two weeks worth!

So LE is two weeks old today! (err ... yesterday)

I was glancing through our photos and wanted to capture some memories on our blog of what our lives have been like these past two weeks. Lots of stuff has happened! I am so thankful that my recovery has been better than it was the first time around. By just one week post-partum I was already feeling as good as I did when I was 5-6 weeks post-partum with L. That is a HUGE difference! We have, of course, had a few set-backs and it hasn't been smooth-sailing the entire time; but I am grateful for our health and strength. Here's to another great two weeks! 

Okay, this was technically before I had LE - but I love L's face looking up at his cousin. K-lady sure knows how to make someone feel special! 7.7.10 (day before induction)

{skipping Thursday-Saturday since I already posted hospital/coming home pictures}

Cousins watching a movie downstairs after big family dinner together. 7.11.10

Dining out at Bonefish Grill - celebrating J's birthday. LE not pictured (on the ground in carseat). 7.12.10

 My parents took a trip up to Kirtland, OH. I survived my first day at home with two kids! Gave L a haircut and bath all before naptime! Felt really good only to be super exhausted by the end of the day. I guess LE was exhausted too! 7.13.10

Playing with L consists of rolling ALL his cars at once. Go big or go home, right? Like the new haircut? 7.14.10

Helping Grandpa B hang a frame and mirror in our front room. We also had a big night out! The whole gang went to see Toy Story 3 in the theaters - first time for BOTH our kids! L totally loved it and LE slept thankfully! 7.15.10

I couldn't resist and did another photo shoot. I have some serious issues! 7.15.10

Another birthday celebration! In addition to J, we also celebrated LE's 1st week, and Baby A's birthday the next week. Yummy dinner and cake! And we had leftover sparklers to continue to celebration! Lots of fun with poppers as well. 7.16.10

Sister's family finished loading the truck. My parents were able to help a lot since they were in town helping me, which was good because any time I even saw the "For Rent" sign in front of her house I would start crying - not to mention the time I walked into the house and saw it all packed up. I wasn't much help! R's parents flew in and we had a big picnic in the park catered by City BBQ! Yum. Kids loved playing around and LE was definitely adored all over again. 7.17.10

Blessing day in church! Beautiful blessing given by her Dad with both grandfathers, uncle, and close friends in the circle. We had a great lunch with the whole gang, said goodbye to brother-in-law and nephew as they started the drive to KS, and had a delicious dinner with everyone. Stayed up late putting off the inevitable {goodbyes}only to decide to say them in the morning! 7.18.10

What would any special occasion be without yet ANOTHER photo shoot? This time it included L running and jumping on me! Gotta love it! 7.18.10

Said goodbye to my parents, sister, and her kids - moving to KS. Went out to brunch with R's parents. Visited the zoo later in the day and got Rita's as a treat after a yummy dinner. 7.19.10

Said goodbye to Ry's parents. came home and officially started life as just the four of us. Life sure seems a little more lonely now that everyone's gone! But we have each other and that's the best there is! 7.20.10

Sleeping well and living the good life. We are grateful for the help we have had! 7.21.10

Two weeks old! Starting the 'watch me grow' pictures. LE's not sold on 'em just yet. We celebrated her two-week birthday by letting big brother play in the sprinklers with some friends. Love it! Life is good. 7.22.10

many admirers

 

This is one adored kid. 

favorites

There's just something about a newborn that BEGS for the camera. This girl has over a thousand pictures to her name already, and she's not even two weeks old. These are some of my favorites from a couple different photo-ops while in the hospital. The majority of them are taken by my AMAZING sister who is incredibly talented and all the credit goes to her! Thank you!!

(name edited out for blog purposes)

Laying on a blanket made by Nonnie.

Wrapped in blanket made by Great-grandma B.

So perfect and tiny! 

I love this little girl!

more hospital fun

On Thursday night we had my parents bring L by to meet his new sister. He immediately climbed up onto the bed and asked to hold her, and has been the sweetest big brother in the world to her. Grandma B brought a gift for L to open which we told him was from LE - and it was lots of cars from the movie! Notice how he wanted to share his new toys with baby sister? He honestly loves her! 

The next day and a half in the hospital seemed to pass by quickly. We had lots of photo shoots with the little one (pictures soon to come), lots of visitors from family and friends, and lots of relaxing and recovery time before the real-life challenges caught up with us. Here's Grandma B taking L for rides on the baby bassinet. What a fun grandma! 

On Saturday afternoon we were cleared to go home and were so blessed to all be healthy and strong! LE wasn't too keen on the carseat idea - but she'll come around.

Home sweet home!

july 8th

It's funny how I expected this pregnancy to be the same as the first. It was different in so many ways, including the fact that scheduling the induction date didn't scare me into natural labor like it had the first!

Here we are saying goodbye to L on our way out the door for the induction scheduled at 8am on July 8th. Ry gave me a blessing before we left, and we both felt at peace and ready for the big day ahead of us! That says a lot considering how crazy my emotions were the night before. L got to stay home and play with Grandma B and Grandpa B - which he loved! Off we go!

In the room and ready to start! Can you tell I'm excited? :) I had been feeling contractions now for a good month and a half maybe - just off and on. They hadn't appeared regular or intense at all, although they had picked up significantly within the past week and were really noticeable the entire night before. This is right before they started the pitocin at 9:45am - I was already dilated to a good 4-5. Let's get it started!

After the pitocin, the contractions mostly just became more rhythmic and regular coming every 2-4 minutes. My labor and delivery nurse, Susie, was fabulous and we had a really great morning passing the time and waiting. I honestly have never had a better nurse in my entire life - I loved her! Around 12:15ish a resident came in to break my water, and she said I was only dilated to about a 5-6. My labor with L went so fast that it was really hard for me to wrap my head around the idea that I had only progressed one centimeter in three hours! But with my water broken the contractions definitely kicked it up several notches.

It got pretty bad really fast, and expecting a long labor I asked for pain medication through my IV. It honestly didn't help very much, but Ryan was wonderful at helping me stay calm and relaxed through each contraction. The IV meds would last an hour, and that gave me more time to consider an epidural. By the end of that hour, and still expecting a LONG labor, I asked for the epidural at 1:30pm. By 1:45 the anesthesiologist was ready and I sat up for the needle placement only to feel my body involuntarily have the strong desire to push. I told my nurse that I wanted to push, and she had me lay back down to check me: I was complete and ready to go!

They called my OB and quickly did the last minute preparations needed for the delivery. Within the very minute my OB walked in the door I pushed through one contraction three times and we had our baby!

In a nutshell: pitocin started at 9:45am. Broke water at 12:15pm. Sat up for epdirual placement at 1:45pm only to lay back down and deliver a baby at 1:51pm. 

We didn't get a family picture right after the delivery, but we did get one with our L&D nurse, Susie! :) Throughout the entire labor Ry was awesome. I honestly have never felt closer to Ryan and absolutely know without any hesitation that we can do anything together. He is amazing and gave me the stability and reassurance I needed every step of the way. He continues to do that every day and I am so grateful for his love and devotion to me. 

And here is our sweet little LE - named after family members.
Born July 8th, 1:51pm. 6 lbs. 12 oz. 19 1/2 inches long.
Our hearts are so full and we have a little glimpse of heaven every time we look at her! 

announcing ...

our new baby girl!!
LE arrived July 8th at 1:51pm. She is strong and healthy and we are all in love with her! Thanks so much for all your well wishes and for the family we have who supports us so much!
Life has never been more beautiful!

(more details and pictures to come)

everyday love

Last week R had the entire week off: his summer vacation between third and fourth year of med school.  Honestly, I'm not sure we have ever had a better week! It was absolutely WONDERFUL and perfect and in every way. We didn't go anywhere special or do anything grand or visit anything extremely noteworthy. We had lots of little fun little day outings and simply spent time together and tried to savor every minute of it. It was honestly amazing and a dream come true to have that much time to spend together and enjoy being the three of us before our world gets rocked all over again (in a good way of course).

Third year was hard - in a lot of ways. But it is so fulfilling to come together and say "we can do hard things!" and then celebrate that hard work through hard play! All week long I got to spend time with my best friend, I am so lucky!! Here are a few pictures from our week - with lots of other memories not pictured.