How We Met

Anna-Kate is a month old now, and I have never shared her birth story. For anyone who is still interested, here it is:

At the doctor on my due date, I was scheduled to be induced. I went back to the doctor on Tuesday for them to decide if I needed to go that night to get prepped for the induction or just go in Wednesday morning. As usual, the doctor checked to see my progress. I was still only 2cm, ~ 90% effaced. The doctor said it was good enough to just go in on Wed morning.

After the doctor's appt, I had some back pain. I had the same type pain after the last appt so at first I didn't think anything of it. Before, it gradually got better. I started paying more attention to my back pain this time, because instead of getting better, it hung around. Will walked in the door after work(about 6 hours later), and I immediately started crying. "What's wrong?" "My back hurts." We went to dinner with his family, and my back continued to hurt. I looked up back labor, because my back continued to hurt. Around 8:30, I took a shower because my back continued to hurt. We watched Dancing with the Stars (the finale). The whole time, I rocked back and forth, stood up, sat back down, leaned against the back of the couch, cried. Finally as they announced who won Dancing, I called the doctor.

The doctor wanted to know how far apart the contractions were. What?! My back hurts. I paid attention for the next 15 minutes, and realized I had about 5 contractions. So, we went to the hospital. I was in my delivery room by midnight. When hooked to the monitor, we realized that I was in fact having pretty strong contractions roughly every 3 minutes. I was given stadol which made me sleep on and off. At about 5:30am, Dr. Zimmerman checked me again. I was only at 3 cm. He said I needed the epidural, and I gave in. He said my body was not relaxing enough to dilate. I said give me the drug.

At 6, I got the epidural and they let me sleep off the rest of the stadol.

At 8, Dr. Zimmerman broke my water.

At ~10:30, my nurse Jenna said I was at about 9.5 - 10cm. She said, "let's try a practice push." Who knew you could practice?

At ~11:20, she called in Dr. Zimmerman.

At 11:52 on Wed, May 20, Anna-Kate made her appearance.

First Bath

Oh no! what am I getting myself into?

I better hang on!

Maybe this isn't too bad...

Man, I am too cute!

Look at my blonde hair shine.

The Faces of Four Weeks

Our 4 Week Baby Doll

Trying to Talk

Saying...."what was that Mom?"

And now yawning, bored of pictures

Yesterday Anna-Kate was 4 weeks old! I can't believe that I have been able to hold her for 4 weeks; Saturday she will be a month old! She is holding her head up well until she tries to turn in a new direction, and then she wobbles down. She has smiled a couple times now. At night she is giving me between 5.5 and 6.5 hours; only about 3 times has she gone 7 hours between feedings.

We moved this weekend. As soon as I can get enough time to set up her stuff in the nursery furniture, she will be ready to sleep in her own room. Admittedly, I think I am more nervous about the new room than she is. :)

Moving!

We have bought our first house! We closed on Monday. The movers come on Saturday. We are very excited....quite tired, but very excited. Where should we put this box?

3 Weeks Old

On Wed, Anna-Kate was three weeks old. We have an appt on Friday with her doctor for her 3 week check up. Already, I feel like she has been in our world for so long. Will and I both enjoy just looking at her some times. Especially in the mornings. At three weeks, her biggest feat was that she went 7 hours between feedings. I got 6 hours of consecutive sleep! Wow! (This was last night, so we will see what happens tonight.)

Our champion sleeper!!

The New Parents

Anna-Kate loves being near and with her daddy! I can tell the feeling is mutual.

Sleeping Beauty Wakes Up

This is our sleeping beauty. She falls asleep so well on the couch (always supervised). Every now and then she will even let us move her to the bed to have a nap there.

Does any one remember the story from being a kid where you hold your face like Anna-Kate is and say, "Hi, my name is Chubby..." This look made me laugh so hard!

I have been wanting to catch her trying to wake up in pictures. Her faces are too funny. And, I love the way she arches her back and stretches! It is true that watching your own newborn can entertain you all day long!

Anna-Kate's first dress

Look at this beautiful girl!

First Date Night

My mom is in town this week, which meant we had the best baby sitter ever! Will and I enjoyed a dinner in downtown Raleigh along with a long walk. Thanks to Mom!