growing

"Growing" seems to sum up our lives lately. 

First...our house now has first floor walls (yay!).  Chad and 9 other guys worked hard last Friday and Saturday to get them up.  It's so fun to be able to walk through the house and see the actual size of the rooms, etc.  The girls and I were able to get out there Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to see the progress.  It was GREAT to have a reason to get out.  This next weekend we get second floor floors.  The first pic below is of the great room wall with fireplace and the second is a view from the front. 

Second...Emma is growing and gaining :).  At her 2 week appointment last Friday, she had already gained a good pound, putting her at 8 lb. 8 oz.  The nurse actually weighed her a second time to make sure she had read it right :).  Ha, I think we have another good eater on our hands!  She's a wonderful baby so far...so sweet.

Third...Livie.  She spends her days talking, talking, talking...to me, to Emma, to baby Jill, to herself :).  I think she's hilarious, but maybe that's just because I'm her mom.  She now can count to 10, attempt the ABC's, and matter of factly voice her opinion on just about anything :).  We also started potty training this week.  The first evening we started she had 5 accidents and 1 success in the little potty.  After the 3rd accident, she started crying and didn't want to put underwear back on...maybe that's a good sign?  Ask me how it's going in a week.  I'm just hoping to be consistent with her!

So excited about her big girl underwear :)...before the accidents.

And fourth...we're all learning what it's like to be a family of four.  Things are definitely busier with two little girls who need lots of attention.  And I'm noticing that it's harder to take time to do the most important things - like staying in the Word and connecting to God.  This week I feel like I'm running on empty and I know it's because I haven't been drawing my strength from Him :(.  May God grow my heart to yearn for Him during times like these.  I praise Him that He is gracious and continuously draws me back to Himself...I don't deserve that love!

the past 2 weeks

"I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?

My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand.

The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.

The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore."  

Psalm 121

Emma will be two weeks old tomorrow.  It's crazy how the days just fly by.  During the pregnancy, I loved this Psalm and how it proclaimed God as our keeper.  Thought it was perfect in praying for Emma as well...that He would keep and protect her life from this time forth and forevermore!  So far, He has answered this prayer of mine as well as so many others regarding labor and her delivery.  

I did go ahead and get induced thursday night, the 28th, at midnight.  And to be honest, I was excited to have and meet our baby girl...but pretty nervous too - mostly about the pain and how inducing would go.  Here's some pics before the big night...

Feeling big...

And here's what happened next...

When we got to the hospital, it took about an hour to get settled in our room.  They ended up starting me on pitocin at 1 am.  Soon, I started having small/cramp-like contractions which lasted until about 8 am.  Chad and I were able to sleep through these which was nice - especially knowing what was coming ahead.  At 8 am, my midwife came in to check me and break my water.  I was dilated at a 2 at this point.  As soon as she broke my water, the contractions started coming on HARD and STRONG.  I knew I wanted an epidural, since I was being induced, so, I asked for one right away.  However, the anesthesiologist was busy with a c-section for at least another hour.  I thought, "No big deal...I can handle an hour of hard contractions.  I've done this before".  But whoa...they just didn't slow down!  I got some neumorphine (with memories that it was WONDERFUL with Livie), but it didn't really take any edge off the pain this time.  By 9:30, they had checked me at least 3 times, and each time I was dilating more and more.  Around 10am, the anesthesiologist was still busy :(...and they checked me again...I was at an 8.  They told me at that point that I wasn't going to have time for an epidural.  I was so scared...but thought "God can get me through!".  Just then though, the anesthesiologist was free and outside the door :).   She came in and administered an intrathecal shot (a local drug that's similar to an epidural - it numbs the pain - but you can still feel and move your legs).  SO GREAT...but also really weird to go from so much pain to nothing.  About that time too, I found out my midwife had to leave and go deliver another baby...so, they took me off the pitocin until she got back.  I still had contractions during that time, but they were about 5 min apart and I couldn't feel them.  She was back by 11:15 (praise God for a quick delivery for the other mom!).  They started the pitocin again, I pushed around 15 minutes...and Emma was here at 11:40 :).  Such a different labor story than Livie's...but I truly LOVED both of the experiences.  SUCH a praise!

All brand new...

Livie getting to hold her for the first time...she was so giddy!

New family pic

Going home...

Meeting cousin Remy for the first time...Remy is just 8 weeks older than Emma.

Love her cheeks :)

Trying to explain the love I have for our girls is really hard...I just have to say that it's God-given and so strong.  I am so excited to watch them grow up!

Here's some more pictures from Rachel, taken when Emma was 5 days old.  

Since Emma's birth, our days (me and the girls') have been pretty relaxing - mostly staying home and enjoying the each other.  We've been out a little...to Walmart, Chad's office, church, walking the neighborhood, and a few other places (no traumatic experiences so far!).  Emma has been perfect...sleeping and eating consume her days :).  And Livie LOVES her so much.  She always is saying "hold me!"...meaning she wants to hold her, and "where'd Emma go?"...anytime she's out of sight.  She's been adjusting pretty well overall...just VERY clingy...to me especially.  Oh, and her stubbornness is coming out strong too - this little girl knows what she wants!  When she doesn't get it?...well, the pictures speak for themselves :). 

Chad has been super busy with work the past week and a half.  Between monday and tuesday this week he put in 30 hours :(.  Crazy...but such a blessing that NHS has so much work.  Construction on our new house has been at a stand-still for a couple of weeks because we still haven't got our first floor walls in (delays, delays).  They are supposed to come tomorrow though...so Chad is getting a crew together to put them up on Saturday.  It seems like forever since we've both been out to the lot...and now that Emma's here, we're just itching to get things going!

emma noelle

Introducing our sweet and cuddly baby girl, Emma Noelle.

She was born Friday, July 29 at 11:40 am, weighing 7 lb. 12 oz., measuring 19.5 inches, with LOTS of dark hair and a dimple in her chin :).  We are so thankful for her and praise God for her life and a safe, healthy delivery!

Here's her proud big sister doing what she does best, smothering her with kisses and affection.

It's been 1 week and 1 day since her birth, and everything is going so well so far - another praise to our Father.  More stories and pictures to come!

waiting

Just ONE more week until our baby girl is due.  Crazy.  I'm finding myself VERY ready these days.  With the heat and humidity last week (90's everyday with heat indexes of over 100), and just being uncomfortable...I'm READY.  At my doctor appointment this morning, I was dilated and effaced the same as the past 2 weeks.  A little discouraging, but it's alright.  It's just not time yet, right?  So, we wait.

Actually, I did go ahead and schedule an induction date for this friday...and here's why.  Originally I was  not up for this, but my midwife is switching practices THIS SUNDAY.  One day before my due date :(. Which means, if I go on or after my date, she cannot legally deliver our baby.  At first I said I would rather have someone else deliver than be induced.  But as the due date is closing in, I'm wanting her to deliver more and more.  So, it's scheduled.  I really hope I go into labor before then - I'm going to try to be more active this week!  

At the house...we have our main floor walls coming tomorrow!  Chad has been working a lot in the evenings to get everything ready for them.  And he's been challenging me to start picking stuff out.  Lights, stone, tiles, plumbing, furniture...the list goes on.  While it's fun...it's also time consuming.  I've mostly been looking online so far and there's just SO MUCH to search through.  We did go to a flea market over a week ago and picked out some furniture pieces and a small table for a vessel sink in the powder room.  We're trying to stick with a rustic/modern cottage theme with hints of vintage and industrial.  Here's what we found:

chalkboard for wall art in the Livie's room or loft:

 table for vessel sink in powder room (I need to put a finish on this):

coffee table for great room:

And we also ordered a tall, narrow table for the entryway...but we'll pick that up next month.  It's similar in style to the coffee table...made out of reclaimed barnwood.  Fun stuff :).

And Livie...oh Livie :).  She's been such a good girl lately but also very clingy and cuddly...I think she knows something is up.  We talk about babies a lot...but whenever we do, she always grabs her favorite baby and play and pretends with her.  Other interests lately are the potty...here's her playing with her baby's little pink potty:

Oh little girl...our world is about to be shaken!  

37 week sono

Tuesday, we had our 37 week sono for our baby girl.  Everything looked great!  She's in the PERFECT position for labor and she's measuring at 6 lbs. 5 oz. (but give or take a pound for sono mistakes).  If she is in fact 6 lbs. 5 oz., she's a little small and under the 50th percentile at this point.   

As for me, I'm dilated to almost a 2 and 50% effaced.  That's progress since last week :).  I feel the same though...just a little more swollen.  3 pounds more (says the scale) :)...it's just water weight, right?  

Here's our girl...all smooshed in there!

And her BIG sister...who is growing up more and more by the day...