crib is on:

So as you can see it is very simple, but sweet :) Once curtains are up I know it will add a little more color, but I am really not sure what else to do it, if anything at all. What I do know is I am super excited to have a sweet baby girl in that room!

32 Weeks

32 weeks has come (and almost gone). Crazy to think that the countdown can being soon. I must say, it is getting harder and harder to forget that I've got a little person growing inside of me.

Stats thus far:

-Feeling (physically): good! But tired. I really have to think if doing certain things are "worth it" anymore. For example, when I drop something, I usually look at it on the floor for a minute and think to myself, "Hmmm is it really worth bending over and picking that up?" Or when we go to the gas station and Kyle asks me if I want to go in with him to get a drink... I think, "Hmmm is it really worth getting out of the car, and back in for such a short period of time." -the answer is usually no. I also get this weird sharp shooting pain right below my chest, and get out of breath doing minimal things, like talking for too long. Sounds fun, right?

-Working out: which brings me to this lovely topic, working out. I was doing so good during my second trimester when I was feeling great. But I have to admit, I have rarely found the motivation to get up and bust a move. We put the treadmill up when family came to stay (3 weeks ago) and have yet to put it back :-/ Kyle and I have been taking advantage of the nice weather recently though and going for long walks around downtown. I always feel so much better after them, so that has been my new form of "working out".

-Sleeping: Ok. I got a new pillow to help me sleep, not a huge body pillow, but a more reasonably sized pillow. Looks like this:

It is kind of annoying though, having to keep up with it during the night. I am always "aware" of where it is and when I want to turn it over I have to heave it over to the other side of the bed with me. Laying on my back is out of the question so I turn over about every 2 hours (like a good nurse should do) =)

-Dreams: Weird crazy pregnancy dreams! Most recently last night, I dreamt that baby Regal stuck her hand out of my belly so I could hold it. So I was just walking around, holding her teeny tiny hand. Also, in the same dream, she kept laughing and I could hear it. Like a cute little baby laugh. It made me happy.

-Clothes: Definitely all maternity, with a few pieces of my original wardrobe here and there. I am at that point now though that I don't want to buy any more maternity clothes though. 1-They are so expensive! 2-They aren't very cute :( Every time I go somewhere I see a dress or shirt that is super cute and want to stop and look at it. Then I suddenly think, what the heck am I doing, I can't wear this! It is all the more motivation to get my booty back in shape after baby girl comes though, so I can wear all of these cute clothes I see!

-Feeling (emotionally): I can tell my body is preparing me more and more for the baby not only physically, but emotionally too. I find myself just laying there feeling her move and become overwhelmed with a sense of excitement to meet her. My hormones are naturally releasing a "mommy sense" I think. For the first time, I feel ready emotionally for this baby to come. I obviously want her to stay in as long as possible so she can as healthy as possible, but my heart is ready for her to be here.

-Checklists: getting done! We have the nursery (almost) put together... that post is coming soon! We have picked out our pediatrician and we have childcare lined up! It feels good to have those bigger items on the list checked off. I still need get all of her stuff organized, and see what we need still. Wash her clothes, get more diapers. That kind of stuff. I am counting on that "nesting bug" to bite me soon and give the motivation to knock that stuff out of the way asap.

Last but not least, here is a pic of what 32 weeks is looking like:

The Baby Shower

This past weekend we were blessed with a day to celebrate baby Regal! Family came from all over the country (literally) to Indianapolis to help us prepare for our sweet princess. It was so fun to have family here and to show them nursery progress, my growing belly, and we were also blessed with amazing weather!

My girlfriends Cassy, Lindy and Lauren hosted the shower for me. We meet each week for a informal "girlfriend's bible study" and they have been with me through out this whole experience. It so encouraging have good girlfriends to talk to, cry to, and who you know are praying for you! They are also very much like me and knew they could go "all-out" when it came to planning the shower. All I know was it was going to be girly, full of animal prints, and not a detail would be over looked.

First of all... check out these invites!! So. Freaking. Cute.

My Lovely hostesses... Lindy and Cassy...

and Lauren! Who, by the way, is an event planner at Butler University! She is a professional party-thrower and it was so evident at my shower! From the set up, to the flow of the party, everything was perfect =)

Some of the decor: Leopard print and pink!And you can't forget zebra print!

My cake also fell into the fun animal print theme:

How cute is this! And yes, our baby girl's name is Macy Jane. <3

We got so much stuff! We were shocked at the amount of gifts.. and how thoughtful they were! My maternal grandma (Meme) and both my step-grandmas all made handmade blankets. Something that we will cherish forever! Kyle's sister had such a sweet gift idea: she had an outfit for every holiday spanning an entire year. The first outfit was for Father's Day (MJ's first holiday she will be here for) all the way through to next year's Mother's Day. If I could have taken a picture of everything we got I would, but that would take forever :)

Let's just say she got a lot of clothes....

And has her own tu-tu collection started!! We are definitely planning on doing the newborn pics in the pink and grey one.. and the blue one in the back is for football season! Go Colts!

My little baby sis made her niece a bow holder. Came up with the idea on her own, made it her self, and I am so proud of her! I have never seen anything like it, I can't wait to get it hung on the wall!A cute and hilarious gift we got was a stuffed bunny. Growing up I had my bunny, whom I lovingly named, "Bunny". She went everywhere with me, including cheerleading camps and sleepovers (all the way through highschool). My good family friend Teresa knew of Bunny, and decided that Macy girl would need her own bunny. So cute!

There a few things I can take away from our shower weekend. First and foremost, we are so lucky to have such a great support system! Between our friends and family, we just felt so loved! Friends from out of town mailed gifts and cards and family traveled thousands of miles just to be a part of our day. I haven't felt this over pouring of love and support since our wedding!

The other take away is... our baby is going to one little fashionista! Between the outfits and bows, she is going to be DECKED out! No, I will not be one of those crazy moms who wants to wear matching outfits, and I will NOT spend boo-coo bucks on outfits that she will wear, maybe once. My baby will be decked out in Marshall's, TJ Maxx, and sale rack items... just like her momma!

We have another baby shower coming up that two women from our church are throwing. I can't wait for that either! It is so fun getting together with good friends and celebrating the life of our future little girl. Have I mentioned how blessed we feel???