1 month

My baby is going to be 1 month old tomorrow! Time has gone by so fast - I am really trying to absorb every minute with her before I have to go back to work - I am now officially half-way through my maternity leave which makes me sad to think, but luckily I still have a whole month to go. Ryan heads back to work on Monday but we feel so lucky he has been able to spend the month with us.

Emma has always been a pretty smiley baby, but she is now smiling in response to things which makes our hearts melt even more. She has her one month check up soon, but she has been doing great as far as I'm concerned.

This is going to be a big weekend for her - her first wedding! Some of our very favorite people are getting married this weekend, and both Ryan and I will be in the wedding. We can't wait for all the fun!

birth story

I have been working on this little post for nearly 3 weeks now, but I am slow because 1. I don't want to do anything but be with Emma right now and 2. my computer is quite possibly going to blow up...but finally - here is my best - yet short, version of our sweet baby's birth story.

Labor day came and went - I tried with all my might to get baby girl to arrive, but she was on her own schedule. On Tuesday (the 6th), I went to the doctor for a non-stress test, fluid test and fetal heart monitoring test - during the testing they took measurements to estimate her size and determine about how big she might be - they were all confirming she was going to be a big girl they said anywhere from 8 to 10 pounds...long story short - the doctor strongly recommended we schedule a cesarean because at that point she did not believe I would have much luck delivering her on my own, so we later were able to schedule for the very next day (I was so happy to know that I would have my baby girl the next day). We had been preparing for Emma for months but being told she would be here the next day we were all set on getting very ready - grocery shopping, review our bags we had packed for the hospital, etc etc.

We had a big night preparing for her - grocery shopping, grabbing some dinner the two of us, and laying all of our stuff out for our big day, but our little miss had a different plan in mind. At about midnight, I was laying in bed finally about to fall asleep and suddenly I started to feel very uncomfortable and I told Ryan I thought I was going to have to sleep on the couch because I couldn't lay down...turns out I was going into labor but I was in denial for a little bit. I didn't believe I was actually having all these contractions and Ryan had downloaded an app (yes, there is an app for that! ha) and sure enough I was having 30-45 second contractions that were ranging from 3 to 5 minutes apart. I thought for sure they would go away so I walked around our house for awhile and they were not leaving, and they were getting worse. We finally called the hospital and they said they would have my doctor call me back, but my contractions were getting worse and I told Ryan we just needed to go to the hospital.

I finally got my epidural at about 5AM and I was completely exhausted - I can't possibly imagine giving birth without an epidural! I tried to get some sleep but that was not going to happen. They went ahead with my scheduled early morning cesarean because I was not progressing at all. Finally, at 8:39AM my baby girl arrived. I was so tired and delirious but as soon as I heard her cry and I got to see my baby girl I have this huge sense of relief when I knew she had a safe and healthy arrival.

 

 

Happy I finally have my epidural!

She's here! Getting all cleaned up :)

I worked so hard for all that hair - the heartburn was out of control!

My girls - Riley loves her baby Emma!

This picture is dark, but too cute not to post!

the world had less color without you

She's here, and I'm in love. Emma Grace O'Grady was born on September 7th weighing in at 8 pounds 7.4 ounces.

She is almost two weeks old now, and I love her so much. She is such a good baby. Ryan and I are so happy to have this time together to enjoy her arrival and be together as a family.

37 weeks

So much for my timely and regular updates...oops! Time has been going so fast, yet sometimes it feels so slow...weird! The slow part is mostly because I'm ginormous and don't know what to do with myself. I know I've been anxious to meet baby girl for awhile, but now I'm really ready!

I am at the point of going to the doctor every week, and at every appointment I cross my fingers for some monumental change, but as of right now, little lady is still settled in and enjoying her stay. My next appointment is on Friday, so I'm bound and determined for some type of change...Ryan and I have been taking daily walks in hopes to have some type of gravitational push on moving little miss down. If anything, the walks have been really enjoyable - the weather has cooled down, and it's getting me more and more anxious to reclaim my pre-pregnancy mobility.

Baby girl has also been graciously kicking me in the ribs - and rather regularly, so that's been a little unpleasant. The practice I go to apparently does not estimate the baby's weight - they say it's pure guesswork - which is fine, but Ryan was 10 pounds 14 ounces, and I was 8 pounds 5 ounces - so it leaves me guessing she's going to be on the robust side.

Everyone has been asking if I've been nesting - I find myself tasking rather than doing much. I am big on the lists and trying to get things done, but I am so tired - I am more tired now than I ever was in my first trimester. Needless to say, this has left us with some few pending items in the nursery...mostly hanging pictures and small organizing. I am loving the way it's turning out, but I think once it's all done, it will look great. Fingers crossed! Our goal is to finish it soon, and by soon I mean in the next few days! I will post an update when it's done.

Here I am in all my glory:

34 Weeks

It's hard to believe I'm into the single digits of how many weeks I have left...I recently read an article where it talked about how being pregnant is a privilege - I completely agree with that, it's a beautiful gift and an amazing thing, I feel really lucky - but I'm also really looking forward to her arrival and returning to my non-pregnant self. It has been ridiculously hot, and that is a wee bit uncomfortable, and quite frankly...I long to sleep on my stomach, roll over with ease, and put on jeans that have a button. I'm giving baby girl 3 or 4 more weeks, and then I'm starting in with the pep talks! :)

Latest Cravings - I love dark chocolate, but I try to limit myself to a small(ish) piece a day...I also have switched from raspberries to blueberries. Oh how I love blueberries....blueberry frozen yogurt, blueberries in my cereal...yum! Oh, and cereal...I eat it at least once a day...

Biggest Lifesaver - Tums and body pillows. Good Lord, the heartburn is still carrying on...food, drink, oxygen - it all brings on the heartburn. Tums usually does the trick but there have been a few times it doesn't quite take care of it. As for body pillows, I feel like I have old lady hips, they get so tired and it is more than a project to roll over.

Surprising Moment - Ryan was out of town this past weekend for a bachelor party and I thought...here is my chance to go to sleep early! I was so proud to be in my pajamas by 7pm and I was in bed by 9 but then I was having the most insane, what I presume is Braxton Hicks contractions. I slept like crap, and it hurt to lay down, I kept having to get up and walk around - they finally went away but it was the realization that I'm getting very close to the big day. Needless to say, Ryan's will no longer be traveling anywhere...at least without me!

Tomorrow we are meeting with our potential pediatrician, we get to tour the practice and meet the doctors. I'm happy to get this big item squared away, it will make me feel much better knowing that's all in order.

Friday is our next doctor's appointment...pretty soon I'll start going every week! We're really getting close! Latest bump picture coming soon....

Baby Showers

These past few weeks have been incredibly busy, but I can't complain one tiny bit because so many lovely things have been happening.

I've had baby showers, went to my best friend's wedding shower, went to my brother's college graduation party, got a beautiful new front yard (courtesy of Desperate Landscapes...more on that later!), worked on the nursery, and so much more. The insane schedule has been nice to keep busy and not just sit around and wait for baby girl, but of course I'm still anxious...and exhausted!

I was really awful and didn't take very many pictures at my showers, but I've been lucky enough to have two parties! My sisters put together a beautiful family shower and then my best friend had a shower for me with my close girlfriends - man do I feel lucky! I can't believe how generous people are to come and celebrate, and on top of that - bring a gift! I have to tell you...I don't think I could ever get tired of little baby things! The clothes make me give instant "awwww..." reactions and the trinkets and necessity items are just as fun. I love going home and putting the things away in her room, I know she'll be here before we know it!

We are making progress on the nursery and I hope to post pictures of the progress soon...I think after this weekend, we'll almost be ready in the room department.

We got so many wonderful things, but here is just a small snapshot of some of the items:

Happy 4th!!

We had a great long weekend! I feel really lucky to be surrounded by so much love and happiness! We don't typically go camping in July but we changed things up this year, and went camping with my whole family this past weekend. The weather worked out in our favor, even though it was hot during the day we had lots of shade and it cooled down at night which made sleeping much more comfy. July is going to be one crazy month, but it's all shaping up to be good things!

Hope everyone is having a good 4th of July!