Matilda's Birth Story

Throughout my pregnancy, my doctors and I had an ongoing discussion about my options for giving birth. We decided that if I went into labor before January 20th, we would let nature take its course. Otherwise, I would have a repeat C-section. I had mixed feelings about my options, and from one day to the next for months on end I changed my mind about what I hoped would happen. I knew that it was ultimately out of my control, so I tried to focus instead on the best possible end result— a safe delivery and a beautiful, healthy baby.

On Friday, January 16th, I had my last appointment of my pregnancy with Dr. Tatum. Based on the position and condition of my cervix, it seemed unlikely that I would go into labor over the long weekend. With this knowledge, I spent the weekend resting and packing my suitcase. It was both strange and wonderful as Tuesday approached knowing that it would be the day I would meet my baby girl.

On Tuesday morning, big sister, Nora, decided to get us an early start. She woke at 4:30 a.m. for some snuggles (Daddy was on snuggle duty so Mommy could get some more sleep) and then she was up for the day at 6:00. I got up with her and got her breakfast, and then Brad let me go back to sleep for another hour or so while he got her ready to go to Ms. Tracy’s house. Around 8:00, I hugged and kissed her and told her that the next time she saw mommy, she would get to see baby sister, too. We were scheduled to check in at 11 a.m., and surgery was scheduled for 1 p.m.

At 10:25 as we were gathering the last of our belongings, I got a call from the hospital that they were actually expecting me at 10 a.m. for surgery at 12. I had been moved up an hour, but no one had let me know! They offered to push me back until the next day, but I told them “absolutely not!” and we were on our way.

We got to the hospital just a few minutes before 11:00 and after filling out some paperwork, we headed upstairs where the nurses were waiting for us. I was rushed into my room, and in record time, I was hooked up and ready to go. My nurses, Melinda and Brittany, were fantastic at making small talk and keeping me distracted during a time that could have been otherwise stressful. Dr. Tatum came in to check on me and teased me for being “late”. We signed off on some papers, and then not too long after 12:00 p.m., I was being wheeled into the O.R. Brad waited with Dr. Tatum while the anesthesiologist got my spinal block in place. It took a few minutes, but once it was set, I was numb in no time.

Dr. Tatum came in next and got me prepped for surgery. The curtain was drawn, and then Brad was brought in. He sat by my head holding my hand, and we kept our eyes on each other for a while with nervous excitement. I know I kept my eyes on Brad for some of the surgery, had them closed for some of the time, and stared off into space at other times. The conversation going on around me was muffled, and I couldn’t really focus on what was being said as all I could think about was baby being out and in my arms.

While I was nervous leading up to the surgery, once we were in there and settled, a calm came over me, and just like with Nora, I kept repeating one of my favorite birth meditations in my head: I set all fear aside as I prepare for the birth of my baby.

After some time, I heard Dr. Tatum say that he had the baby, and as he pulled her out before she was even weighed, he announced that we had “a ten pounder”. I thought he was making a joke because he also said, “Congratulations, it’s a first grader!” Dr. Tatum thinks he is funny. Sure enough, though, when she was weighed, her official weight was 10 lbs 1 oz., and her length was 22 inches. She outdid her big sister by almost a whole pound and a whole inch!

Very soon after she was born, she was in her Daddy's arms. I was able to touch her and give her some sweet kisses. Not long after that, she was safely snuggled in my arms, and we were being wheeled back to our room where we would stay for the next 3 days.

Matlida Ann was born at 1:19 P.M. on January 20th, 2015. Sweet baby Tilly completes our family in the most perfect way.

Mom and Dad waiting on Dr. Tatum

Look at that big, beautiful baby!

Squishy face, holding on to Daddy's hand

First kisses from Momma

Mommy is in love!

Those lips, oh my!

Daddy is smitten, too!

Big sister has been waiting her whole life to meet you.

My happy place

Dede and Grandpa think you are perfect.

Waiting on our discharge papers

All ready to go home

Snuggled in momma's arms

Mommy and Daddy love you.

Making a break for it!

Beautiful baby going home

Home sweet home, at last!

Baby Sprinkle

Before I head to bed with visions of meeting my baby dancing in my head, I didn't want to forget to post about a sweet little baby shower (or "sprinkle") that some of my mom friends from church threw for me last weekend.

Claire organized a small group of ladies to get together at her home to celebrate Tilly's up and coming arrival. She made the nicest little snacks and sweets, she decorated with pink accessories (a wreath, flowers, etc..) and everyone brought the most thoughtful or most useful little gifts for baby and/or for the nursery.

Also, last night, my best friend Jessica dropped off about 2 weeks worth of freezer meals for us. I'm thankful we have so many family and friends who care about us and who are looking out for us.

Matlida Ann, you have no idea how much you are loved already. <3

Tomorrow

Tomorrow, my baby will be born. I have so many amazing feelings about this. I'm excited but nervous. She will be born by c-section, so thinking about surgery can be a bit daunting, but I've been there before, and I feel confident that everything will be fine.

Baby Matilda, I am so so so excited to meet you! Your Daddy and I are as ready as we can be, and your big sister, well, I'm not sure if she's ready, but she says she is.

One thing is for sure, your nursery is all ready and waiting for you. Created for you with love, sweet girl.

And based on how my belly looks, I'd say that you're ready to meet us as well.

January 2015

It's here! It's here! It's really here! This is the month when our baby girl will enter the world and our family will be complete. I had another growth scan today, and Tilly is measuring in and around 7 lbs 13 oz. They figure she will be about 9 lbs, just like her sister. I can't wait to meet my sweet, squishy girl.

Check out this baby belly from the top down!

We are moved into our new house now, and we are working on getting the nursery put together. The furniture is all in place, except for the rocking chair. I have to dig some of the decor out of a box, which is around here somewhere... Once all of the pieces are in place, I will take lots of pictures.

Yesterday, Brad (with a little help from Nora) got the crib all put together, which was VERY exciting for "big sister".

Adoring her (and your) Daddy

Yelling "Baby sister!!"

Cheeeese!!!

I hope Nora's enthusiasm remains once you are here, Tilly. Right now, you're almost all she can talk about, which makes this momma's heart happy.

Picture Post

Back before Thanksgiving, we had family and maternity pictures taken. I'm so glad we did because I want baby Matilda to be able to see how much she was loved and adored before she ever entered the world.

Matilda Ann, you are so precious to us already, and we are so excited to meet you.

And time goes by...

I can't believe how quickly this past month has gone by. In just 6-7 short weeks, we will welcome our beautiful baby girl. I can't wait!! We have a lot coming up in these next few weeks (Christmas, moving to a new house, getting ready for baby's arrival). It seems overwhelming at times, but I know that in no time, we will be settled into a "new normal" for our family.

I have a couple of cell phone selfies from the past few weeks to share.

This one is a bit out-dated. It's a Halloween picture. I already shared one similar, but I'm sharing this one with you because this is how most of my "baby belly" pictures have been taken so far. In the private bathroom in my classroom. A dirty bathroom mirror selfie ha!

I took this one on my way to my 28 week appointment. I'm drinking the dreaded orange glucose drink, and I'm happy to report that this momma does not have gestational diabetes. Phew!

Two big things that we've done since I last posted an entry....

Family and maternity pictures. I love this picture so much because all FOUR of our family members are in it, even if baby Tilly is a little bit hidden.

And we got to see baby's sweet, sweet baby face at a 3D ultrasound appointment. Look at how beautiful she is already!!!

I can not wait to kiss those sweet, chubby cheeks.

Dear Baby

Hi sweet baby girl,

I have been wanting to talk to you. It feels a little funny to write this letter to you before you are even in my arms, but the truth is, I love you so much already, and I want you to know how your Daddy and I are feeling as we wait patiently for you to arrive.

First of all, I am finally in my 3rd trimester of pregnancy. If everything goes according to plan, you will be safely in my arms 11 weeks and 2 days from now. (But who's counting?) I am feeling pretty good overall. I have some typical aches and pains, and I'm pretty sure you're tap dancing on my bladder because I pee about 100x each day, but I have no complaints. In 2 days, I get to see you again because I'm having a growth ultrasound to see how big you're getting. I can't wait! I hope you'll cooperate and let me see that sweet face of yours.

You've been moving around a lot. I'm not very good at telling how you're moving-- kicks, punches, rolls-- but you are definitely a mover and a shaker. Something that's funny is that for the longest time, whenever I would ask your Daddy to put his hand on my belly to feel you, you would immediately fall silent. You're a little trickster already, playing pranks on your Daddy. BUT FINALLY last night for the first time, you cooperated. We were watching football on TV, and we were curled up on the couch. You were moving all over the place, so I got him to put his hand on my belly. After a few minutes, you must have felt bad for the poor guy because you started thumping away. Maybe you were giving him high fives. I'm not sure, but I know he was happy to finally "meet" you, and it made my heart happy for him to have that moment, too.

So, here are some things you need to know about your family:

You have three dogs! They're getting up there in age. I hope you'll have all 3 of them long enough to have memories of them because they're a pretty big part of our family. They whine and bark too much, and I'm sure there will be moments when I am mad at them for barking while you are sleeping, but they are sweet, and I'm sure they will love and protect you as they do your sister.

Copper, Brandy, Bailey

You have a big sister. I may be biased, but I'm pretty sure she's going to be an amazing big sister.  She talks a lot about how cute you are and she blows raspberries on my belly for you. She rubs and hugs my belly, and if I ask really nicely, she sometimes sings you a song. She already adores you, and while I'm sure you'll have some ups and downs, I have high hopes that you will grow to love and cherish one another and be the very best of friends.

It was Halloween recently-- your sister was a pretty pink butterfly

You have a huuuge extended family that loves you and can't wait to meet you. You have 2 wonderful sets of grandparents: Dede and Grandpa on Daddy's side. They live nearby, and you'll see them often. And Nanny and Grampy on Mommy's side. They live far away, so you won't see them often, but when you do, you can bet they will spoil you like crazy! You have tons of cousins. Your closest cousin is Naomi-- she lives nearby, too, and you'll see her a lot. You have so many aunts and uncles who also can't wait to love and spoil you. Family is everything to us. Both your Daddy and I grew up in very close families that love each other very much. You are so, so blessed to be born into these families, and we are so, sooo blessed that you will be joining us.

Dede and Grandpa

Grampy and Nanny

Last but not least, you have two parents who love you like whoa! No, really, we love you more than words can say. We aren't the youngest, hippest, richest, coolest parents on the block, but no one, and I mean no one, loves their children any  more than your Daddy and I love you and your sister. We would do anything to keep you safe and healthy and happy. We have so many hopes and dreams for you as you come into this world and as you inevitably grow (we learned with Nora that babies really don't keep), and we can't wait to meet you and watch you become uniquely YOU, whoever that may be.

Here we are on our wedding day-- where it all began.

Wedding day, September 6, 2003

Here's a more recent picture of your handsome Daddy. You are going to think he hung the moon. (Nora and I already do.)

And here I am showing off YOU. This was taken just a few days ago on Halloween. See how I had you all dressed up for the occasion?

Sweet Matilda, I hope you grow to realize how blessed you are. We are anxious to meet you and start showing you every day that we love you to the moon and back.

All my love forever and ever,

Mommy xo