Our Sweet Charlotte

She’s home and named and the most perfect thing in this world. She is also a total milk monster! Last night she fed nonstop until around 6 am when my hubs finally just took her to another room and bounced her and shushed her so I could get a little sleep. And actually, she let us sleep quite a bit into the morning (more like 1.5-2 hours between feedings instead of 30-45 minutes).

Regardless, she’s perfect and I’m obsessed. And, my milk came in, which is great! Although my boobs are like 2.5 times bigger than her head and hard as rocks.

Other than that, family and friends have been so supportive and life is grand.

Check out her cuteness, Miss Charlotte Gitel, the love of my life.

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Just 5 More Minutes…!!

So, this baby still refuses to show her cute little face, but I’m feeling confident (ish) that given a little more time, she will. Soooo… This morning I called our doc to ask (with a hint of beg) if we could postpone our induction, which was scheduled for tomorrow, until Sunday or Monday. She has hesitantly agreed.

That means that we still have loads of time to relax/walk/acupuncture/breast pump/sex/evening primrose oil/clary sage oil this baby out of me.

And in the meantime, I have to apologize to my family and friends, as I will likely be remaining off the grid. For some reason, it seems to be helping me stay relaxed and positive to stay relatively close to home and with little-to-no contact with the outside world. I’ll resurface soon with an amazing little baby in tow. Thanks for being patient with me.

Xo

Symptoms
Yesterday felt like a really productive day. Baby seems like she could be a smidge lower and I was having contractions all day (starting the night before and lasting through bedtime). Even more exciting was that I officially lost my mucus plug. I had thought I saw a piece of it in the toilet in the afternoon, but wasn’t totally sure. Then, around 8 or so, a big, pinkish-tinged chunk came out. I called Mark into the bathroom to check it out. We high fived 🙂 The rest of it came out around 9.

I went to bed super excited thinking, “this is it!!” And was even more disappointed when I woke up to pee a few hours later and had not a single sign of labor. Today was pretty much the same… Pee induced contractions, but nothing like the day before. Needless to say, I was a little sad and discouraged today.

But, the hubs and I took a 3.3 mile walk (we downloaded an app that tracks your distance) and by the end, I was finally feeling better. It took probably 2 miles until I started really talking and once I did, I felt way better. I explained my frustrations and disappointments of the day and felt like a little weight was lifted. Like I could get over it at that point. And now, I feel ready to get some rest and start fresh tomorrow with my third acupuncture session.

Also, as a side-note, I love acupuncture. Both days I’ve left feeling really good. High energy, positive, and progressed. So hopefully tomorrow will be another good one!

Protecting Me

Turns out, after leaving our appointment in tears and explaining to my hubs how much I didn’t want to face all of the inquiries about my progress or post-due status, Mark emailed our families and my close friends asking to be a little sensitive and give me a little space. While I didn’t know what he did until after my tears had dried, I am so incredibly grateful. I was able to wallow in the exact way I had hoped… In peace.

Now, it’s not that I don’t love how much everyone cares and how excited everyone is…. It’s just yesterday, I needed to sort through my emotions. I know baby girl will come when she is ready, and if she is unable to reach that decision on her own, come Thursday night, the doctor will help her to make her journey.

It’s interesting, when Mark spoke to my mom yesterday, she mentioned that the babies in our family tend to be born within a few days of other family members’ birthdays. This coming Wednesday would have been my Grandpa’s 88th birthday. Maybe she really is showing us the circle of life. Maybe, already in her infancy, she wants to bring us peace and remind us to be happy on that day. Or maybe she’s just a stubborn little gal like her momma.

Anyway, yesterday afternoon, Mark and I took a 1-2 hour walk down to and through this nature preserve and back to the house. It was a beautiful day and a great way to spend it… Although my feet and back were a little sore afterwards. Then, it was time to head out to my bride-to-be’s house to help her set up for her wedding this weekend. Mark and I helped from about 5 or 530 until a little after 11pm. The place looks absolutely amazing. Her vision really came to life and looks perfect.

On the other hand, my back is killing me. We have to be back out there today for the rehearsal dinner at 2… Until then, I’ll be resting.

A Hint of Positivity

Just so you don’t think I’m on the ledge, I will say that I was reading our baby’s zodiac sign “stuff”… She’s a cancer. They say that cancers sometimes linger to make a decision, but once they do, they’re ready to go.

Maybe that’s what is going on here.

So, take a few more days, baby. Decide you want to meet is and then come quickly.

Week 4 of Little to No Progress

My tears have stopped for now, but I can’t help but lay here feeling totally defeated. Come Monday, we will have to schedule an induction for next Friday. I know a lot can happen in a week, but somehow it doesn’t change how I feel right now. I decided to take the afternoon to just wallow a little.

While the news does mean the chances of me Going to my friend’s wedding this weekend are high, which I’m very relieved to hear, it also means I’m going to be surrounded by people speculating on how late I am, what I should be doing, telling me to relax, etc. Hopefully the focus can stay where it’s deserved… On the beautiful bride and her groom.

I just really hope this baby finally decides she’s ready to come out and does it on her own. I really do not want to be induced. The doc attempted to strip my membranes today, so we’ll see if that does anything… Besides hurt of course.