Abby's Birth

It was a week ago today that sweet little Abby Noelle joined our family. After a pretty good night's sleep I woke up around 7:45 to contractions. With Cadence, I'd had a few days worth of false labor contractions so I was sure that's what these were... But they didn't stop. Even after I'd taken  a hot shower.

At around 9:00 am I finally started to track them and they were averaging 4 minutes apart for a couple of hours, getting closer and closer and more and more painful.  Knowing that I had been dilated to a 4 at my last doctor's appointment, I finally relented and Brody and I headed to the hospital.

By the time we got there, I was already to a 7! I was shocked-- it had taken me all day to dilate that much with Cadie. I promptly informed them that I did indeed want an epidural and the anesthesiologist came and gave me some kind of cross between a normal epidural and a spinal block (because I was so close to delivering it needed to be extra fast-acting).  After another nurse came in to break my water, (which only took a few pokes with her finger) she told me I was fully dilated. I was super super numb but after one practice push, they called the doctor in to deliver. It was just Brody, the nurse, the doctor and I in the room this time. And around 2:15 pm and after only three pushes with contractions, she was there! (I pushed for almost 4 hours with Cadie so needless to say, I was shocked how quickly it happened.)  It was such a fast, easy delivery, I am still surprised what a different experience it was the second time around. We were even able to leave the hospital after only 24 hours, which I couldn't have been happier about. I'm so so grateful for the doctors and nurses but I absolutely loathe the hospital.

Abby has been such a little sweetheart, she has been doing 4-hour stretches of sleep already this week and sleeps through just about everything (again, the polar opposite of Cadie).  She's been such a joy and I my heart is so full of love for my little family of four.

Giving Thanks

For some reason I ALWAYS forget to take pictures on Thanksgiving. I'm going to assume it's because I get too sidetracked by delicious food to be bothered to stop and take a photograph. But alas, Thanksgiving weekend was a wonderful break from work, and we were super productive and finally got everything ready for Baby #2.  It was an exciting morning at my parents--the power went out around 11 am, (the turkey was only halfway cooked), but as soon as everything had been sorted out and the Turkey was on its way to Lacey's to finish cooking, the power came back on. Of course.

We ate dinner at Brody's parents with the Shoffs and Thompsons, and everything was delicious!  Cadie had so much fun playing with all of her cousins all day and singing Frozen's Let it Go to her hearts content. I took some 39-week photo bump pictures, only because it's fun to compare and for posterity's sake.  And I had to get Cadie's latest silly expression where she scrunches her shoulders and grits her teeth, I love it. She has also become the prayer police and loves to fold her arms and make sure everyone else is too.

I can't believe we've officially begun the countdown for Baby Girl #2.  I've tried to get as much Christmas stuff and shopping out of the way as I can. We are hoping Cadie is going to love having a little sister but are a little nervous for the transition. I can't believe we are days away from the due date!

20 weeks vs 39 weeks, I think my cheeks filled in almost as much as my belly 

A Puffy and Pregnant Halloween

I had to ride Lacey's brilliant pregnant-costume coattails and borrow her Ghostbusters costumes for us this year. Brody was Venkman, I was the Stay-Puft Marshmellow Man, and Cadie was Slimer.  I think a lot of people just thought I was a sailor, but for those who made the connection, I think they really appreciated it :)  Plus I don't think there's ever been a more apropos costume for me than 'stay puft' in all my water-retaining glory, and I feel like I deserve some kind of gold star from the universe for voluntarily wearing men's white sweatpants in public at 8 months pregnant.

We felt like Cadie was still a little too young to go trick-or-treating (we didn't want to be those parents that just use their kids for free candy---there will be plenty of time for that next year), so we just had dinner at the ward Halloween party and then spent the night at Brody's parents.  I just love Halloween and having a babe has opened up all kinds of wonderful group costume possibilities :)