My Post-Pregnancy Must Haves

Now that Lola is 6 months old, I'm starting to feel more like myself again. It's always right around 6 months post-partum that I feel like I'm getting my body back, can workout like I could before having a baby, and fit back into most of my pre-pregnancy clothes. 

I thought I would put together a list of some of the things that help me get through the not-so-cute months after having baby. Luckily, most people are looking at the adorable baby in your arms and not the things you'd rather not draw attention to :) 

1. Assets (Spanx)

I bought these sexy things after I had Ada. I was a bridesmaid 25 days after having a c-section, a scary thought indeed! I found that wearing these actually helped my stomach get back to it's pre-pregnancy form faster! I've worn them some since having Lola and they help suck your tummy in and keep the jiggle at bay. Today was the first Sunday I didn't wear them to church! It's slower goin's the second time around. Woohoo! 

2. Garnier Spot Reducer

I get the pregnancy mask pretty badly. It looks like I have a brown mustache and patchy freckles on my cheeks...attractive, I know! This has helped keep the discoloration at a minimum. I didn't have this with Ada and I can definitely tell a difference this time. It doesn't completely get rid of it, but it's great for the price and fades acne scars as an added bonus!  

3. MAC Concealer

I've used MAC concealer as long as I can remember. It's become my best friend through the ups and downs of pregnancy and motherhood! It will make the dark circles under your eyes disappear, cover up zits, and help blend in blotchy freckles. 

4. Benetint

I did have Posietint before, and used the whole bottle! It's a more peachy color and great as well.

This will give you a nice rosy glow on your cheeks and a base color that will last on your lips. I love it under some gloss. 

It makes you look alive and rosy when you feel dead. ("Are we dead?" is a common phrase in our house after long nights. Up All Night anyone?)

5. High Beam 

Another great product from Benefit! This bottle has lasted over a year. Use this to create highlights all over your face and recapture the pregnancy glow! The first time I went out with the girls by myself I was told that I was literally glowing. Little did they know it was because of this little bottle :) I like putting it in the corner of my eyes, under my eyebrows, down the bridge of my nose (makes it look smaller...it's an optical illusion ooooh!), and if I'm feeling generous - on my cheekbones too.  

6. Old Navy Active Control Max workout pants 

I am in LOVE with these workout pants! They are made of a nice thick material that holds you in, but doesn't restrict your movement. The top has a panel that can be worn up to hold your tummy in, or folded over. I got them on sale & am so glad I did! Nothing like your stomach bouncing while you run : /

7. BANGS

This one has been the biggest confidence-booster of all. Thank goodness for sisters who give really good haircuts (and let you pay in cookies)! :)
After Ada was born, my hair could be found everywhere. It was like I was a moulting bird. But I never felt like my hair was any different. After Lola was born, my hair still fell out all over the place. But I got bald spots on my temples this time! I had a mean peninsula going that rivaled David Letterman's. It looked awful and made me feel so ugly. Enter bangs! I had them before, grew them out my whole pregnancy, and they've returned to help me get through the Patches O'Houlihan stage. Now that all of the little baby hairs are growing in, they are covered and can do their thing to give me a normal hair line again.

Well, there's my list of things that make this new mommy feel better about her appearance. Have I missed anything? What are your go-tos after having a baby?

Lola Jennie Miller

Lola Jennie arrived Sunday, August 7, 2011 at 4:03 PM! 

9 lbs. 3.7 oz.

21 1/2 in. long

13 1/2 in. head circumference

14 in. chest 

We are head over heels in love! 

Labor Story:

I started having mild contractions on Saturday, but didn't want to get my hopes up. We went to the grocery store and when I got out of the car I had a sharp pain in my lower abdomen, but was still able to shop. When I got home, another sharp cramp in the same area, but I told Matt to go to work anyway. My contractions were timeable all night, but not too painful yet. I decided to call my mom and tell her to come on up just in case. She arrived around midnight, and we all went to bed around 1 AM to try and get some sleep. I woke up at 4:20 AM to go to the bathroom, and was feeling terrible about having my mom come all the way up to Santa Cruz because my contractions still weren't getting any stronger! So I climbed back into bed and ten minutes later, BAM! Real contractions! I woke Matt up and started getting ready. He called Sutter, where I wanted to deliver, but they were full. They faxed my information over to Dominican Hospital and we were told to head there. :( I didn't like that place when I toured it, but that's where we ended up. I told Matt I was feeling nauseous, so he grabbed a little tupperware for the car. I was having a contraction and said in my best angry whisper (since Ada was sleeping), "Why would you get that?! That's the worst possible thing to throw up in!" Poor guy ran back and grabbed a plastic bag for me. In hindsight, the tupperware was probably just fine :)
Matt & I drove to Dominican, thankfully it is close and at that hour there was nobody on the 1! Miraculous! Leila came on the radio and I was singing, "Lo-la! You've got me on my knees Lola!" Matt started pulling into the visitor parking which was far away from the front door and I told him to go drop me off at the door. I get to the hospital door and it wouldn't open. I ring the buzzer and say, "I'm in labor! Where do I go?!" The lady says, "Oh, hang on, just a minute..." while leaving the speaker on and carrying on a separate conversation. I was so mad! She finally buzzes the door open and says sorry. We walk into registration and it's a ghost town. I turn around and two phlebotomists were pushing their carts our way, One says, "Ohhh mama where are you going?!" I said, "I don't know - but I'm in labor!" She ditches her cart, grabs a wheelchair, and starts directing Matt to open doors and grab things as she runs while pushing me at lightning speed down the halls! It was awesome, she was not a small lady either! She got me to labor & delivery and I thanked her profusely.
I get into my room and the nurse hands me a lovely hospital gown to wear. I asked for an epidural right away. They checked me and I was at a 5. My contractions were getting stronger and were about 2 minutes apart. I said I was going to throw up, and my nurse kept typing into the computer. Matt said, "Can we get a bucket or something?" because he knows when I say I'm going to throw up I mean it. The nurse starting running around like a crazy person opening drawers and rummaging around the room looking for something. I see nothing is going to happen to I get up and start waddling to the bathroom. As I start to throw up on the floor, the nurse puts a teeny tiny plastic container (smaller than Matt's tupperware) under my face. I throw up twice in it, fill it to overflowing, and she continues to hold it directly under my nose. I shove her hand away because I was done and having it right under my nose was going to make me puke again!
They get me hooked up to an IV and say that I have to have the whole bag of fluid in me before they can give me the epidural. During every contraction I was begging that bag to hurry up and get in me! If I moved my hand a certain way it would stop dripping, so I made sure to keep an eye on it. I continued laboring and a new nurse came who I loved. She talked me through the pain and was very helpful. Although I hated that she wanted me to look into Matt's eyes during the pain...I prefer to go away to my happy place and get through it. Looking into his eyes tortures him too, he said it made him want to cry seeing me in so much pain!
By now, two hours had gone by and I wanted my epidural! A funny anesthesiologist came in and said that Matt and I need to keep having babies and populate the world with pretty people :) He was upset with the nurses that my epidural was taking so long to go through, as was I! Finally after two and a half hours, it comes. A different anesthesiologist starts putting it in, and I jumped. His voice scared me so bad, he said, "Kara, it is VERY important that you do not move!" I was trying so hard not to, but he was injecting the local anesthetic in very fast bursts and my body was just reacting, I wasn't moving! So Matt helped hold me down and I focused on being very still. He got it in and I FINALLY had some relief! It was a very mild epidural, as I was still able to move my legs and roll over on my own. At this point I had progressed to a 6. This is where I stalled with Ada, so Matt and I were both saying silent prayers that I would continue to progress so that I could have a VBAC. I finally called my mom and let her know that I got the epidural and things were moving along. She said Ada had woken up just after we left for the hospital, so she was going on no sleep with a toddler up at 6 AM!
I continued to labor and at one point the doctor on call for mine came in and said if I don't start progressing I might have to have another c-section. This saddened me a bit, but I was okay with it because it was an option. Lola didn't like when I laid on my right side, so I stayed on my left. This was terrible for me because the nurse was sitting on my right, and Matt was on the other side of the room talking with her. So I was left out of the convo unless I turned my head and that got uncomfortable and old real quick! So I made Matt come sit on an uncomfortable doctor's stool next to me so I could more easily join in on the conversation :) Some really funny, loud nurse came in and started telling stories about her giant Italian family...that was amusing until my contractions got stronger. Then her pounding on my bed was not funny anymore and I wanted her to go away. She was like a character out of a sitcom though...
The next time the doctor checked me, I was 8 cm! I was SO relieved and happy because I was so close to being able to push. They put an internal monitor on Lola to better measure her heart rate. I hadn't had anything to eat or drink all day except for a bite of bagel at 5 AM that I threw up at the hospital. I was sipping on my water bottle before I received my epidural when the nurse told me I couldn't have any fluids per the anesthesiologist's orders in case I had to go into an emergency c-section. Boo :( I was SO THIRSTY! Those of you who know me know that I'm a camel and always have water within arm's reach. So that was rough.
My contractions were becoming really uncomfortable and I had the urge to push like crazy. I was holding back, and the nurse said, "No! Use that pressure and push with it!" I was like, "Oh, okay..." I guess it didn't really occur to me that's how it would feel. So the doctor came and checked me and sure enough I was a 10 and ready to push! Matt and I freaked out and I called my mom in disbelief because it happened so fast! She hurried and got Ada ready and they came to the hospital. I pushed with my contractions and the nurse and my doctor really helped me through. They said I did quality pushes and did great for my first time. Matt went into Coach Miller mode during one push and I pushed his face away...the nurse told him, "Doctor Taylor is the boss here..." haha it was great. HE was great! So supportive and helpful in getting me through the labor. One of the hardest parts for me was holding my breath through the pushing. In sports and working out, you exhale on the exertion. So I was programmed to exhale on the push, and it felt foreign to hold my breath during the push. Anyway, I got the hang of it and my eyes got really puffy because of it!
After about 40 minutes of pushing, the doctor told me that if Lola didn't come out in the next couple of pushes, she would have to get the vacuum to assist her. I did NOT want that and they were all amazed at how I got down to business right away after the threat! After 50 minutes of pushing, Lola Jennie took her first breath in this world! They handed Matt the scissors to cut the cord and he could barely see through his teary eyes. He scratched her leg a little because his vision was blurred :) Don't hand the emotional dad scissors! They put her on my chest and I was in awe of how beautiful she was. She was looking at me, recognized my voice, grabbed my hand. It was beautiful. She was looking for food right away and her thumb found its way into her mouth. She has been a voracious nurser from the beginning...our nurse told us that her other babies were struggling that night and Lola was her champion nurser! Right now, she will nurse for hours and sleep for hours.

After I got all cleaned up, my mom brought Ada in. It was so sweet to see her react to Lola since she'd been hearing about her being in my belly for so long. She got up on the bed and leaned forward to whisper the sweetest hi you've ever heard! It was such a tender moment. She has been so good with her and asks about her all the time. "Baby? Lala?" And walks over and says, "Awwwwwe, baby!" She is interested in holding her, but only for a few seconds. Then it's bye-bye.

That night, my nurse got me up to go to the bathroom and I got really lightheaded. I sat back down and they waved ammonia in my face. Then my nurse started scrubbing my face really hard with a wet washcloth. She did that once during labor and I pushed her hand away then! Not a good feeling! She kept repeating to people over and over again how she forgot that I didn't like that, I'm thinking, "Who likes having a nasty rough hospital washcloth scrubbed on their face?!" Anyway, they all made a big deal about my lightheadedness and made me stay in that room extra long. I am convinced it's from not eating or having anything to drink ALL day long, laboring, and blood loss...it didn't seem in excess but I guess it's better safe than sorry. We finally got into recovery and got a new nurse that was wonderful! Loved Val. She sounded like Ina Garten and said fabulous a lot. She was so sweet and attentive. The next day, my nurse forgot my meds TWICE after I asked for them. Yeesh. I felt like our room had a revolving door on it, people just kept coming in. Except when we needed something. One machine kept beeping like crazy so I pushed the call button. They said, "Oh okay, be right there." Nobody came. So I pushed the call button a couple hundred times :) They laughed and finally got someone in there to turn it off. The cleaning lady came in right after Lola had nursed and fallen asleep, she was SO loud! Banging things like crazy. Another random nurse came in and was yelling to my nurse. It was like they had no respect for the fact that we had a brand new baby and needed some peace and quiet. Needless to say, we wanted to get home ASAP. It was the polar opposite of my experience at French Hospital with Ada - I never wanted to leave because they were so wonderful!
We were pushing to get everything signed and completed so that we could leave, and our nurse from the day before came back. She was so sweet and meant well, but she was a complete spaz! I can't tell you how many times I heard, "Sorry!" and "Oh I forgot..." She came to give Lola her shot and forgot a band-aid. So blood got all over her blanket. She smashed her finger in my wheelchair the night before, and then while trying to open my ibuprofen she was complaining about her smashed finger. I said, "Oh, is that from the wheelchair?" She said no, it was from her wheelbarrow at home. Evidently she had piled her laundry up high in it and was trying to get the wheelbarrow across the yard...I don't know. It was just so funny to me because that was just so something she would do! There was some confusion about the pediatrician, and Matt had to get firm to get them to do anything. Finally at 8 PM a doctor shows up to check Lola out and send us home. We were SO happy to be headed home!

Matt and I still keep looking at each other and saying, "We did it!" I am so happy that I accomplished my goal of a VBAC. The recovery has been so much better than a c-section! I was amazed at how I could get out of bed on my own when we got home. Lola is one week old now and I'm feeling better every day. Thank goodness for my mom being here, I'm having some anxiety about her leaving! I don't know how I would've made it through this past week without her. She's amazing. Ada has been having some major fun with her Nonnie!

Cool things: I was due on the 4th and came on the 7th. Lola did the same thing!
Matt was skateboarding home from work on Saturday night and asked if I wanted anything at 7-11. Usually I'd say no, but I said a Slurpee sounded good. So we had Slurpees from 7-11 and then Lola came on 8-7-11!

Welp, there it is. We are now a family of FOUR! And Matt is destined to be outnumbered and have little Papa's girls :)  

10 Months Pregnant!

                       

How far along? 40 weeks

Total weight gain: 42 lbs! 

Stretch marks: Nope

Sleep: Oh sleep. Last night was rough...Lola's hanging out up high in my ribs and it was killing me! I have pillows wedged all around me and get up nice and slowly to waddle to the bathroom. 3 visits last night!

Best moment this week: Our Sunday School class freaking out when I told them I was due in 4 days. "And you're at church?!" They'll really flip if I show up this Sunday! 

Movement: Is still constant! Little feet running up and down my side, arms and hands rolling across my belly. She's a mover and a shaker!

Food cravings: Nothing in particular recently.    

Gender: Girl!

Labor Signs: Braxton Hicks contractions all the time. Just standing up gives me one. Or laughing, rolling over, lifting Ada...pretty much always having BH!    

Belly Button in or out? Stretched out and silly still.  

What I miss: Clothes that fit. I am having trouble making sure t-shirts cover all of my belly! 

What I am looking forward to: Meeting this precious little girl and getting acquainted with one another :)

Weekly Wisdom: Stay busy, otherwise you will go crazy. I've been cleaning, walking, playing, reading...anything to keep my mind off being due today. Especially since I was 9 days late with Ada, getting my hopes up for an on time baby is crazy. 

Milestones: Lola could really come at any moment! Can't wait :)  

9 1/2 Months Pregnant!

How far along? 38 weeks

Total weight gain: 39 lbs! 

Stretch marks? Nope
Sleep: Is interrupted by 1-2 potty breaks a night. Surrounded by lots of pillows and nothing on top of me...I'm an Easy Bake Oven.   
Best moment this week: Being told I look small. Ada patting my belly & saying Lala :)
Movement: Has.Not.Slowed.Down. She is so active still! She doesn't care that she's running out of room...she's still kicking, pushing & punching my insides all the time. 
Food cravings: Watermelon. And chocolate. Anything chocolate!   
Gender: Girl!
Labor Signs: Braxton Hicks contractions all the time. Dilated 1 cm.   
Belly Button in or out? Stretched out and silly still.  
What I miss: Being comfortable. 
What I am looking forward to: Having a BABY! 
Weekly Wisdom: Husbands are awesome. Especially mine :)    
Milestones: Lola could come at anytime and thrive in the outside world! 

Here are Ada & I today. She kept saying, "Hat!" haha

8 1/2 Months Pregnant

How far along? 34 weeks

Total weight gain: 35 lbs! 
Stretch marks? Nope

Sleep: Is interrupted by 1-2 potty breaks a night. Surrounded by lots of pillows and nothing on top of me...I'm an Easy Bake Oven.   

Best moment this week: Being in the Houston Temple for my cousin's Sealing to his sweet new wife. Lola was bouncing around like crazy during it and it was such a special moment.  

Movement: Is strong & constant! She's doing exactly what Ada did and pushing on my ribs on the right side with her feet. I am so sore by the end of the day! It's a crazy feeling to be punched and kicked from the inside. I do love that she moves so much though, because it gives me piece of mind knowing that she is healthy and strong.  

Food cravings: I've been eating a ton of watermelon. No serious cravings so far, just hungry all the time! So...food, period.   

Gender: Girl!

Labor Signs: Just Braxton Hicks contractions.  

Belly Button in or out? In still I think? Stretched out and silly is what it is.  

What I miss: Running.   

What I am looking forward to: Having an ultrasound in 2 1/2 weeks! 

Weekly Wisdom: Heat + flying + 8 mos. pregnant = cankles the size of Texas!  

Milestones: 20 days until she is considered full term, and 41 days until my due date! 

7 1/2 Months Pregnant

 Matt was kind enough to tell me that this is one of my usual faces. I apologized and said I will try to smile more :)

How far along? 30 weeks
Total weight gain: 26 lbs! 
Stretch marks? Nope
Sleep: I've been napping when Ada naps a lot more. It means I don't shower, do the dishes, or clean like I usually do during her naps...but I'm growing a human. It's exhausting!  
Best moment this week: Putting Mr. Potato Head under Ada's shirt and her swaying back and forth saying, "Baby, baby!" 
Movement: Is constant! She's keeps me up at night with it. I didn't think I could have a baby that moved more than Ada did, but Lola does! She does a shimmy and shake, pushes on Ada's back when she's encroaching on her space on my lap, kicks books and laptops off my belly, and tries to kick the Doppler off at the doctor's office. Hopefully the two of them will wear each other out :) 
Food cravings: Had a random Frosted Flakes craving a few weeks back. Haven't eaten those since I was a kid! Otherwise, nothing too specific...just food. I feel like I am ALWAYS hungry!  
Gender: Girl!
Labor Signs: Just Braxton Hicks contractions. While leading music in Relief Society. A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief will do that to ya. Not fun! haha 
Belly Button in or out? In. 
What I miss: Getting out of bed normally...it's a careful-roll-over-slowly thing now.  
What I am looking forward to: Seeing Lola on the big screen again. I love ultrasounds!
Weekly Wisdom: Sit down while you put on your pants. Your pelvis will thank you later. 
Milestones: Passed my glucose test! And my doctor says I'm a perfect candidate for a VBAC. We will have an ultrasound between 34-36 weeks to see how big Lola will be and go from there!  

Baby is now the size of a squash!
Baby's energy is surging, thanks to white fat depositing beneath her skin. And since she's growing so fast (weight will triple by birth), things are getting kind of cramped in the womb. What all this means for you: Get ready for some more kicks and jabs to the ribs.

6 Month Bump!

I've got a bouncy little eggplant in me. She's strong! I was holding Ada on my (disappearing) lap today during Relief Society and Lola kicked her in the back. Ada looked up at me like, "What the heck mom?" It made me laugh.

I feel like I have suddenly gotten HUGE! I'm so busy chasing Ada that I don't even know when my belly popped and got so big and round.

I've started having Braxton-Hicks contractions but nothing painful, just noticeable & they take my breath away. That isn't hard to do these days :)

23 Weeks

How far along? 23 weeks

Total weight gain: 10 lbs.

Stretch marks? Nope 

Sleep: Still sleeping well, just have a pillow between my knees and one tucked under my back. 

Best moment this month: Matt seeing my belly move, having a healthy anatomy scan, celebrating my birthday, & being told I look small for 5 3/4 months pregnant! 

Movement: All the time! She's a wiggle worm. It feels like she curls up in a ball, then jumps out like a starburst! 

Food cravings: Snickers, orange juice, chocolate anything, Dr. Pepper, Mexican & Italian food.  

Gender: GIRL! 

Labor Signs: None

Belly Button in or out? In 

What I miss: Not getting winded...chasing a toddler around while pregnant makes you huff & puff!

What I am looking forward to: Ada with her little sister Lola. She loves babies :)

Monthly Wisdom: When the sun shines, get outside! We had some gorgeous days and took advantage of them at the beach and park. Now it's cold again. Hoping for more warmth & sunshine!

Milestones: Baby's face is fully formed, just packing on the adorable chub for the rest of the pregnancy.

15 Weeks Pregnant with Baby #2!

This was taken on Sunday, a beautiful 75-degree-blue-sky, sunny day! 

You can't really tell in this picture, but I totally have a little ponch. Muscle memory is a crazy thing!

How far along? 15 weeks
Total weight gain: 3 lbs.
Stretch marks? Nope 
Sleep: I have added a pillow in between my knees...Matt said, "Oh boy, here we go pillow lady!"
Best moment this month: Hearing Drake or Lola's heartbeat for the first time :) 
Movement: I have already felt little somersaults and flutters! Another active baby...
Food cravings: Lemonade, orange juice, clementines. 
Gender: We have the big ultrasound next month to find out! 
Labor Signs: None
Belly Button in or out? In 
What I miss: Being healthy. We are fighting off the nastiest cough I've ever had! Being pregnant just lowers your immune system, so it's been herb tea, Emergen-C, the neti pot and Robitussin in our house. I bet Matt will get over it before me! 
What I am looking forward to: Finding out if Ada will have a little brother or sister!
Monthly Wisdom: Be grateful to be done with the nausea! This pregnancy, I had it all.day.long. So I am just relishing the time that I feel well and food is actually my friend again. My poor husband starves during the first trimester. Well, not starves, but eats very poorly. :)
Milestones: Baby can already smile and frown, and suck its thumb!

Labor Story

Here I am three hours before going into labor:

After living here for about three months, I decided that at 41 weeks and 2 days pregnant, at 11 o'clock at night, it was a good time to finally put up everything I've been meaning to in the living room. Matt had to take pictures because of how funny I looked up on the couch :)

And the finished product because I know you are all dying to see it!

After this, we went to bed. I woke up to waddle to the bathroom at 1:30 AM. Fell asleep, then at 2 AM woke up with painful contractions. I tried to sleep through them for as long as possible but they were getting worse and about 5 min. apart. So I got out of bed and started getting ready. Putting make-up on is hard while having contractions! :) I was surprised Matt didn't wake up because of all the noise I was making during the pain. I yelled to him a couple of times but he kept on sleeping, so I went over and shook him. Here is how it went:

Me: "Babe! Wake up!"

Matt: "Huh?"

Me: "We have to go!"

Matt: "Where?"

Me: "The hospital!"

Matt: "Why?"

Me (pointing to baby in belly): "I'm in labor!"

Matt then stumbles out of bed and wakes up while in the bathroom...he does not remember that conversation at all!

I called my midwife and she asked if I wanted to labor at home, I said nope! We are on our way to the hospital. I wanted pain relief ASAP! The song Viva la Vida by Coldplay came on the radio during a contraction and I was pounding on the car door to the beat of the bass drum. Matt found that amusing and imitates me every time we hear that song now.

We got checked in and I said I wanted the epidural so they called the anesthesiologist. I was throwing up during the contractions they were so painful! Once that wonderful man showed up with the needle, I was SO happy! I can't believe that people go through labor without anesthesia. It is truly beyond me!

My nurse, Claudia, was INCREDIBLE! She bent over backwards to make sure that my family and I were comfortable. She was such a sweet, calming, funny, perfect person to have around. Love that woman.

Here I am, happy, after the epidural holding up the awesome Jell-O I was allowed to eat. I HATED the finger heart rate monitor! It was always in the way and beeping because I was messing with it. A nurse on the second day told me I could put it on my toe, and my problems were solved :)

I continued to labor and had dilated to 4 cm. My mom, Matt, and I were able to get some sleep which was nice. At this point, Ada's heartbeat was dropping a little during contractions. The next course of action was to put me on Pitocin to try and move things along. So while on that, my epidural wore off on the left side. My right leg felt like it weighed 300 lbs. - while my left I could move. I was feeling painful Pitocin-induced contractions on my left side and it was AWFUL! My husband had disappeared at this point as well, so I was not a happy camper. I said, "Where is the man with the needle, and where is my husband?!" So my mom went out to find them both. Another anesthesiologist came and fixed the epidural so I couldn't feel anything again. It was wonderful.

At one point, it felt like we had every nurse from the station in our room! Ada's heart rate had dropped really low during a contraction and they all came rushing in. They then took off the external belly heart rate monitors and put an internal one in that is more accurate.

My contractions began to double up on one another which they said was odd. When Helen, my midwife, checked me again, I was only at 6 cm. I had been in labor for 14 hours.

I knew that I had done everything physically possible to have this baby naturally. For her health and mine, it was c-section time. I was okay with this even though it was not my original plan. At this point, I was just ready to meet my daughter!

Matt was more nervous than I was:

I was just excited!

I was amazed at how quickly things went. I could feel them tugging on me, but was completely numb. When they pulled her out and saw how big she was, they said, "No way was she going to come out the other way!" Helen kept telling me how beautiful she was and how much hair she had while holding my hand. Matt was watching everything, he's a curious boy like that. Dr. Kromhout was showing him all of my insides and he was fascinated by it!

I was not prepared for how hearing Ada's cry would affect me. I immediately burst into tears hearing that precious baby girl cry out and take her first breaths in this world.

I love this picture of her right after being born. Her little bottom lip she sticks out is so cute!

When they put her on my chest and let me hold her, she grabbed onto my finger.

She stopped crying when she heard my voice. She recognized that voice she'd heard for so long!

Our first family picture

The surgery went well with no complications.

One nurse said, "Oh my goodness, your stomach already looks better than mine, and we just pulled a baby out of it." That one made me laugh! Gotta love humor while you're laying on an operating table!

I was only in the recovery room for a short while. They put Ada on me skin to skin and let me breastfeed right away, it was wonderful. She even peed on me! Haha

Here she is meeting my mom:

And Matt's mom:

Meeting Uncle Sean

Daddy & Nurse Judy giving Ada her first bath (which I'm sad I missed out on):

After meeting the family in the other room and getting her bath, they FINALLY all came into my room. It felt like forever because I hate being alone. It was really only a few minutes though. And they handed me my precious baby girl again. I still can't believe that we made something so beautiful.

I looked over at Matt later that night and said, "She is the most perfect thing we have ever done." She is so innocent and pure. I still get emotional when I think about this life that we have been entrusted with!

Giving birth was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. The bond that I have with this child is so strong, and it was there immediately. I would do anything for her!

Ada Elizabeth Miller

Born December 3, 2009

@ 5:34 PM

9 lbs.

21 1/2 in. long

14 1/2 in. head circumference

Perfectly healthy & beautiful!

She came out with rolls and a head full of hair just like her momma.

We are so in love!

Still Pregnant.

Here I am at 40 weeks 4 days pregnant!

I deleted the name badge from the blog because it was mocking me. On Thanksgiving it said, "Ada Elizabeth is two days old!" Liar.

How far along? 10 months 4 days
Total weight gain: 34 lbs!
Stretch marks? Nope...hallelujah! 
Sleep: I am the pillow lady. Poor Matt gets barricaded away from me :(
Best moment this month: Being told I look small & beautiful...haha! Even though they were probably just being nice it was awesome because I feel HUGE!
Movement: Is still strong! You can see her feet on my right side, she grapevines up and down from my hips to ribs.
Food cravings: Lemonade, orange juice, apples, peanut butter, & Dr. Pepper.
Gender: Girl!
Labor Signs: Tons of contractions, nothing consistent though. Just waiting for them to become more painful and regular so that I can go to the hospital! 
Belly Button in or out? My belly button is weird. I guess it's out? 
What I miss: Being able to bend over and pick things up off the ground, tie my shoes, etc. without being uncomfortable.
What I am looking forward to: Meeting my DAUGHTER!
Monthly Wisdom: Try not to get mad at people who give you unsolicited advice. They really do mean well :)
Milestones: She could come out any second. NOW! Nope. NOW?! Nope...

38 Weeks Pregnant & Life Recently

Matt & Sandy tired from working in the Nursery. All of the touch-up paint is done! I'll post a separate entry later showcasing all of our hard work for Ada's room :)

Matt taste testing the minestrone soup. I made it and froze a bunch for when Ada arrives. It is SO YUMMY! Recipe via The Sisters' Cafe - I highly recommend this one! One thing my mom pointed out when I gave the recipe to her: you don't have to boil the pasta separately...just throw it in the soup! DUH...what would I do without my mom?!

Matt showing off the latest fashion for dads - their daughter's bath towels :)

Matt being ever-so-careful with the yummy Frrrrozen Hot Chocolate Diana gave us! YUM! He was so proud of the whipped cream and presentation...he's a pro!

Sandy and I hanging out in Ada's room. She is so funny with every new thing we bring into the house. She must sniff and inspect it before it is allowed to enter. It will be interesting to see her with a new baby! I have a feeling she is going to be very protective and go wherever Ada does :)

I love being this far along in pregnancy because I get to go see the midwives every week! It's exciting :) Everything still looks great. Her head has descended lower, her heart rate is strong, and movement still constant. My blood pressure is still low, weight gain right on, and I'm ready to have a baby! They said it could be tomorrow, or it could be in three weeks. So I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high in case she decides to come late :)