As I mentioned before, I was stubbornly resisting a scheduled induction. The last few weeks at my regular appointments Brynn was measuring large (7 lbs 9 oz at 36 weeks and 8 lbs and 9 oz at 38.5 weeks), I was making good progress (4 cm & 70% at 38 weeks) and my doctor reminded me regularly that she would be happy to schedule an induction if I wanted. I felt very strongly that I wanted Brynn to pick her own birthday though. Heaven knows I'll control enough other things in her life, whether I mean to or not.
November 17th, her due date, came and went with no baby arrival much to mine and Nonnie's chagrin. I'd been having irritating contractions for weeks, so I didn't think too much of the contractions I felt that day during my lunch-time walk nor than evening before Ryan and I went to sleep. When I term them "irritating", I believe it's warranted. I kept having what I'd deem peek-a-boo contractions. They would come very regularly for about an hour and then just... disappear. I thought on the evening of November 17th that they were a little stronger but given my history I was pretty hesitant to tell anyone that.
At 4:30 am on Tuesday November 18th I woke up, as I'd done many times in the weeks leading up to it, and felt a contraction. I opened my iPhone timing app and started timing. The same way I had maaaaaany times in the 3 weeks before. After 2 contractions I felt in my gut that this was probably the real deal. I figured I should go ahead and take a shower to make sure they hung around before I got anyone worked up. After a quick shower I told Ryan he needed to wake up because I thought we needed to go to the hospital. Sleepy Papa Bear kindly responded, "why?" Even he didn't trust my contractions at this point. After he witnessed a yelp during a contraction he called his Dad to come stay with Emery and quickly got ready himself.
The wait for Ryan's dad to arrive around 6:15 felt like the longest 45 minutes of my life. My contractions continued to get stronger and by the end I was hunching over and squeezing the crap out of Ryan's hand during them. We got to the hospital around 6:30 and they wheeled me up to Labor & Delivery. They sent me to triage where more waiting that felt like years ensued. By the time they finally checked me the nurse said "Oh- we're going to have a baby. Soon." I was at 7 cm and I immediately burst into tears as I was sure that meant I wasn't going to get an epidural.
Around 7:30 they got me into a room and my Mom arrived. By the time they checked me then I was at an 8 bordering on 9. Thankfully they got the anesthesiologist in there stat and I got my epidural around 8:35. My doctor also came by and broke my water. Life got a lot better post epidural. Puppy dogs and rainbows, people.
As you may recall from Emery's birth story, Ryan finds documentation of traffic conditions imperative. Here are the roadways from Sir Hospital Sky Eye on Brynn's birthday.
Ryan talked me into "one last pregnant picture." I blame that on how excited I was for the relief the epidural provided.
Around 9:25 or so the nurse came by and told me I was at a solid 9 but that Brynn's head wasn't positioned exactly correctly. She rotated me into some very yoga-esque pose and told me she'd be back to check on me in 30 minutes but that I should call if I thought I needed her before. About 5 minutes later I stopped my Mom mid-sentence and told her to call the nurse. The nurse came and confirmed it was go time.
Again- more waiting. It felt like it took forevvvvver for my doctor to make it from the medical building next door. Then, miraculously, at 10:14 am our darling lovebug joined us. She had a head full of dark hair, the cutest chipmunk cheeks anyone has ever seen and dark eyes. Love at first sight is equally as fulfilling the second time around as it is the first.
Oh, and she tipped the scales at 9 lbs 4 oz and 21" long. This is funny because at 36 weeks the two measured EXACTLY the same size. With Emery, everyone was convinced she was going to be a big girl. When she was born (8 lbs and 21.5") my doctor's direct quote was "Oh, you aren't as big as I thought you'd be." So I assumed that Brynn would be roughly the same size. This time around everyone was surprised at, and commented on, how big she was. Not the last time that these two will surprise us, I'm sure.
Just getting her stretches in. Emery warned her the real world is rough.
Pondering why she decided to ditch her previous abode for THIS.
Footprints. Baby's first autograph.
Do you not just want to pinch those cheeks through your screen? No? Just me?
For about an hour, Miss Brynn hung out with just Mama, Daddy & Nonnie. The bonus of the second time around is that you know how special those first few moments of soaking her in on your own are and I was so much better at actively doing it. After our initial bonding sesh, Brynn's fan club started to arrive. First Grandma came by to see her.
Hi Grandma!
At some point, I don't even know what time because who can keep track of such things when there's a gorgeous baby to snuggle, we got transferred to our post partum room. Then Aunt Julie came by, bearing Panera I might add, to meet the newest target of all her spoiling. Bringing Panera might have made her my second favorite person that day (after Brynn- duh). She knows that the way to all good Boarman women's hearts is through their tummy.
Ugh. Guys. Enough with these pictures. Can't a girl just get some sleep?
Proud Grandma.
Proud Auntie.
Gah, I just love her.
Proud parents. Not sure Brynn was so proud to call us her's with that hair I was rocking.
Later that evening, both Pawpaws, David, Jen and Brendan came by to dote on baby B as well. Of COURSE, Brynn also got to meet her big sister that day but I'm saving that for it's own post just because being gifted a sister will hopefully be one of the most important moments in both of their lives. Obviously that deserves it's own moment in the sun. Plus... there are probably too many pictures. Shocking?
Jen and Brendan. I promise they didn't actually look like they were interviewing Julie about her new child in real life.
As with Emery, and I am sure any new parents' stay in the hospital, those first few days are a total whirlwind of sleeplessness, groggy discussions with doctors and much screaming... typically by baby. Photographic documentation of this time:
Awake and just admiring her Daddy.
My precious baby.
We got to take our newest family member home on Thursday November 20th to start life as a family of four, which we were so, so ready to do.
Oh #*%#. Do they know you guys think you're going to take me from here? I hear there's a needy dog and a noisy kid where you live. I'm not sure I'm on board.
Mom, does this giant flower make me look fat?
So you're my chauffeur for the past 9 months, huh? Let's talk about that singing, shall we?
Sister told me genetically I'm supposed to hate this thing.
Once again, November 18th was the greatest day of my life. I can't thank my team enough for all their love, support and encouragement. From texts to phone calls to emails to flowers to bringing us food- you all helped immensely. As if meeting the newest love of your life isn't smile-inducing enough, being reminded of how loved you are through others' thoughtfulness and actions truly makes your heart feel like it might burst. Of course, very special thank yous to my amazing husband, who knows when to make me laugh and when to just let me squeeze the crap out of his hand, and to my mother, because there's no one who can soothe your soul the way your mama can. I am not sure what I would have done without either of you. We are just almost as blessed to have you in our lives as we are to have two healthy, gorgeous daughters to call our own. In conclusion- happiest of birthdays to the piece of our family we didn't realize was missing. We all love you to bits Brynn Marie!
Yay, daughters! I have enjoyed most seeing the pluralization of your family. How very, very, very exciting, Ames! Your daughterS are gorgeous and funny and a joy to watch grow. Can't wait to watch Brynn grow just as Emery is. PURE ENTERTAINMENT GOLD!
ReplyDeleteAMY!! I started a new job and therefore took an Internet break and come back to find I am the worst friend ever! Congratulations on your gorgeous baby girl!! Now off to go read all about her :)
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