Olivia is here!

Our little princess is here!

Olivia Grace
6 lbs. 6 oz., 19 inches
Born 6:31pm

Labor was almost the same as last time. 8 hours and about 1/2 hour of pushing. This time I only had a partial epidural so I felt pretty much everything, which is what I wanted. Boy did it hurt!...and that was with some numbing! I tried to get as far as I could without an epi. I made it to 5cm and that was it. At that point I was dying. Didn't help that I was pumped up with Pitocin. The anesthesiologist came in and attempted to put the needle in my back for the epidural. He ATTEMPTED 3 times! Hurt like hell. Didn’t help that I was going through some strong contractions at that point. I think I killed the pillow I was squeezing. After the epidural needle was in place, I felt some relief, but as the contractions got stronger, the pain started to come back. It was so intense that I was actually shaking from the pain. Definitely a different experience than what I had with Matthew. I didn’t feel a thing while in labor with him. So much so that my legs were like cement. Didn’t really like that feeling. I didn’t even really know when to push. This time, oh I knew lol. I kept saying, “I have to push!”

Once Olivia's head was almost out, I actually screamed "get her out!" LMAO!

40 week belly pic

Plug!

It's releasing!  My mucus plug that is.  Sounds gross, and it is lol, but it's a good sign! 

38 Weeks

Went to my dr. appt yesterday and here is where I am:

Dilated: 1.5-2cm
Effaced: 50%
Station: -3  (-4 which is just coming into the pelvis to +4 station which is on the perineum or ready to be born.  Women having their first baby typically engage before labor and may enter labor at -1, 0 or even +1 station. Women having their second or greater baby often engage during labor.)

She's still a bit high, but at least I'm starting to dilate.  I've been having contractions here and there.  Nothing worse than the day I was driving back from Princeton.  I can't believe I only have 13 days left.  The unknown is what's freaking me out.  I'm excited, nervous, anxious.  I like to plan so it was easy with Matthew.  I was induced so I had a date, knew when I was checking in to the hospital and had everything prepared.  I have everything prepared now, but not knowing when she's coming is what's got me.  Who knows when my water will break.  This is all new to me even though it's my second baby.   Hubby is nervous, too.  He wasn't here for the first three months with Matthew since he was over in Iraq.  This will be a new experience for him, too.  It's nice that we can share these new moments with each other :)

Till next time.

27 days left!

Ok, we’re down to the final stretch!  I have 1 ½ weeks of commuting left and then I can work from home and relax until baby girl comes.  Her nursery is done except for her name and her newborn portrait.  I’ve already ordered all her props for her photos J  I can’t wait to take them.  From what I’ve read, newborn photos are best taken around 10 days old.  I didn’t know that with Matty.  I took his much later.

This weekend hurricane Irene hit our town.  Our streets were flooded about 4 feet high in some parts of town.  Thankfully our street was fine, but we did lose power and we are still out.  Hopefully we’ll have power back on in a few days.  The only thing that is keeping us sane right now is a generator that we bought yesterday.  What a great machine.  I don’t feel like we’re back in the stone age anymore.  We can live like this for a few more days.  No cable is rough though lol.  

Here is what our streets looked like.

 

Nursery Pics

Here are some photos of our little girl’s nursery so far.  We just waiting for her name decal to arrive for over her crib and I’ll put up her newborn photo over her changing table.  Oh, and I’m also waiting for her rug to arrive that matches her bedding that will go in front of the crib.

 

Details:

Paint - Benjamin Moore Pink Cloud & Atrium White

Bedding, Rug, Mobile & Lamp - Baby Ella by Glenna Jean

Chandelier – Mia by Pottery Barn Kids

Wall Décor – Frames from Ikea & Babies r Us

Decal – Open Heart Creations on Etsy

 

I’m very excited.  I can’t wait for her to get here.  I’ve been feeling a lot of cramping.  Not sure if it’s Lightening or if it’s just painful BH.  I didn’t have painful BH with Matthew.  I go to the doctor tomorrow for my 36 week OB appointment.  Doctor will do an internal exam to check effacement and dilation and she will also check the position of the baby and will let me know if she is engaged in my pelvis yet or not.  I feel like she is.  I have less rib pain now and a lot more bladder pressure.  We’ll see!

 

 

 

6 weeks left...and I tell you about her dilated ventricle.

Went to the dr. yesterday and baby girl is doing great.  She's weighing in at 4lbs 12oz. Just 4oz shy of 5lbs already! :)  She's measuring right on target. 

I didn't mention anything before because it's just not something I wanted to talk about.  At my 20 week OB visit, my GYN told me that she wanted me to go to the hospital to get antenatal testing done.  She said she saw that baby girl's lateral ventricle was slightly dilated.  It was measuring 9.5-9.9mm.  That's on the high side of normal.  Normal is considered under 10mm.  When I went for my follow up ultrasound, the doctor told me that they consider this mild ventriculomegaly.  So of course I started to freak out.  They asked me if I wanted an amnio and I of course said no!  There are way too many risks associated with amnios.  So since 20 weeks I've had to go to the hospital every month to check on the progress of baby girl and to check her lateral ventricle size.

We are happy to report that at 34 weeks her ventricle size has gone back down to normal and the hospital doesn't need to see me anymore.  Such a weight has been lifted and I can now really enjoy the last few weeks of my pregnancy.  :)

We can't wait to meet you baby girl xoxo.

Maternity Photo Shoot

We had the pleasure of working with Stikx & Stonz Photography for our maternity shoot. A friend recommended me and we were so happy with the results. Thanks Christie!

8 More Weeks & Baby Sprinkle

Ah!  8 more weeks to go and I still feel like I have so much to do.  Matty's room is pretty much done other than a few accessories for the walls. Time to start on the nursery and to get myself ready for this baby.  I have to pack my hospital bag, wash all the clothes, get the bassinet ready and install the car seat.  I can't believe how time is just flying by.  I mailed in my pre-registration to the hospital today and I have to contact CryoCell to discuss cord blood banking.  I've been having bouts of depression/sadness which I didn't have with Matty.  I hope it goes away after delivery.  It should so I'm not too worried about it.  I try not to think about it too much and to refocus on other things when I feel it coming on.

This little girl has been kicking up a storm different times during the day.  I can also feel her moving around as if she's trying to get comfortable in there.  Don't get too comfy lol.  It's getting harder to move around now and I get tired very quickly.  Oh! and nesting has definitely set in.  I will post pics of the nursery once it's all done.  I'm very excited to see it all finished!

By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus.  You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to baby.  In fact, your little one will gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next seven weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb.  

Your baby now has toenails, fingernails and real hair.  The skin on your baby's body is becoming soft an smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.  To accommodate you and your baby's growing needs, your blood volume has increased 40 to 50 percent since you got pregnant.  With your uterus pushing up near your diaphragm and crowding your stomach, the consequences may be shortness of breath and heartburn.  You may have lower back pain as your pregnancy advances.
-BabyCenter.com  

This weekend was my baby sprinkle and it was wonderful.  It was so nice to see friends and family and to spend the day together.  My little boy got hurt during the sprinkle, but all in all it was a great day.  He burned his little fingers on a sterno and was miserable for over an hour, but he's ok now. 

I can't wait to play dress up :) with all the clothes she got.  Such cute girlie clothes.  I'm so used to boy clothes lol.  Family and friends chipped in to make the food, cake and the favors and to decorate our backyard.  It was perfect.  Couldn't have asked for more.  Thanks to everyone. Love you. <3

Nursery Decor :)