Meet our girl...

We are blessed and so in love. 

I'll be back later with the story of how she came into the world. 

Love, 

Allye 

Insta-Friday

Helllooo from the land of I'm Still Pregnant!

Here's a few instagram pictures of Banjo, because let's be honest, until I have this kid I'm just going to keep taking cute pictures of my dog. It's therapy.

His "I'm too tired to lift my head and look at you" look.  

Waiting for Andrew to get back home. Pathetic. 

Such a helpful little guy. If only he could actually clean with it. 

Cutest little sweater at old navy. I told Ruby she could have it if she's born...seems fair to me.

While explaining my story for the thousandth time at work yesterday, a home health nurse said "well, maybe you'll have her on labor day...wouldn't that be cool? To be in LABOR on LABOR day?! hahahahahaha!" I was not amused. The thought literally makes me want to curl up in a ball and cry.

We shall see!

I hope you all have a lovely weekend! 

That time I thought I was having a baby

This is the long, drawn out story of our dramatic weekend. Spoiler alert: it does not end with us having a baby...read on if you wish. 

Two things I have learned in the past few days:

1. My daughter is stubborn and has a will of her own at the ripe old age of ZERO

2. Labor is unpredictable and strange and can mean many different things for different people. 

On Saturday evening around 7pm I started having consistent contractions. At first I was pretty unphased by the whole thing because I had been having contractions on and off for the past few days. I started timing them around 7:30, and they were about 3-4 minutes apart. I was shocked and told Andrew that I think it might be time, but lets wait another hour and see what happens. An hour later I was still having them, some were even 2 minutes apart. I wanted to wait a little longer though to make sure this was the real deal. Around 10:30 after laying in bed for a little while I got up and started packing the things that I hadn't been able to pack before (pillows, make-up, hairdryer, etc.) and told Andrew that I think we should start getting ready. Cue husband FREAKING OUT, running around, sweating, calling people to make sure Sunday school would be taken care of. Poor guy. I reminded him that it was going to be okay, and he chilled a bit, or at least pretended to. 

We got to the hospital and went straight into an observation room where they hooked me up to the monitor and checked me. I was 3 cm dilated and still 75% effaced. Some progress from Wednesday, but not enough for them to admit me to the hospital. After a few hours of walking around, the on call doctor came to see me, checked me again (hadn't changed), and told me that he would like to observe me for another hour or two before sending me home because he doesn't want the labor to progress rapidly once we get home and us not know it. We paced the halls for another hour or two (a very fun activity at 3am!) and then the nurse checked me again. I had dilated to a 4, so they decided to admit me. They got me started on the IV antibiotics for strep b, and Andrew got some sleep. Meanwhile, I laid in bed and cried thinking about how scared I was about all of this, mostly becoming a parent. 

Around 6:30am the nurse came in and checked me again. Still at a 4, the doctor decided that he wanted to give me pitocin. I was disappointed because I had heard/read about how awful pitocin makes labor and just saw it as ruining my desire to have a natural labor. It didn't help that the anesthesiologist came in about an hour later and said "you ready for your epidural yet?" when I replied no, that I was wanting to try to do this naturally, he kind of chuckled and said "this is your first baby, isn't it?" I nodded and he said "just wait until that pitocin kicks in..." Well, it kicked in and my contractions got strong, and very close together. After about 6 hours of this (around 1ish), the doctor that I had seen the night before came to check me. I was still a 4...well, technically 4.75, but STILL. 

Dang it. How is that possible?? I had been laboring for a good 14 hours and only made this much progress. 

This is when the doctor gave me the different game plan options. 

-Break my water, up the pitocin and get this show on the road. 

-Up the pitocin and see what happens. 

-Stop everything, go home, and see what happens.

We chose the last one. After 17 hours in the hospital I left with nothing but a wrist full of hospital bracelets, an IV wound, and a severe need for sleep.

I was already a bit uncomfortable with trying to force Ruby to come out on our terms, so I decided that even though I would LOVE to meet my daughter, I want her to come as much on her own as she can.

We came home and the contractions slowed down quite a bit. Since we've been home I have had hours that my contractions have been steady and strong, and then lulls where I wont feel one for hours. I was so frustrated for a while about the whole ordeal because I had gotten myself (and everyone else) so psyched up about this baby being here, and she's still inside of me! 

We went back to the doctor today. I haven't progressed anymore, which was not that surprising to me to be honest. I needed some answers though, and I needed to hear them from my regular doctor (who was in New York this weekend). She said that while it's not in the textbooks, labor can actually be a long drawn out process that can take weeks. While this isn't common, I am one of the lucky (or unlucky...still not sure) ones that have this drawn-out labor process. My body is slowly dilating, and Ruby is slowly going to make her appearance. The one good thing about this? Most likely my "active" labor will be shorter and less intense because I will already be so far dilated once it starts. My doctor said that her gut tells her that I'll still be pregnant next week. We'll see. Either way, today I found some peace about all of it. I felt like we were doing the right thing, and that it's OKAY that Ruby wants to stay inside for a little longer. Contentment set in and I came home, snuggled with Banjo, and cleaned my toilets. 

So there, that's the story of the time I thought I was having a baby. 

The kicker is that I actually am having a baby, just not the way it happens for most people. 

I'm assuming life as usual tomorrow, returning to work, and hoping to get some much needed rest and relaxation in before our lives turn upside down. 

If you made it through all of that, I applaud you. 

She's coming...

...sometime soon!

Our appointment on Wednesday was an exciting one! The doc said that Ruby turned and is now head down and engaged (I figured so with all the pressure I've been feeling), I'm 1.5 cm dilated and 75% effaced. Things are happening and she is on her way into the world! I guess Andrew and I just figured she would be stubborn and stay put for a while longer, because when the doctor walked out of the room we both just sat there staring at each other like "oh my gosh, this is really going to happen". It could be today, or a week from now. I'm pretty excited, nervous, and anxious about labor. I know the end result no matter how it all happens will be having my sweet baby in my arms, so that makes it easy to get SO excited. However, it's still pretty scary. I've been reading like crazy since Wednesday about relaxation techniques, breathing exercises, and other ways to help me get through a natural childbirth. I feel a bit unprepared since Andrew and I didn't take any classes, but I just keep telling myself that women have done this for centuries without drugs, classes, and google at their fingertips. I've been encouraged by several friends who have done it, and feel confident about my decision to give it a try.

Since it is Friday, and I'm blogging already I might as well share my instagram pictures from the week! I haven't been doing a very good job at remembering insta-friday!

Enjoying his last day as a "man".

The day after his surgery. Poor boy was sad. 

Part of Ruby's adorable room. I can't wait to share more when it's finished! 

My sweet co-workers threw me a surprise shower at work! SO sweet. 

Meghan and Christi visited from Texas. We had a great time showing them our favorite NOLA spots. 

Pooped from a day playing volleyball out in the heat. 

I had to go to Baton Rouge for work this last week. The best part? Chipotle! 

Our bad little puppy chewed yet another one of my apple products.  He hasn't chewed any other things in this house except 2 computer chargers and my phone charger. Ridiculous. 

Found these adorable little shoes at a thrift store for 95 cents this week! So excited about dressing Ruby in them. 

How crazy it is that this might be my last blog post before we're parents?! Pretty crazy, I agree.

We'll let you know when she's here!

Week 38

I just got finished asking Andrew "can you believe that in 2 weeks our daughter will be right here with us in the living room?". He said no that he couldn't believe it, and honestly, no matter how long this pregnancy has felt, I can't either. I suppose that in 2 weeks she could possibly still be hangin' out in her comfy little uterus home, but it definitely shouldn't be too much longer than that until we meet her. 

I'm slowing down quite a bit. My energy is lacking and I'm having a lot more little aches and pains than before. Braxton hicks ("practice") contractions are happening on a daily basis now, mostly in the middle of the night when I already can't sleep. You know how when your baby is about to be born and everyone says "you better get rested up! save up on your sleep!"? This is terrible advice. For one, you can't "save" sleep. You're going to be tired with a newborn. Period. Also, if saving sleep was even possible, I would be failing miserably. I am SO uncomfortable at night. I usually am awake from around 2:30am until around 4 or so with tons of tossing and turning before and after that. I just take it as God preparing my body for sleep deprivation by starting to deprive me now! Helpful, I guess. 

People at work are starting to make comments like "OH WOW! You're STILL here?!?", "Poor thing. When are you going on maternity leave?" and "My goodness! When is that baby coming?" I'm clearly looking amazing and refreshed every day. Ha...not! All of my residents are so excited and remind me every day that I have to bring her to see them ASAP. 

We have another appointment tomorrow morning so I will have a more accurate update then, but last Wednesday Ruby was still VERY comfortable in Fort Uterus. She was floating around up high and also had her head pointing straight into my right rib cage. No effacement or dilation. I was a little disappointed at the time, but have gotten over it since then. I'm trying to cherish this time when it's still just Andrew and I. I've been enjoying our quiet dinners out together so much more than ever before and soaking up the lazy evenings we get to share. I love my husband so much, and I know adding our little girl to the mix will only up the love quota in our house, but these last couple of weeks of just us is so special and important. 

I really don't think my belly can stretch any bigger. My skin is so tight and itchy and full of lovely stretch marks. Here's a picture from this evening. In case you are wondering, no I don't ever take off these sweat pants. They are my best friend. 

Sweet Ruby, 

Mom and Dad cannot wait to see your beautiful face! Your room is almost done! We have your crib ready for you, and almost all of your pretty little decorations up. It's a great room, I like it better than mine and Dad's. I love sitting in the rocking chair and day dreaming of rocking you in there. I think you're going to like it. Darling girl, we love you so, so much and really cannot wait to hug and kiss you. Come whenever you're ready because we're ready and waiting. 

Love you to the moon and back, 

Mama 

Ready?

In my last post I emphasized how much I was READY for this baby to be out of me. I was thinking about how I can't sleep well anymore, how I'm peeing every 10 minutes, can't walk comfortably, have swollen feet and hands, and just am generally not comfortable. I didn't really dwell on the thought of actually having a newborn. A human that Andrew and I are totally responsible for keeping alive, happy, and healthy. I was reading a few articles yesterday on the postpartum time, 24 hours to a week after baby is born; and honestly, I got a little freaked out. There is so much I don't know, so much I haven't educated myself enough on, so much I have probably been extremely naive about. I had a brief moment of OMGTHEREISNOWAYICANDOTHIS panic when my co-worker said "you better text me if you go into labor this weekend!" as I was leaving for the day yesterday. I replied quickly back to her "I am NOT going into labor this weekend!!", and while I probably wont, it still scared the crap out of me to hear that and realize that it's a possibility that it COULD happen.
Don't get me wrong, I still cannot wait to hold my girl in my arms, smell her sweet little baby smell, kiss her cheeks, count her toes, touch her lips, and most of all love her and be her mama. It's just a little scary. I know Andrew and I will figure it out, and ultimately by the grace of God be pretty decent parents to our girl. True to my worrying nature, I'm sitting here feeling her move, holding my belly, and  sweetly asking her to give mom and dad at least a couple more weeks to get prepared. Mentally.
I guess you could say that my attitude has changed since Wednesday. I'm feeling pretty content right now with Ruby being tucked away safely in my body where I know how to take care of her.

Thanks for listening to my first pre-parenthood freak out moment since I first saw that little plus sign on the pregnancy test. Y'all are the best.

I feel better now. :)

Week 36

I think I've hit the point in pregnancy where I'm SO close to meeting my baby and SO ready (mostly just physically...not so much mentally) that every day just seems to drag by SO very slow. I'm pretty much uncomfortable at all times, and feel about as huge as a house. I'm pretty sure Ruby struggles to get comfortable at times also. There are times where she'll move around back and forth like she's trying to find a position that feels good to her. Her elbows, heels, knees, and feet are my least favorite body parts to feel...they are sharp! Even though her moves hurt me at times, I still cherish getting to feel every move she makes and I'm sure I'll be a little sad when I don't get to feel her inside of me anymore.

The nursery is coming together! All that's lacking now are some curtains (I think I finally found the ones I want), bedding, and hanging up all of the decorations. I can't wait to finish and show you. It's adorable and I'm going to love bringing her home to her sweet little space made just for her.

At a little over 1 week away from being full term, Ruby could get here any day and I really cannot wait. Developmentally, she's ready! At this point she's just packing on the pounds with extra chub (the better for mama to squeeze and kiss!). I can't wait to see her face, cuddle her close, and kiss her sweet cheeks. We'll go to see my doctor the middle of next week and she'll check me for the first time to see what Ruby's position is and if she's getting close to making an appearance.

Here's a picture from earlier this week. She and I are getting bigger by the day!

Here's to spicy food, lots of walking, and trying to convince my child to come visit mom and dad a little early.

Much love.