Welcome Amelia

I know some people love to hear delivery stories, so I am finally getting around to posting it here, a month after Amelia was born. If you aren't interested in the gory details, just go here for the basics.

Madeline was born one day early, so I expected this baby to be on time as well. In fact, I was really hoping for an 09/09/09 birthday. After all, I had been having tons of braxton hicks contractions and I was already dilated to 3-4 cm. I thought for sure she was coming on time. That was a mistake. After she wasn't born by the 13th, I reverted back to my original due date from before the doctor changed it, which was September 19th. That was a mistake too. This baby was determined to take her time getting here. I had an induction scheduled for the 24th, but I was praying that I wouldn't have to go through that, based on all the horror stories I have heard about pitocin.

Finally, around 1 am on the 22nd I woke up to contractions. They weren't horrible, but I wasn't going back to sleep so I just got up and walked around the house cleaning the kitchen and the bathroom to occupy my time. The contractions were about 4-5 minutes apart but I didn't want any medication and we literally live right across the street from the hospital, so I was planning to wait as long as possible to go. Joe took Madeline to a friend's house around 3:30 am. The problem was, the contractions weren't getting any closer.

Around 7 am I decided that we should go over because although they weren't getting closer, they were getting more intense. We walked over to the hospital, and when I got up to the counter they thought maybe I was there to be induced or something because I looked so calm. I had to convince them that I really was in labor and I knew what I was talking about (Well, you don't really look like you are in labor. Is this your first child? No. How long have you been having contractions? Since 1 am. How far along are you? 41 weeks. Etc.). They debated making me go to the clinic to get checked and then come back, but finally they determined that since I was 41 weeks I might as well stay.

They got me into a room, and after a bit the doctor came to check me. He said I was at a 5, and contractions were 3-5 minutes apart so it could take awhile still. He suggested either giving me pitocin to speed things up a bit, or breaking my water to see if that might help move things along. I was not interested in the pitocin idea, but I did want him to break my water because I remember things going quickly after that happened with Madeline. He broke my water around 9 am, and the contractions immediately became overwhelming. They were very intense, very painful, and very long. I got in the jacuzzi tub to try to relieve some pain, but I was only in there for about 5 minutes before the nurses realized I was ready to push. They got me back to the bed, discovered the baby was right there, and started yelling for the doctor to get in there NOW, and I better not push. The doctor came, I pushed for about 10 minutes (10 minutes of pure agony - I will never ever understand how women make it through hours and hours of that) and she was born at 10:32 am. A total of roughly an hour and a half after they broke my water. It was fast, and it was intense.

The first thing the doctor said when she was born was, "That's a big baby." I had a midwife guess she was a little over 7 pounds about a week before she came, and the doctor thought she was around 8 pounds when he had first checked me. Turns out, Amelia came in at a hefty 9 pounds, 2 ounces; 21 inches long. The problem was that with a baby that big coming that fast, her whole face was totally bruised and purplish/gray. It was actually kind of scary. It faded after a few hours and went away completely within a couple of days but even now looking back at those first pictures I sort of cringe. But she was healthy otherwise, and that's what really matters. Now she is pink and chubby and a little bundle of joy.

The proud papa in the delivery room.

Whew! Glad that's over.


Can you believe this is the best family picture we got in the hospital?

My parents flew in the same day she was born. When they scheduled the flight, they planned to get here a week or 2 after she was born so that we could have had some time as a family before being bombarded with guests. They got here just in time though, and I was actually happy with the way it worked out. My parents were so helpful, making meals and playing with Madeline tirelessly. I think it did a lot to combat any jealousy from Madeline. She has not shown one ounce of resentment towards Amelia, and is a fantastic big sister. She loves to help take care of her, and is right by her side whenever she starts to cry. Sometimes if she is crying she will say, "I think she needs her big sister." It is so cute. The only trouble we have had is a bit of an increased attitude and defiance from Madeline, but I don't know if that is just the stage she is in or if it is a ploy for more attention. Probably both.

I left the hospital the next morning, mostly because my parents were only here for a short time and I didn't want to spend half of it in the hospital. As you can see here, Madeline was looking forward to me coming home.

Big sister in action.

I love this picture of Joe and Amelia. He is such a wonderful father, and really loves his girls.

My dad holding Amelia. Madeline really misses having Grandma and Papa here. When I was looking at the pictures to post, every time this one came up she had to hug the computer and exclaim, "Papa!"

My mom holding Amelia. I think it is so precious when little babies are yawning.

We are so glad Amelia is finally here! I admit I was a little nervous about how things would change with another baby. I was really happy with things the way they were, and I foolishly wondered if having another baby would somehow take away some of the love I have for Madeline so I could give some to Amelia. I knew it was silly even as I was thinking it, but you really can't comprehend until you experience it. Good news - I still love Madeline just as much, and I discovered I have enough room to give Amelia unconditional love too! Actually, it has been easier than I expected to transition from 1 child to 2. I thought I was happy with my life before, so now I guess I am blissfully happy. God has definitely blessed me with an amazing husband and these two beautiful and sweet girls.