Looking at the pictures of the Feb. 07 babies, I can't believe how fast they've all grown. Where did all the time go??? It seems like just yesterday we were comparing aches and pains, impatiently waiting for our babies!
I can't believe all the things Ella can do now. She's mobile, she's funny, and she's opinionated! I don't think I could possibly love her anymore. She's absolutely perfect!
She's sleeping through the night like a champ. About a month ago, we spent three nights "crying it out." They were three miserable nights, but ever since then, she's happily laid down for bed each night. Sometimes she wakes up in the night for a dry diaper, but other than that, she's a great sleeper. (I am so lucky!)
She's also doing really well in daycare. We were so blessed to find our sitter. She only takes babies, and she's got Ella all figured out. Ella really likes her, and it's been really good for her to be around other babies. She's the second youngest of the group, and she doesn't like being left out, so she's doing her best to keep up with the other babies.
Ella is now crawling fast and furiously. She started crawling on 9/15/07. She can pull herself up, and today she started cruising along the furniture (10/1/07). I'm exhausted from chasing her! There's no stopping her now!
She has two little teeth, and she loves using them. She got the first one on my birthday (9/19/07). Crackers, peas, and yogurt are her favorite foods. She also likes whatever mommy is eating... doesn't matter what it is. She sits at the table in her high chair when we eat, and she's learning that she can get the doggy to come play with her if she drops her food.
She's working really hard on talking, too. Her first word (and only word so far) is Ella. She chants her name over and over. She's added a variety of sounds in the past two weeks including N, D, B, G, and i. She can click her tongue and make chicken noises now to go with her favorite noise (roaring like a dinosaur).
She can wave "bye-bye" now (or maybe it's "come here"), she plays peek-a-boo, and she loves the rolling part of pattycake. She loves the doggy, refridgerator magnets, and watching baseball or football on television. She loves commercials, especially one for a video ipod nano. If you want Ella to smile, all you have to do is count to 10 on your fingers. It cracks her up every time!
Ella got her first baby doll this weekend. It wiggles and coos, and I think she knows what it's saying... kindred spirits! Her favorite toys are the cheapest ones: diaper cream, lids to her formula containers, and junk mail.
Ella has definate dislikes too. She hates canned pears and bananas, putting on clothes, and sitting still for too long. She'll pull my clothing when she wants me to stand up. Ella has no problem voicing her disapproval.
I love comparing Ella's baby pictures with other family photos. She has my eyes, and sometimes (especially when she's got her pluggy and a baseball bat) she looks exactly like Uncle Peter. Her coloring and some of her expressions look just like Katie, Grammy, and Nana. And her smile is just like her daddy's. Her nose gets red on the tip when she's tired or upset... just like daddy's does. I know I'm totally biased, but I think she's a beautiful little girl. I love being Ella's mommy!
10.1.2007
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A week before my due date, I hit a new level of misery. I was so swollen that I couldn't walk, my blood pressure was really high, and I'd been having contractions for three weeks, which meant I hadn't been getting much sleep. I went in to see my doctor on Tuesday, and she decided that it was time to put me out of my misery.
On Wednesday, Feb. 21 (four days before my EDD), I went in for an induction at 90% effaced and 4cm dialated. I was strep B positive, so they started the antibiotics at 8 am and around 10:15 the doctor broke my water. I had a TON of amniotic fluid. It just kept gushing! The doctor and nurses all had to change their clothes because it was so messy! They started the pitocin, and about an hour later the contractions began to get really intense.
Originally I didn't want the epidural, but the nurses convinced me to order it when they broke my water, so it would be on hand if I changed my mind. After about half an hour of intense pitocin contractions, I changed my mind. Getting the epidural hurt so badly. I felt it going into my spine! But after it was over, it was wonderful. I took a nap (since I had only had 2 hours of sleep the night before), and I spent some quality time with my husband.
We had wireless internet in my room, and my husband brought his laptop. He sent email updates to our families throughout the entire birth, and I actually spent some time on Babyfit to pass the time.
Around 5:15 I suddenly felt a lot of pressure, and I asked for the nurses to check me. They said I was 9 1/2 cm dialated, and they began to prepare the room for delivery. About 5 minutes later, I HAD TO PUSH!
At this point, the nurses asked me if a couple of nursing students could watch the birth. At that point, a marching band could have come through the room and I would have cared less. One of the students was a guy, and he had never had a patient let him in the room for a delivery. I thought this would be a big deal for me, but at that point in labor, it wasn't. He was so embarassed at first, and he hid in the corner until my husband reassured him that it was ok for him to be there. After the birth he must have thanked us a dozen times for letting him in the room.
Anyway, the pressure got more and more intense. The last 10-15 minutes were rough, but I had an amazing nurse who massaged and massaged and kept me from having any major tearing. (I seriously had the two BEST nurses EVER!! I love you Cristy and Sarah!!) At one point, they told me to stop pushing because the baby was doing the work, and in the mirror I could see the baby pushing herself out!
As her head emerged, she had her little hand on her cheek. The cord was wrapped around her neck and arm, so her little hand kept her from being choked. The doctor walked in just in time to unwrap the cord and catch the baby. She didn't even have time to put her gown on. She just slipped on some gloves and caught the baby.
I will never ever forget the moment when they placed her on my stomach. She opened one eye and looked at my husband. She whimpered a little, and we were in love. She was perfect. She had the roundest cheeks and long, light brown hair. Watching my husband hold her for the first time was beautiful.
I had minor tearing, but I don't even remember delivering the placenta or being stitched up. I just wanted to stare at the baby.
Our little Eleanor Ann arrived at 6:20 pm on Feb. 21, 2007. She was 8 lbs, 13 oz. and 21 inches long. Ella has her daddy's eyes an lips and my nose and ears. She has her daddy's hand, but my fingers. She's wonderful.
Honestly, the birth didn't go like I thought it would, but I feel like I had a wonderful birth experience. I had great nurses and a great doctor. My husband was wonderful, and the whole thing was very calm and peaceful. There were no complications, and I feel so blessed to have a beautiful, healthy baby girl.
3.3.2007
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Ella is getting REALLY strong! Her kicks aren't sweet little flutters anymore. They hurt! I'm sitting here watching her feet poke out! She moves constantly. She's never going to sleep, is she??
1.20.2007
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So the aches and pains of the third trimester are catching up with me! Eight more weeks to go, and I'm no longer sleeping, everything aches, and I have a tiny foot lodged in my ribs. I'm so excited about meeting my little girl, but I've had just about enough pregnancy, thank you very much!
1.1.2007
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I think my husband and I are still in shock that we're having a daughter. That sounds so cool to say... our daughter! The ultra sound was so great. I loved watching her play with her toes and suck her thumb and kick and wiggle. I can't belive how much she's grown in the last six weeks!
The tech spent so much time with us, and she explained what everything was. We saw a healthy & well developed brain, heart, lungs, kidneys, bladder, and umbilical cord. She explained the position of the baby and the placenta.
My husband jokes that the one organ that was not properly developed was the penis! He didn't believe it at first, but then the doctor showed him the "golden arches" of the labia, and it began to sink in. I think he was a little disappointed at first, but by the time we left the doctor's office, he was chattering away about having tea parties with his little girl. (There is nothing in the world as cute as a big strong daddy with his tiny baby girl!) He keeps telling me that he hopes she's pretty like her mommy. I love them both so much I could burst!
My parents got to come and see the ultrasound, too, which was really special. I was so glad my mom could be there. She's had a very hard week. Her mother died on Monday, and today would have been her parent's wedding anniversary. (I'm also due within a week of her mother's birthday.) This is the first grandchild (and great grandchild). Now my mom is the grandma, and I can tell that this little girl is helping my mom heal and cope with the loss of my grandma.
So, I probably won't see Ella again until she's born, but I can feel her now so I can be patient for 19 more weeks. It helps being able to call her by her name and refer to her as my daughter. It makes it more real and wonderful. I love my daughter!
10.14.2006
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Today we got to go in for our second ultrasound. I was amazed by how much the baby had grown. It has more then doubled in size in the past three weeks, and its little arms, legs, and neck have all grown significantly. I don't think I'll ever get over how amazing it is to see the baby before it's born. I can hardly sit still so the poor u/s tech can do her job!
My favorite of the photos (yes plural!) that they gave us is the close up profile picture I posted here. It looks like my husband's profile! It's amazing that this little person is both of us, wrapped up into a whole new person. I am so in love with this baby!
8.15.2006
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Finally feeling better now, but I'm anxious to see the baby again and hear the heartbeat. I can't wait till I can feel the baby moving around in there! This past week, I started looking pregnant, which is better than just looking chubby, but regular pants are a thing of the past.
I must say, I love the Feb. mommies! You guys are the best!
8.6.2006
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So I was reading the posts today, and I realized that everyone due at the beginning of Feb. is pretty much done with M/S and they are on to the second trimester. I'll admit it... I'm jealous! I am so eager for the baby to be born, I don't know how I'm going to stand 30 more weeks! Oh no! It's going to be really really hard when everyone starts having their babies and I have four weeks to go! (Maybe I should visit March!) I just never realized how LONG 9 months are! I want to meet the little jelly bean! I want to know if it's a boy/girl, what he/she looks like, what kind of personality he/she has... Patience has never been my strength!
7.30.2006
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What a relief! We went in to the doctor because I was having abdominal pain, and we were so afraid something was wrong. Not only is everything fine, but we got to see our little baby. So cute! It wiggled and danced, and we're totally in love. We can hardly wait till he or she finally arrives!
I wish the same for all my fellow mommies!
7.26.2006
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