Saturday, November 30, 2013
Morning snuggle time
Since Mama has to get up every few hours during the night to feed me, when it gets close to waking-up time, Papa usually comes to get me and brings me back to their room. After a little breakfast, I'll snuggle right in between them for a nap.
Friday, November 29, 2013
Papa's day off
Papa had the day off work today so we got to hang out and watch TV together.
Then after dinner Mama got me bundled up in my stroller and we all took Lexi Lou for a walk. Ahhh...the exciting life of a 10-day-old.
Thanksgiving
We went over to Grandma and Opa's for Thanksgiving yesterday. I slept most of the day while everyone passed me around. Then I finally got to hang out in Grandma's bassinet so Mama and Papa could eat dinner. The Cowboys won, so it was a pretty great day!
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Week 1 in pictures
I fell a little behind in posting, but have kept up on taking at least one picture a day. I can't believe it's already been 7 whole days that this little blessing has been part of our lives! I seriously can't get enough of her cute little face and gorgeous eyes that open with such charming curiosity.
While she is quietly sleeping and I have a moment to spare, here is Emma's first week in pictures:
While she is quietly sleeping and I have a moment to spare, here is Emma's first week in pictures:
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| Emma's first moments of life. Love those big gray eyes! |
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| Hanging out with Aunt Stacey at the hospital |
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| First family picture |
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| Day 2: Heading home |
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| Lexi isn't quite comfortable with Emma yet, but she's getting there. |
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| Day 3: Aren't I cute in my big flower hat? |
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| Day 4: Mama loves it when I open my eyes! |
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| Day 5: Sleeping on Mama after dinner. |
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| Day 6: All dressed up to meet Opa for the first time. |
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| Me and Opa |
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| Day 7: Already posing for pictures. |
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| Day 8: With Grandma at the lab before my blood test. |
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| Practicing my "Cowboys-Just-Scored!!" pose. |
A most amazing day
Disclaimer: This post is fairly long. Since this blog is also serving as my journal, I spared no details. If you prefer, at the end of the post I have included the "CliffsNotes" version to save you some time. On that note, I intend to post more often, if not daily, to chronicle the life of our baby girl through stories and pictures. I hope her little face brings smiles to your inbox every morning!
Emma's Birth Story
There was nothing extraordinary about Monday, November 18, 2013. I woke up with Nate at 5:30am, made his lunch, then headed out for a walk with Lexi. When we got home, I crawled back into bed for a nap until I was ready to get up around 11:00am. Spent a few hours doing some research for the upcoming assignments with my new job at Caption Colorado and spent the evening watching TV with Nate and Lexi.
Like most other nights throughout the last 9+ months, I woke up around 11:00pm to use the restroom. As soon as I climbed back into bed...gush. I wasn't quite sure what had happened. I had just come from the bathroom and my bladder hadn't held that much liquid in months, so it caught me quite off guard. It was 11:13pm.
I woke Nate up and suggested that my water may have broken. Groggy and disoriented, he suggested I call the doctor, then pulled the covers over his head and went back to sleep. I wasn't quite as relaxed. I had the on-call doctor paged and was advised to head to the hospital if we didn't hear back within 10 minutes. Called Grandma Pechan and sent Aunt Stacey a text message with the news. Then, on the advice of moms across the universe of the Internet, I jumped in the shower...a luxury I may not again have for a while.
After my shower I was able to coax Nate out of bed on the premise that our little girl may be here sooner than we think. Grabbed a banana for breakfast and by 12:20am we were on our way to the hospital with a bag full of clothes and toiletries for Mom, Dad, and baby, and car seat ready to go.
We arrived at the entrance to the emergency room at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange at 12:40am in joyful spirits and zero pain. I was brought upstairs and checked into my labor and delivery room. As I answered a barrage of questions from my awesome nurse Davese, Nate settled into his bed on the sofa. It was sure to be a long night...or so we thought.
On initial assessment, I was 1cm dilated, 90% effaced, and at -2 station. 9cm to go. Ugh! The doctor ordered a suppository, rather than pitocin, to help ripen my cervix. Dilation would be checked again in 4 hours.
Grandma Pechan arrived soon after we got settled in and, shortly thereafter, the contractions started. Mild at first, I was able to breathe through them, though it was difficult to find comfort whether sitting, standing, or laying on my side.
Timing was a blur over the next few hours as the pain increased. I was struggling with my breathing, which didn't seem to help, and I felt no pause between contractions. Around 5:30am I had given up. I went into the experience with a "no medication" mindset, but since dilation wouldn't be checked for another 40 minutes, I couldn't face the possibility of knowing that I had several hours to go and was already in so much pain.
Nate called Nurse Davese in and asked for an epidural. I had no tolerance for anyone at this point and, as the contractions continued, she ordered me to look her in the eyes and breathe. After refusing several times, I gave in. It still wasn't helping. She confirmed that I wanted the epidural and checked my cervix again before calling the anesthesiologist. In a moment of pure surprise, she looked me in the face and said, "You're at 9cm!"
I was still offered the epidural, but would have to wait because the anesthesiologist was in with another patient. In my mind, there was no time for patience. In about 3 minutes, there were four nurses in the room and the setup for delivery was complete. By the time Dr. Kharuf arrived, I was ready to push. I got the okay from the nurse, and after 4 minutes 37 seconds and about 5 bear-downs, our little conehead was laying on my chest.
We were able to make it through drug-free -- not even a local anesthetic. It was a pretty amazing experience and I wouldn't change a thing!
***The short version:
November 18, 2013
11:13pm Water breaks
November 19, 2013
12:20am Head to hospital
12:40am Arrive at hospital
1:30am 1cm dilated; suppository administered; contractions start
2:00am-5:30am Contractions, contractions, contractions
?:??am This conversation happened:
5:43am Emma Lynn takes her first breath
Emma's Birth Story
There was nothing extraordinary about Monday, November 18, 2013. I woke up with Nate at 5:30am, made his lunch, then headed out for a walk with Lexi. When we got home, I crawled back into bed for a nap until I was ready to get up around 11:00am. Spent a few hours doing some research for the upcoming assignments with my new job at Caption Colorado and spent the evening watching TV with Nate and Lexi.
Like most other nights throughout the last 9+ months, I woke up around 11:00pm to use the restroom. As soon as I climbed back into bed...gush. I wasn't quite sure what had happened. I had just come from the bathroom and my bladder hadn't held that much liquid in months, so it caught me quite off guard. It was 11:13pm.
I woke Nate up and suggested that my water may have broken. Groggy and disoriented, he suggested I call the doctor, then pulled the covers over his head and went back to sleep. I wasn't quite as relaxed. I had the on-call doctor paged and was advised to head to the hospital if we didn't hear back within 10 minutes. Called Grandma Pechan and sent Aunt Stacey a text message with the news. Then, on the advice of moms across the universe of the Internet, I jumped in the shower...a luxury I may not again have for a while.
After my shower I was able to coax Nate out of bed on the premise that our little girl may be here sooner than we think. Grabbed a banana for breakfast and by 12:20am we were on our way to the hospital with a bag full of clothes and toiletries for Mom, Dad, and baby, and car seat ready to go.
We arrived at the entrance to the emergency room at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange at 12:40am in joyful spirits and zero pain. I was brought upstairs and checked into my labor and delivery room. As I answered a barrage of questions from my awesome nurse Davese, Nate settled into his bed on the sofa. It was sure to be a long night...or so we thought.
On initial assessment, I was 1cm dilated, 90% effaced, and at -2 station. 9cm to go. Ugh! The doctor ordered a suppository, rather than pitocin, to help ripen my cervix. Dilation would be checked again in 4 hours.
Grandma Pechan arrived soon after we got settled in and, shortly thereafter, the contractions started. Mild at first, I was able to breathe through them, though it was difficult to find comfort whether sitting, standing, or laying on my side.
Timing was a blur over the next few hours as the pain increased. I was struggling with my breathing, which didn't seem to help, and I felt no pause between contractions. Around 5:30am I had given up. I went into the experience with a "no medication" mindset, but since dilation wouldn't be checked for another 40 minutes, I couldn't face the possibility of knowing that I had several hours to go and was already in so much pain.
Nate called Nurse Davese in and asked for an epidural. I had no tolerance for anyone at this point and, as the contractions continued, she ordered me to look her in the eyes and breathe. After refusing several times, I gave in. It still wasn't helping. She confirmed that I wanted the epidural and checked my cervix again before calling the anesthesiologist. In a moment of pure surprise, she looked me in the face and said, "You're at 9cm!"
I was still offered the epidural, but would have to wait because the anesthesiologist was in with another patient. In my mind, there was no time for patience. In about 3 minutes, there were four nurses in the room and the setup for delivery was complete. By the time Dr. Kharuf arrived, I was ready to push. I got the okay from the nurse, and after 4 minutes 37 seconds and about 5 bear-downs, our little conehead was laying on my chest.
We were able to make it through drug-free -- not even a local anesthetic. It was a pretty amazing experience and I wouldn't change a thing!
***The short version:
November 18, 2013
11:13pm Water breaks
November 19, 2013
12:20am Head to hospital
12:40am Arrive at hospital
1:30am 1cm dilated; suppository administered; contractions start
2:00am-5:30am Contractions, contractions, contractions
?:??am This conversation happened:
- Me: THAT is stressing me out!
- Nurse Davese: What is stressing you out?
- Me: YOU TALKING!!
5:43am Emma Lynn takes her first breath
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Made with love
Emma Lynn was born with birthmarks on both eyelids and one below her nose. They are expected to fade over time so I'm glad I was able to capture this shot. What says "made with love" more than a little heart right where everyone can see it? I adore her!
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Emma-rald City
The final touches of the nursery were put together just hours before Emma came home from the hospital. Grandma Pechan's beautiful curtains brought the whole room together into our very own little "Emma-rald City." It couldn't be any more perfect!
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| Grandma Geeps' heirloom Wizard of Oz figurines are the most special way of bringing Oz to Miss Emma |
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| Grandma Pechan made the cutest curtains for the closet and window, and Aunt Stacey's handmade rainbow throw will be a keepsake we will cherish forever! |
Emma Lynn Lattimore
It is nothing short of a miracle that God can turn this:
into this:
Emma Lynn Lattimore
November 19, 2013
5:43a.m.
6lb 11oz
20"
Perfect in every way!
Coming soon: Emma's birth story; nursery update (officially finished about an hour before Emma came home); and lots and lots of pictures. :-)
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Surprise!
To anyone who hasn't joined the arrival date pool, you're too late! My water broke Monday night, 11/18, at 11:15pm!
And now we wait. Get to meet our baby girl today!!!
Sunday, November 10, 2013
This mama is done!
Tomorrow marks 37 weeks and officially "full term" (yeah, yeah, the guidelines have changed recently, but I'm ready to get this girl out, so I'm grandfathering myself in)!
I'm a little more achy, swollen, exhausted, and (Nate's favorite) complain-y every day that goes by. I am officially on maternity leave, though still waiting to get started on the new at-home job (this week maybe???).
Emma is measuring right on schedule, but Mommy and Daddy would love to meet her whenever she's ready. Next appointment is this Thursday...hoping to find out if she's making any progress.
Let's have a little fun and see when you think Emma will show her face. Here's a pool you can join to share your guess. Just click the link, then click "Guess Now" in the box in the middle of the page. There's no prize other than bragging rights, but a little extra love to those praying for sooner than later. :-)
I'm a little more achy, swollen, exhausted, and (Nate's favorite) complain-y every day that goes by. I am officially on maternity leave, though still waiting to get started on the new at-home job (this week maybe???).
Emma is measuring right on schedule, but Mommy and Daddy would love to meet her whenever she's ready. Next appointment is this Thursday...hoping to find out if she's making any progress.
Let's have a little fun and see when you think Emma will show her face. Here's a pool you can join to share your guess. Just click the link, then click "Guess Now" in the box in the middle of the page. There's no prize other than bragging rights, but a little extra love to those praying for sooner than later. :-)
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