First diaper change
First sponge bath
First car ride
First time to pee on mommy
First blowout
First swing
First time to the doctor's office
First walk
First bathThursday, April 29, 2010
A few firsts ...
First diaper changeFirst sponge bathFirst car rideFirst time to pee on mommyFirst blowoutFirst swingFirst time to the doctor's officeFirst walkFirst bath
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Kit's Birth Story
The following is Kit's birth story:
On Sunday, April 11, I was admitted into labor and delivery. I had a scheduled induction date for the following morning. We arrived at the hospital at 5 p.m. sharp. When I walked up to the counter, they said, "You must be Lindsay." I'm feeling very happy at this point because they know my name. They quickly took us to our corner room and handed me my stunning hospital gown and had me change into it. I thought, wow, they don't mess around here. I changed while Ryan got unpacked.
I thought there would be time to waste, but there wasn't. After I changed, two nurses came in to tag team me. One started my IV and monitors while the other asked me a series of questions. I had connections to both of these nurses so I was still feeling very confident and comfortable. By 6 p.m., my nurse returned to give me Cervidil which is used to help the cervix dialate. The nurses watched us closely as this can send a woman into labor. At this point I was dialated to a two and was having regular contractions about 3-5 minutes apart but I didn't feel them. After this, it was just a waiting game so Ryan and I watched Baby Mama. My good friend Shannon came to visit us and pray with us that night. Around 10 p.m. the night nurse came in to give me Ambien to help me sleep (bless her) and brought Ryan a lovely cot.
We both slept pretty good. I slept fine but they did have to come in and check my vitals a couple times. By 7 a.m. my original nurse was back to remove the Cervidil and check me. I was now dialated to a three. Next, they started Pitocin which increases contractions. At this point I'm still feeling very good and comfortable. At 9 a.m., my doctor came in to break my water. That was weird. But the good news was the water was clear! Yes, I asked. After this my awesome nurse told me that I will probably start feeling pain with my contractions and that I could have an epidural whenever I'm ready. I thought, "Oh, I can handle this for a while." She did warn me that after I asked for the epidural, I would probably have to wait about 30 minutes to an hour before I could get it. After about an hour and a half of painful contractions I decided I had nothing to prove - I was ready for the epidural.
The nice anesthesiologist rolled in with is cart full of goodies. I was not nervous about the epidural. We talked a lot about them in baby class so I felt like I knew what to expect. I even saw the needle that he would insert into my spine - no fear. I sat over the side of the bed and held on to my awesome nurse. She explained everything step-by-step and really put me at ease. The initial stick to numb the area felt like a flu shot - not bad at all. Then, I only felt the pressure of the epidural needle. It really wasn't bad at all. The entire process probably took 5-7 minutes. Immediately after the epidural, I said, "Did it cause my contractions to stop?" She said, nope, you just don't feel them anymore. Amazing.
Then the nurse checked me again and I had dialated even more! It was approximately noon and I was now a five. I think the epidural helped me to relax and dialate. A few family members came in to visit us but for the most part it was just Ryan and I hanging out. The nurse came in to check me a little later and I was dialated to an eight! I remember thinking, wow, this is really happening. I sent out a text message update to our friends and family.
About an hour later, the nurse checked me again and I was dialated to a 10! The time was approximately 2:30 p.m. Even though I was at a 10 and fully effaced, the baby needed to descend a little further down the birth canal. I was told I needed to labor down which basically means just sit there while she works her way down. I think this is probably a painful thing for women who don't have epidurals because they feel the need to push. I felt the need to be excited - no pain! My awesome nurse told me that she'd come back in about 30 minutes to check me again but to let her know if I feel any sudden pressure. I had Ryan go get my good friend Sunny who would be taking photos during the labor. We were all hanging out in the room laughing and being excited. Then I felt just the slightest bit of pressure. I almost didn't say anything but then I decided I would go ahead and tell the nurse. She came in to check me and quickly learned that I was ready to push! She said, "Are you ready?" I grabbed her arm and replied, "READY FOR WHAT?!?" Ryan, Sunny and the nurse laughed. It was go time!
The nurse and a nursing student (who was so sweet) told me that I would do some "practice pushes" before they call the doctor. I thought, ha, practice pushes. I don't need no stinkin' practice pushes. So, when the next contraction came, she had me push! After only three more contractions, she was calling the doctor. She told me she could see her head and that she had a lot of hair! Ryan went to check out the scene and he confirmed ... lots of hair. Two baby nurses came in and introduced themselves. They were nice. Then the scrub tech came in with his cart full of goodies. They broke down my bed and it was showtime. The doctor arrived in all her glory about five minutes later. She washed up, suited up and the spotlight was on - literally. (It's really quite the spectacle.)
She asked me if I was ready to have a baby. I asked her if she was ready to catch her. We have that sort of relationship. By the next contraction, I was pushing. Breath. And after pushing through the next contraction, Kit Harper was here! What am amazing feeling! It was the best moment of my life. She came out screaming. Ryan cut the umbilical cord and I got to hold my sweet baby for the first time. What an overwhelming sense of joy I felt. The nurses took her to clean her up and Ryan went to go tend to our baby.
I couldn't believe it. She was here and she was healthy and beautiful. She scored a nine on her Apgar. Ryan held her and loved on her for about 20 minutes before handing her over to me. I just couldn't stop looking at her. It brought tears to my eyes to see Ryan holding his daughter. She was wide awake and her mouth was moving like she was hungry. I nursed her right away. It was such a beautiful moment.
Ryan and I spent about an hour alone with our baby before bringing family back. Everyone was so excited to meet this little angel. They were all so surprised by all her hair! After all of our friends and family met Kit, she was ready to eat again. She ate and pooped so much while we were in the hospital. We stayed two nights and left Wednesday morning. The hospital staff and nurses were amazing. I couldn't have asked for a better experience for the birth of our daughter.
The first time I held Kit.
Kit shortly after birth.
Kit holding daddy's finger.
So in love.
On Sunday, April 11, I was admitted into labor and delivery. I had a scheduled induction date for the following morning. We arrived at the hospital at 5 p.m. sharp. When I walked up to the counter, they said, "You must be Lindsay." I'm feeling very happy at this point because they know my name. They quickly took us to our corner room and handed me my stunning hospital gown and had me change into it. I thought, wow, they don't mess around here. I changed while Ryan got unpacked.
I thought there would be time to waste, but there wasn't. After I changed, two nurses came in to tag team me. One started my IV and monitors while the other asked me a series of questions. I had connections to both of these nurses so I was still feeling very confident and comfortable. By 6 p.m., my nurse returned to give me Cervidil which is used to help the cervix dialate. The nurses watched us closely as this can send a woman into labor. At this point I was dialated to a two and was having regular contractions about 3-5 minutes apart but I didn't feel them. After this, it was just a waiting game so Ryan and I watched Baby Mama. My good friend Shannon came to visit us and pray with us that night. Around 10 p.m. the night nurse came in to give me Ambien to help me sleep (bless her) and brought Ryan a lovely cot.
We both slept pretty good. I slept fine but they did have to come in and check my vitals a couple times. By 7 a.m. my original nurse was back to remove the Cervidil and check me. I was now dialated to a three. Next, they started Pitocin which increases contractions. At this point I'm still feeling very good and comfortable. At 9 a.m., my doctor came in to break my water. That was weird. But the good news was the water was clear! Yes, I asked. After this my awesome nurse told me that I will probably start feeling pain with my contractions and that I could have an epidural whenever I'm ready. I thought, "Oh, I can handle this for a while." She did warn me that after I asked for the epidural, I would probably have to wait about 30 minutes to an hour before I could get it. After about an hour and a half of painful contractions I decided I had nothing to prove - I was ready for the epidural.
The nice anesthesiologist rolled in with is cart full of goodies. I was not nervous about the epidural. We talked a lot about them in baby class so I felt like I knew what to expect. I even saw the needle that he would insert into my spine - no fear. I sat over the side of the bed and held on to my awesome nurse. She explained everything step-by-step and really put me at ease. The initial stick to numb the area felt like a flu shot - not bad at all. Then, I only felt the pressure of the epidural needle. It really wasn't bad at all. The entire process probably took 5-7 minutes. Immediately after the epidural, I said, "Did it cause my contractions to stop?" She said, nope, you just don't feel them anymore. Amazing.
Then the nurse checked me again and I had dialated even more! It was approximately noon and I was now a five. I think the epidural helped me to relax and dialate. A few family members came in to visit us but for the most part it was just Ryan and I hanging out. The nurse came in to check me a little later and I was dialated to an eight! I remember thinking, wow, this is really happening. I sent out a text message update to our friends and family.
About an hour later, the nurse checked me again and I was dialated to a 10! The time was approximately 2:30 p.m. Even though I was at a 10 and fully effaced, the baby needed to descend a little further down the birth canal. I was told I needed to labor down which basically means just sit there while she works her way down. I think this is probably a painful thing for women who don't have epidurals because they feel the need to push. I felt the need to be excited - no pain! My awesome nurse told me that she'd come back in about 30 minutes to check me again but to let her know if I feel any sudden pressure. I had Ryan go get my good friend Sunny who would be taking photos during the labor. We were all hanging out in the room laughing and being excited. Then I felt just the slightest bit of pressure. I almost didn't say anything but then I decided I would go ahead and tell the nurse. She came in to check me and quickly learned that I was ready to push! She said, "Are you ready?" I grabbed her arm and replied, "READY FOR WHAT?!?" Ryan, Sunny and the nurse laughed. It was go time!
The nurse and a nursing student (who was so sweet) told me that I would do some "practice pushes" before they call the doctor. I thought, ha, practice pushes. I don't need no stinkin' practice pushes. So, when the next contraction came, she had me push! After only three more contractions, she was calling the doctor. She told me she could see her head and that she had a lot of hair! Ryan went to check out the scene and he confirmed ... lots of hair. Two baby nurses came in and introduced themselves. They were nice. Then the scrub tech came in with his cart full of goodies. They broke down my bed and it was showtime. The doctor arrived in all her glory about five minutes later. She washed up, suited up and the spotlight was on - literally. (It's really quite the spectacle.)
She asked me if I was ready to have a baby. I asked her if she was ready to catch her. We have that sort of relationship. By the next contraction, I was pushing. Breath. And after pushing through the next contraction, Kit Harper was here! What am amazing feeling! It was the best moment of my life. She came out screaming. Ryan cut the umbilical cord and I got to hold my sweet baby for the first time. What an overwhelming sense of joy I felt. The nurses took her to clean her up and Ryan went to go tend to our baby.
I couldn't believe it. She was here and she was healthy and beautiful. She scored a nine on her Apgar. Ryan held her and loved on her for about 20 minutes before handing her over to me. I just couldn't stop looking at her. It brought tears to my eyes to see Ryan holding his daughter. She was wide awake and her mouth was moving like she was hungry. I nursed her right away. It was such a beautiful moment.
Ryan and I spent about an hour alone with our baby before bringing family back. Everyone was so excited to meet this little angel. They were all so surprised by all her hair! After all of our friends and family met Kit, she was ready to eat again. She ate and pooped so much while we were in the hospital. We stayed two nights and left Wednesday morning. The hospital staff and nurses were amazing. I couldn't have asked for a better experience for the birth of our daughter.
The first time I held Kit.
Kit shortly after birth.
Kit holding daddy's finger.
So in love.Kit Harper Laird
Ryan and I are proud to announce the birth of our daughter, Kit Harper Laird.
She was born April 12, 2010 at 3:49 p.m.
Kit weighed 7 pounds 8 ounces and was 19.5 inches long.
She was born April 12, 2010 at 3:49 p.m.
Kit weighed 7 pounds 8 ounces and was 19.5 inches long.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Final thoughts
Today is my last day of work before our sweet baby arrives. Several things are going through my head. How can we take in these last couple days before she arrives? (I'm thinking bubble baths, sitting on the back porch talking, eating out, snuggling on the couch and going to see Date Night sure sounds nice - hopefully Ryan will read this.)
To be honest, this whole pregnancy deal has just flown by and I've enjoyed every minute of it - as my doctor can attest (ask me later - funny joke.) But the time has come to have this little human being who has been growing inside of me to come out and meet the world. I have told people who have asked, "Aren't you ready to have that baby?" No, not really. She's really easy to take care of in there and I never forget her. I really thought that I would be in such a different state at 39+ weeks. For some reason, I thought I would be huge, miserable, in pain, etc. but I don't feel bad at all. Maybe I should become a professional pregnant person? Or not. What I most enjoy is feeling her move inside of me. There is nothing quite like it. I won't get into politics, but this baby has been a baby since day one. When we first saw our daughter, she was a mere 2.6 cm and her heart was only milimeters - and nine months later, well she's huge. What a miracle! OK, so I got into politics. I'm done.
Ryan and I have been prepared for this for quite some time - mainly because I'm such a planner which I think will be totally turned upside down once junior arrives. But, I it's a good thing b/c I need a little bit of spontaneity in my life. The bags are packed, the list has been checked (about 10 times) and the car seat is installed. Bring on the baby.
One thing that has bothered me a little has been how some people, not all, but some people love telling us how much our life is going to change. It's like, "duh." Why do you think we waited nearly five years to begin this little journey. It's almost like they want to scare us into changing our mind or make us feel like we don't know what were doing. Of course there are things that will surprise us, but for the most part, I am well aware that I will not be sleeping, we will not be able to just "get up and go" whenever we want and there will be more laundry. Did it ever occur to you that we may have been just a little tired of it just being "us"? At some point, my love cup runneth over and I need to share it with someone other than foster dogs.
The other day, I was flipping through old photo albums and got this overwhelming sense of peace. I think God was trying to show us all the amazing things we have been blessed with and the opportunities we've been given. I made Ryan look through them with me and we realized all the fun we've had, trips we've taken and relationships we have built over the past 8 years. All that to say, it was time for us to grow. It's a personal decision and just because you feel overwelmed with your children sometimes, don't go peeing in my pool when we're about to venture into the most exciting time in our lives. We just prefer to take a more positive stance on the issue. That's all I have to say about that.
It's hard to prepare for the biggest change in your life. Right now, we are just enjoying the anticipation. One of my favorite things to do is to go into the baby's room and look through her clothes, reorganize her drawers (which I've done about a million times) and dream about when she'll actually be here.
What I'm most looking forward to is seeing her and seeing Ryan hold her. Knowing we made this precious child is almost too much to even conceive. I'm the weird one who is really looking forward to labor. I have some great friends who have been willing to share with me the truth about the experience. I know it will be hard, but it will also be amazing.
To be honest, this whole pregnancy deal has just flown by and I've enjoyed every minute of it - as my doctor can attest (ask me later - funny joke.) But the time has come to have this little human being who has been growing inside of me to come out and meet the world. I have told people who have asked, "Aren't you ready to have that baby?" No, not really. She's really easy to take care of in there and I never forget her. I really thought that I would be in such a different state at 39+ weeks. For some reason, I thought I would be huge, miserable, in pain, etc. but I don't feel bad at all. Maybe I should become a professional pregnant person? Or not. What I most enjoy is feeling her move inside of me. There is nothing quite like it. I won't get into politics, but this baby has been a baby since day one. When we first saw our daughter, she was a mere 2.6 cm and her heart was only milimeters - and nine months later, well she's huge. What a miracle! OK, so I got into politics. I'm done.
Ryan and I have been prepared for this for quite some time - mainly because I'm such a planner which I think will be totally turned upside down once junior arrives. But, I it's a good thing b/c I need a little bit of spontaneity in my life. The bags are packed, the list has been checked (about 10 times) and the car seat is installed. Bring on the baby.
One thing that has bothered me a little has been how some people, not all, but some people love telling us how much our life is going to change. It's like, "duh." Why do you think we waited nearly five years to begin this little journey. It's almost like they want to scare us into changing our mind or make us feel like we don't know what were doing. Of course there are things that will surprise us, but for the most part, I am well aware that I will not be sleeping, we will not be able to just "get up and go" whenever we want and there will be more laundry. Did it ever occur to you that we may have been just a little tired of it just being "us"? At some point, my love cup runneth over and I need to share it with someone other than foster dogs.
The other day, I was flipping through old photo albums and got this overwhelming sense of peace. I think God was trying to show us all the amazing things we have been blessed with and the opportunities we've been given. I made Ryan look through them with me and we realized all the fun we've had, trips we've taken and relationships we have built over the past 8 years. All that to say, it was time for us to grow. It's a personal decision and just because you feel overwelmed with your children sometimes, don't go peeing in my pool when we're about to venture into the most exciting time in our lives. We just prefer to take a more positive stance on the issue. That's all I have to say about that.
It's hard to prepare for the biggest change in your life. Right now, we are just enjoying the anticipation. One of my favorite things to do is to go into the baby's room and look through her clothes, reorganize her drawers (which I've done about a million times) and dream about when she'll actually be here.
What I'm most looking forward to is seeing her and seeing Ryan hold her. Knowing we made this precious child is almost too much to even conceive. I'm the weird one who is really looking forward to labor. I have some great friends who have been willing to share with me the truth about the experience. I know it will be hard, but it will also be amazing.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
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