Our Newest Baby

Moving to a new town 34ish (?) weeks pregnant is a little nerve wracking. You have to unpack your life, try and make friends, find a doctor, help your kids make friends, get use to new schedules, etc. etc. 

We are really blessed that a lot of this happened pretty natural. Justin did most of our unpacking, one of my best friends in Boston connected me with her cousin who lives here and we (and our kids) became good friends quickly, Justin really likes his job, the girls are happy with rural living, life was just pretty good. I did pick a doctor who I wasn't exactly thrilled with. She was kind of odd, and I decided that wasn't quite what I wanted in a baby doctor. After reading internet reviews of the doctors here, I found one that I thought would be a good fit. I went to my first appointment with him at 38 weeks and 2 days. (Way to wait until the last minute).

My meeting with him was awesome. He was calm, relaxed, confident, and didn't make me feel like an idiot. (We are, and recognize that we are, EXTREMELY lucky in that childbearing is not a struggle for our family) so all of my 'issues' are pretty first world problems. My due date has always been September 2, which I really liked. I wanted a September baby (hello sapphires) and it would be fun to have a baby on Labor Day. 

Here's one time I was reminded, "You aren't in Boston anymore." My doctor told me that he would be happy to step in for my prenatal care (basically deliver the baby), but he would be out of town for the holiday weekend. So if I wanted him to deliver her, he would be happy to induce me a few days early. Early induction??? Had not ever crossed my mind with this baby. I BEGGED and PLEADED with Lyla's doctor, but she said "nope." Anyways, I went home and Justin and I decided to do it. Hurray for no middle of the night surprises and awkward phone calls for childcare. My mom was incredibly awesome and once again said she would come early to help with our girls. 

Tuesday, August 27 rolled around and we woke up in the morning and got all ready to go and "pick up a baby from the hotspital" (as Lyla says). The girls got dropped off at their friends house and we got to the hospital. I FORGOT MY CAMERA!! I had 3 dumb magazines, a knitting project, and 4 outfits for the baby, but forgot my camera. Sigh, good thing I have a cell phone??

A few hours later my mom arrived. She has an incredible friend who works for an airline that gave her a standby ticket to use so she could be there for the delivery and then to help me with my girls (I am the most spoiled girl on the planet & I need to write a thank you card.)

So with inductions there isn't much to write about. They are pretty straight forward. I had an incredible nursing staff, probably my best yet. 

I always get really anxious RIGHT before the baby is about to come, sure enough this time too. I'm not sure why, it's like this huge surge of emotion hits literally in the last minute before each little one has come. It always surprises me. Sweet little baby decided to come in about 3-4 minutes of pushing. Have I mentioned I.love.her?? 

There was one exciting moment. Apparently the baby's umbilical cord emerged before she did, which 99.9% of the time results in running down the hallways towards an emergency c-section, but didn't with me. The baby just followed right along with no problems. The doctor kept saying, "That was incredible." "You don't see that everyday." "You guys (the student/resident) may never see that again." Ever since we had Emily, Justin jokes that my body was just made for having babies, maybe there is some truth to that. 

So out pops our messy little bundle of joy. She had the same general look as her 2 sisters. I was pretty exhausted so I laid back, took a little rest and let the staff and her daddy take over from there, and just loved my little one.

Our lovie weighed 7 pounds .09 ounces, to be exact. 

She was 19 3/4 inches long.

From then on out, she was one of the most content babies there ever was. Oh, and of course, most beautiful babies there ever was too. Instant Love.

 I asked the nursing student who was there what kind of nursing she wanted to go into. She was thinking NICU or lactation specialist, but she said after my delivery she was seriously thinking about labor and delivery. My babies are just that awesome. :)