Something's funny

I love how sometimes you are entertained by something going on. Your Dad and I find endless humor in this world, and I hope you will too. At least, living in this house you will! Love, Mama

5 weeks old

Dear Rose,
Today you are 5 weeks old. You greeted the day with eating hungrily, lots of grunts, and then some beautiful smiles. You were weighed today at our weekly ECFE class - you are up to 9 lbs, 4 oz (although you did have a wet diaper)!

You have also been busy studying your black and white art cards. You stare at them in fascination, taking in the images. They are gorgeous, just like you! Love, Mama

Dear Rose - One Month Old

Dear Rose,

This is Mama. Tomorrow you are one month old, already. How did this time go by so fast? Your dad and I are completely exhausted. We are also very much in love with you - with your wiggles, your perfect toes, your noisy sleeping, with everything you do.

I wanted to tell you about your birthday, too, before this memory fades. We went to the hospital on the Sunday morning before you were born, as I was feeling lots of strong contractions. I had dilated a bit more than I had been at the OB visit earlier that week, so we were excited. We spent the entire morning walking the halls of the hospital, trying to keep the contractions coming on strong. While they were still there, I wasn't making any progress, so they sent us home, to labor. At home, the contractions would come and go. That night, though, holy cow! The contractions were incredibly strong, very intense. They would wake me up, and I would have to get out of bed and hold onto the wall to get through them! However, they didn't come in any regular pattern, and on Monday morning, they really slowed down. Dad and I were confused, so we went over to the clinic that morning for a non-stress test, which showed that you were just fine and that the contractions were pretty strong. We went home and had a relatively quiet day, until that evening when the contractions really started to pick up. I started to have some short sharp pains with some of the contractions, and so we called the hospital about 1:15 am. They told us to come in to get checked out. And we made the trip - again - to the hospital.

This time, when they checked mama, I had dilated quite a bit more. They wanted to keep me, at least until the morning, and they gave me some medicine to help me sleep in between the contractions. That really helped! At about 7 am, we made the decision to rupture the bag of waters and the doctor wanted to start me on some pitocin to keep the contractions coming on strong. At one point, the nurse looked at me, as she was starting the medication, and she said, "Today is the day you are having your baby" and I was so happy and nervous at the same time. The contractions were really strong and regular at this time and continued. We had called for a volunteer doula to come help us through this process and she showed up that morning. Her energy was a welcome support, at just the right time - both dad and I were exhausted from the last two days.

Nancy, the doula, helped Mama and Dad get through the labor. It was hard work, but everyone was encouraging and kept reminding me that you were coming! Aunt Sarah came to help too, and she was really supportive. About 11 AM, the nurse checked me and said that I could start pushing. She said that for most first time moms, it took about 2 hours of pushing usually. Mama worked hard at pushing and I honestly don't remember too much from that part, except that the contractions slowed down a bit, so I could catch my breath and ask a few questions. I told Dad that I was so happy for him, and looking forward to watching him be a wonderful daddy to you.

Just around 12 noon, I could feel you making your way down the birth canal, and I looked at Dad and said, "She's coming! I feel her!" The nurse checked me again, and said that we had about 1 inch left to go. They had called the doctor, and she would be arriving in about 15 minutes. I pushed again, one more time, and I felt you slide out of me, and land on the bed. I looked at Dad again, and said, "She's here!" Dad said, "Uh-huh." I looked at the doula, Nancy, and the nurse, and again said, "She's here!" They were a little confused, but lifted the sheet that they had draped over my legs and THERE YOU WERE! They jumped into action! The nurse lifted you up, and started to wipe you off and lifted you onto my tummy. She realized that your cord was a little short, and was worried that it had gotten caught, so she quickly clamped it and cut it and they took you over to check you out. You were just fine - amazing and perfect, really - and they bundled you up and gave you to Dad. The look on his face was overwhelming.

The doctor came in shortly after and realized that she had missed your arrival! Everyone on the maternity ward was so impressed with how quickly you had arrived (until I mentioned that it took you about three days to get here!) We spent the next few days in the hospital, learning how to breastfeed, how to take care of you, and just feeling so happy and overwhelmed.

You have had several visitors this month - your Aunt Sarah, Aunt Katie, Uncle Joe, Aunt Katy, Grandma Jan, Grandpa Dewey, Grandpa Barry, Grandma Michelle, Jeff and Cindy, Steve and Jacqueline, Evan and Elisabeth, Mariah, Jen, Matt and Benjamin, Nick, and Sarah. Everyone has mentioned how beautiful you are and how wonderful you are to hold. Other people cannot wait to meet you and we are so proud to introduce you to other people.

Your curiosity grows each day, and even this past week, you have become more vocal and talkative with us. Dad and I love to snuggle with you, and we delight in your bright eyes looking at us, and taking in the world.

You are putting on weight and starting to get big. You developed a double chin too! We went to an ECFE class this week and you had put on 20 oz in just two weeks! Mama was so happy to know that all of your eating is paying off!

Dad and I love you very much and we are so glad you came to join us here.
You complete us, and I have never been so happy as I am now.
All my love,
Mama