All Wrapped Up

A Birthing Story

It's hard to believe that she's here after all this anticipation!

Last Thursday, June 9th, Adam and I went to my routine OB appointment for our usual NST session.  We found out that I was having (mild) contractions every 20 minutes or so during the fetal monitoring.  Our doctor felt that I would probably deliver the upcoming weekend.  We were excited, though the reality didn't really sink in.  I just felt like I was going to be pregnant forever, rocking the bump til I was old and gray.

Thursday night we went to bed at around 10 pm since Adam had an early morning the next day.  I joked that perhaps he wouldn't make it into his 5 am work day if I went into labor.  At around 12:30 am I woke up with some intense contractions.  I knew it the moment I felt it that this was the beginning of labor.  How long the process would be, I wasn't certain.  I tried to sleep it off (knowing I needed all the rest I could get), but it got intense enough for me to whimper and writhe around in bed, waking Adam up.  We decided to see if I would be getting the contractions regularly before jumping to any conclusions about our baby's delivery.  Then, about 10 minutes later I had another contraction.  Then another 7 minutes later, I had another one.  Followed by another one 12 minutes later.  We called our doula. Juli, just to give her a head's up, and she suggested we try to sleep or for me to take a bath, since this pattern could continue for a while and I was still only in early labor.  Then they came more frequently; as we timed my contractions we realized they were coming in 4-6 minute intervals.  I didn't expect to starting getting them so close together so soon.  So we called Juli back (who said she actually couldn't go back to sleep either because she sensed she'd be needed sooner than later), and as we waited for her to come over, I did what every laboring woman does: throw on comfy clothes, finish packing the hospital bags, pay bills, and straighten my hair.

I have to be honest the contractions took me by surprise and I didn't really know how to deal with them.  Adam and I looked at each other and just knew this was going to be a tough road.  Maybe I wasn't as strong as I thought I'd be.  But the minute Juli arrived and placed her hands on my hips to ease the pain, we felt a lot more confident that we were going to do this.  We labored at home for about 11 hours.  Adam made us breakfast (oatmeal and cappuccinos, of course!) and switched off with Juli to help me through each contraction.  By 11:30 the contractions were getting stronger and we felt like I was dilated enough to head to the hospital.  Adam called the doctor and we headed out.

My calm and empowering labor at home was definitely interrupted by the hospital's many formal procedures.  Getting constantly poked, prodded and hooked up (four tries and an anesthesiologist later for the IV) made bearing through the contractions pretty challenging.  But Juli and Adam were amazing coaches and we persevered for another few hours.  By 3 pm, my OB broke my bags of water, intensifying the contractions.  I have to say, the next two hours were by far the most challenged.  At 6 cm dilated, I was about to go into transition and I was exhausted and scared that I wouldn't be able to actually push the baby out.  Through tears and feelings of defeat, I asked for the epidural.  When the pain medication set in, we were all given a brief reprieve and some rest.  My progress stalled and pitocin was administered to keep things going.  Transition hit and by 11:30 I was ready to push.  Adam made the comment that perhaps our baby would make her arrival on the 10th after all.  Juli and the L&D nurse both looked at him incredulously since first time moms usually push for at least 1-2 hours.  So I braced myself for the long haul, and started the pushing process.  Twenty-one minutes later at 11:51 pm, Ella Seraphina Holliday was born.  We were all amazed, overwhelmed and completely overcome by the experience.  She was placed on my chest, lifted her head and said hello to her new mommy and daddy.  And my heart was now eternally outside my body.

Adam and I are so completely overjoyed to welcome our little girl into this world.  After everything our family has been through we definitely welcome the celebration of a new life.  The day Ella was born was the day we fell in love with our daughter and even more with each other.  Thanks for sharing in our journey!  We look forward to what parenting holds for us.

Hello, Baby

Ella Seraphina Holliday made her grand debut on Friday, June 10, 2011 at 11:51 pm. Our healthy girl is 6 lbs 14 oz and 20.5 inches long. We are overjoyed, exhausted, overwhelmed, and madly in love! She is all of God's goodnessed bundled up into a tiny, squirmy package and we are so grateful to be able to experience this. Quick thank you to everyone for your offers of help and congratulations! We still can't remember what day it is, so we're doing some major bonding and hiding out with our daughter until we can get into some normal routine. Will definitely post more updates in the near future, including her birth story and pictures.

The Waiting Game

With just a few more days until our due date, Adam and I spent our (possibly) last weekend together as just the two of us strolling around town and taking it easy.  The beautiful weather we've been having has been very conducive for our walks and getting out and about.  Yesterday we met up with my mom and family for lunch at a delicious dumpling place (where we got free dumplings because Adam broke out the Chinese and told the waitress how good their food was), and then did some last minute errand shopping at Target (always a favorite past time of mine).  Today we slept in a little, then met up with our friend, Louie, for lunch at Porto's in Glendale and some shopping and strolling at the Americana.  We joked that I should scare people in stores by starting to pant and look pained.  When I took the stairs in the Puma store, the (really sweet and thoughtful) employee at the top level pointed out the elevator to me "just in case."  Apparently I look as ready to pop as I'm feeling!

Adam and I are trying hard to stay patient and keep our minds off the impending labor process.  We are just so eager to meet our little girl, it's hard to wait.  Nonetheless, we are focusing on staying prayerful for a safe and healthy birth, and trying to appreciate the last few moments we have as a family of two.

I'm 39 weeks and 1 day.  Adam is just plain ready for the baby to show up. 

Happy Donut Day!

Today is National Donut Day.  I dutifully celebrated it!

The Nursery

It was a little gloomy out when I took the pictures so there are a lot of shadows and the colors look darker than they really are.  But in my pregnant state, I wasn't up to using the fancy camera that is stowed away in my office.  This gives you a rough idea as to what her nursery looks like.  We are so happy with the result, even though I had a hard time committing to the design scheme.  We chose a taupe/grey color on the wall, and our interior designer found the wallpaper that was inspired by my baby bag.  We kept everything else neutral and left space for her to fill up with her own personality and likes.  We are still missing a table lamp and an ottoman (on order), but all in all, the room is ready for her arrival!  I hope our baby girl likes it! 

Crib & dresser/changing table from Restoration Hardware Baby& Child
Moses basket from Serena & Lilly
Chandelier is refurbished from Adam's mom

Picture frame from Pottery Barn
Lamp from Target

Glider from Oilo.
Baby bags from Diaper Dude (Adam's) and Petunia Pickle Bottom (Yassie's).

Bookshelf from Serena & Lilly
Drapes from Pottery Barn

Shelves and pin board from Restoration Hardware Baby & Child
Monogram hooks from Anthropologie

Are We There Yet?

I know, I know.  I haven't even reached my due date yet, so there really is no reason to feel as antsy as I feel.  But I WANT THIS BABY HERE.  It's just... so uncomfortable.  I'm tired all the time, my belly keeps stretching (and showing it), and everything aches.  I've been so blessed to be able to have a husband to dote on me and weekly prenatal massages, so really, I shouldn't complain.  But I feel like I've been pregnant forever.  I know I should be enjoying these last couple of weeks where I don't have to always be nursing or caring for a newborn.  But I want my body back (as much of it as I can get back).  I miss yoga and salami and a guilt-free glass of red wine.  I miss seeing my toes and being able to roll out of bed without having to grunt or wince in pain (she's sitting very low now).  I want to wear my wedding ring again and not feel like a marshmallow peep all the time.  I'm trying to focus on the few things left on my to-do list, but most of the time I just want to sleep.  I've never felt this tired before and so physically limited.  And don't even get me started on the fact that I now waddle.  Sigh.

It's so funny how throughout the pregnancy all you want is for your baby to stay inside to develop and grow.  Preterm labor is a constant concern.  Now, all I want is for her to make her arrival.  I guess this is Mother Nature's way of helping me actually look forward to the labor and delivery process.  Ah, the master plan!