Creating Memories: March 2009

It is almost hard to believe that Spring is here, the month of March is coming to an end, and my baby girl is over a week old! Today was her official due date, but we have been blessed with 10 extra days to get adjusted with each other.

We began the month of March with a snow shower on the 1st and a trip to the hospital, thinking I may be in early labor. I thought I might be leaking fluid and was having cramping pains. I kept telling Sarah Beth, just make it to March and then you can come when you want. Savannah had gone to the Bailey's for the weekend, and I did think the timing would be great for Sarah Beth to come on that Sunday. After getting to the hospital and being hooked up, I found out my water had not broken, I was having contractions-but not strong enough to progress anything, and stayed at 4 cm dialated. So after 5 hours and having family come on up from Birmingham, we were sent home.

Since my mom was coming up anyway, she said she would plan to stay with us until the baby came. We knew it could happen at any point. It was great having my mom here to get some things done around the house and be able to relax a little before the baby came. I finally got stacks of scrapbook layouts put into several albums. At my dr. appt. on Tues, we decided to go ahead and schedule to be induced the following Monday, 3/9. My dr. anticipated it to be an easy induction, and all the family could make plans to be here for the birth.

So bright and early Monday morning, we made it to the hospital at 5:30. I finally got in my room a little before 7:00 and then hooked up around 7:15. At 8:30 my dr. came in and broke my water. Between 9:30 and 10:15 the contractions started feeling more intense, so I got out of the bed and stood and walked around the room a little. At 10:20 I got the epidural. Around 11:15 the nurse checked again and I was completely dialated and ready to start pushing. So we waited until 11:45 when the doctor came in. After the 2nd push, I guess the drugs in the epidural got to me, and I burst into laughter. I seriously couldn't control it. So, I literally laughed the baby out, and after less than 10 minutes of pushing, Sarah Beth arrived at 11:58. I had a pretty easy delivery with Savannah, but I must say this delivery was even easier.

Savannah was the cutest thing when she came up to the hospital each day. She was so proud of her baby sister. She was the first to come back and see me after the delivery. She repeated "She's so little, she's is tiny baby." It was amazing to me how quickly Savannah seemed to grow up overnight. She is and wants to be a big girl all the time. Since the beginning of March she has been completely potty trained and while I was in the hospital she started sleeping through the night in panties. I didn't know if this would be something that we would accomplish before the baby came, but I am proud that she took the initiative!

We got home from the hospital on Wednesday. My mom stayed with us through the end of the week. It was such a blessing to have her here to help out with things around the house and with the girls. She went back to Birmingham on Monday and took Savannah with her for a few days. While it has been quiet around here, it has been nice to have a few extra days for Sarah Beth and I to get adjusted to some sort of schedule.

So far Sarah Beth has been a little angel. She seems to have a calmer temperment than I remember Savannah having. She eats well and we are making it through the night, probably best when she sleeps in her car seat.

I will leave you with a few of my favorite pictures from our photoshoot together on Tuesday. I'm sure there will be MORE pictures to come in the coming weeks and months. =)