Rose

Here’s her story: I went to bed big bellied and achy-backed on Sunday night like usual. Monday “morning” between 1:30 and 3am, I woke up a zillion times and I couldn’t figure out why until nearly 3am, when I felt that crampy superpain seize me by the womb. I thought, “maybe it’s a contraction!” So I got up and sat in my chair to see if more came. They did, and suddenly they were 4 minutes apart and rather intense. At 4:30 am I woke up Jeff, and he took care of details like calling his sister Steph to come babysit Jay. (She’s awesome like that and came right over)

We got to the hospital lobby at 5am, where I realized just HOW far into labor I was already (ahem, when it gets intense, I puke). SO they wheeled me back to a room and somehow I changed into the gorgeous hospital gown before collapsing onto the bed. The nurse checked and guessed that I was around 7cm dilated already! Holy cow. I laid there dealing with labor for a while, and the rest is kind of a painful blur (sans pain medication—I’m all naturale, people). Basically, we got to the hospital at 5am, and I was holding Rose by 7:19am. Whirlwind! [For those of you who are interested in the gory details, they broke my water at 7am, and I dilated those last 2 cm in less than 10 minutes flat, and 2 pushes later Rose was crying!]

As long and unpleasant as this pregnancy was, I’m glad the last laborious part was quick (unless you count the week before Rose’s birthday, when I had 2-4 contractions per hour for 7 days straight! That makes it sound a whole lot longer…) My first thought when Rose was OUT was: IT’S OVER! And I was so relieved. I can’t really describe it. RELIEF. I am not prone to postpartum depression—more like postpartum euphoria!!! Now I get to enjoy the reward from that long 9 months: a Rose!

The token post-birth picture. It has everything: haystack hair, pallid, emotional mother, hospital logo-stamped gown, unbathed baby.

Proud Daddy. I can tell he was proud because he called Rose “cutie,” even though he says that newborns aren’t cute. Except ours, I guess!

Jay and Steph visited later that morning. Jay is already willing to share with his new sister—he tried to feed her a Cheerio! I noticed just in the nick of time, and intercepted it.

Ready to go home!!

To infinity, and beyond!

We played dress up this morning. I’m in baby girl heaven!!

Jay now has a big bed and a roommate! My Mom brought my old bed for Jay to sleep on. It seems huge for him!

Grama Meri! (my Mom) She is here right now and helping SO much! 1000 loads of laundry, doing dishes, cooking dinners, playing with Jay, etc etc etc. I love my Mommy.

We had a photo-fest this morning, and Jay loved it!

 

Jay likes to look at his sister saying “baby! baby! baby!” He also is very generous, and right after this picture was taken, he tossed Piglet onto Rose’s head.

Escaped from the burrito!

Love.