Baby Maggie is here!!!!!

We had a successful birth, today!  

It was a long and arduous day.  Truly, I would not have made it through without my amazing husband.  When all I wanted to do was run to the hospital and get and epidural, he said, "no, you don't." And he continued to say supportive things the entire labor.  He reminded me that I can do this, that I have done this.  He also held up my massive pregnant body SEVERAL times during contractions so I could relax.  

I must have had some kind of mental block on this labor, because even the midwife was surprised that it was taking so long for me to dilate.  But, eventually, it started to happen.  

My younger sister, Ellen was able to come.  She helped by getting us food and drink, timing contractions, and helping me to BREATHE at the end AND held one of my legs and held my head up when I pushed out the baby.  

The midwife team was also great.  Very supportive and wise.  My midwife was all over my cervix, making sure it was out of the way before I got to some serious pushing.  Then she said we should be on the bed, not the birthing stool.  It all worked out!  Baby Maggie made her debut tonight at about 8:23.  She weighed 7 pounds 6 ounces and is 20 inches long.  

She is pretty awesome and we are totally in love.  Gee & Papa were able to come visit.  They are spending the night down the street with the other 3 crazies at Aunt Katie's house.  Thank you thank you thank you to the grands and Aunt Katie!!!!

Here she is, our little bedtime buddy.

Playing soccer

Michael's Head Start class is playing soccer.  Today is a game against another head start school.  Yesterday, all the kids were kicking and playing with their balls in the yard.  I'm actually surprised how good Michael is at the kicking.  I certainly didn't think he'd be interested in soccer a couple years ago when he could have done a little Hot Shots soccer.  But now he's into it!



He asked if he could "show a trick to baby Maggie."  So he shows her how he kicks the ball, then goes to the fence and says, "GOOOOOAAAAAALLLLL!!!!!"

my stylists

Almost ready!!

This was the state of our bedroom for a few weeks.  I had almost resigned myself to thinking that Tony would be puttin the crib together while I was in labor.  

Then I went to bunco, tonight, and came back I find a built crib!!!  Built, with blankets and birth kit bags tossed inside. I'm not complaining!!!

It gave me the chance to actually feel like I was nesting for a while.  Birth kit stuff is sorted under the crib.  Bed made the way I envisioned it.

Extra blankets on left, baby sleep station in middle, changing area on right.

Even Aunt Nita's diaper hanger is in place with diapers inside!  

Plus, it was Tony's idea to place the crib perpendicular to the wall so we still have access to our dresser.  It seems like it's crowded but I really think it will work.  Plus, the crib is on wheels, so if I feel it needs to be closer to the bed, we can just scoot it over!  Also, it'll probably get moved against the wall when I'm in labor so we'll have more space in the room.

I titled this 'almost ready' because it seems baby girl is really going to dictate her birthday.  I had a massage yesterday and let the therapist rub on some labor inducing pressure points.....and.....still no labor.  However, even the chiropractor said he hopes I have the baby this weekend, for my sake!!!  I love it when drs recognize the amount of discomfort I must be in.  He could tell how off kilter my pelvis was.  But, I've been moving with vastly less pain since the adjustment and massage.  

The kids are excited about he crib, too.  Michael said baby Maggie "will climb up!"  Um, she'll be too little for a while.  Then Jane said she would get baby Maggie and "I will hold her all by myself because I'm big!"  Again, um, maybe not Jane.  "But I big!  I hold her all by myself!"  So, I guess we'll be having some crib and baby handling instructions coming.

George said some things about the crib...George words.

Pretty baby

I'm still pregnant.

But, tonight, before bedtime, Michael was reading a book to Jane on her bed.  It was super sweet and cute.  After prayer time, I told him it was really nice and I want him to always be nice to his sisters and brother like that.  I said, "You're going to have a new sister soon."  and he said, "Baby Maggie?!"  "Yep"

Then Michael said, "Is she pretty?"

How sweet is that????

King, Princess and Dragon

some random recent pictures