First Week with Reese

She's a good little sleeper and hardly cries but at night she likes to snack every hour. By time I've fed, changed and gone to the bathroom myself I'm almost asleep when she's waking up to be fed again. I'm looking forward to getting her on a schedule. Hoping we can accomplish that soon.

She makes the cuties little noises.

I love holding her and having her lay on my chest.

Big sister loves to hold her and asks to at least once a day.

Ryleigh wanted to take a picture of her.

Her first dress

First time in the swing. She didn't really like it at first but once I turned on the music she feel right to sleep.

Before dance class she had to hold baby sister. 

The first two days we spent the day in bed eating and sleeping. I'm trying to soak up as much time as I can with her. Every moment is precious. 

Wearing her Rangers shirt from the nurse at the hospital.

I didn't get a chance to take my last bump picture before going to the hospital on that Sunday so I thought I'd conclude the montage of photos with this one. 

Reese Emerson April 23, 2012

At 8:00AM on April 23 they started the pitocin to start active labor. I dilated to a three pretty fast but then I slowed down. My doctor told me I could get an epidural whenever I wanted it but I was afraid to get it too soon since it by time I had Ryleigh it had worn off. They promised me they could give me more so I wouldn't be in pain. 

After being stuck two times the epidural finally took. I was feeling not pain for awhile but then started feeling contractions again. So they gave me more medicine. At 3:45 I was still dilated to a 3-4 but could feel contractions so they gave me more medicine. By 4:15 I was feeling some really strong contractions so the nurse checked me again while I was getting more medicine. The nurse looked up at me with wide eyes and said "You're an 8!" In 30 minutes I went from a 3-4 to an 8! She called my doctor and started preping the room for devlievery.

Here is Ryleigh and I before I started having too much pain.

She got a bracelet like mama's that said "Big Sister" on it.

Here she is opening her Big Sister gift to keep her busy while waiting. There were main activites for her to do. One was to make her Big Sis frame to go in Reese's bassenet. 

At 4:51PM Reese Emerson was born.

6lbs 14oz

20.5 inches long

She was crying apon arrival but once the doctor placed her on my chest she stopped crying. It was like she knew I was her Mama and that everything was going to be alright. 

Reese with Daddy

Proud Big Sister

 

Reese and Papa

While getting her first bath Brandon's phone alerted him about the start of the Rangers Game. He mentioned to her that she was going to bring luck to the Rangers tonigh. Then in a few mintures a nurse brought over this shirt she had made for her. Love it! Born to be a Rangers Fan.

My blood pressure was high aftter delivery so my doctor had me stay in Labor and Delivery for a little bit. We didn't get to my room till 9:00! 

This was the first time Ryleigh got to hold Reese.

(She has asked to hold her everyday since then.)

Gramz and her grandaugters 

Reese a day old.

Many people came to visit on Tuesday.

Four Generations

Here's the frame Ryleigh made for Reese's bassenet. 

Reese day two

We got to go home on Wednesday. Here is Ryleigh and Reese in their Big Sis Little Sis shirts. 

My girls!

Waiting for the nurse to bring the wheelchair.

Going home as a family of four for the first time.

When we got home Gramz and Ryleigh had left us a surprise!

It was such a surreal moment when she was born. I couldn't believe that she was actually here! She means the world to me. 

Last Day as Family of Three

Sunday, April 22 was our last day to spend as a family of three. We started the day off at church, then went to On the Border for lunch. I had planned for us to play outside with Ryleigh in the afternoon but the day didn't go as planned.

This was after church. Ryleigh was "reading" to the kids on the bench while waiting for Daddy to bring the car around.

During church I was having contractions. Some were pretty painful. Then during lunch they got worse. I was also having a lot of pain from my stint since Reese has dropped her head was putting pressure on it. After lunch I continued to be in a lot of pain and having contractions I called the on call doctor. After  taking an oxycodone and not feeling better she said I could come in for pain management. 

Before all this happened I was scheduled to be induced on Tuesday after my amniocentesis test on Monday. Since I was admitted Sunday night the doctors said they were ok with inducing on Monday rather than having the test if we were ok with that. So Monday morning I was induced.

Once we decided I was going to the hospital Sunday night and probably wouldn't be coming back till after I had Reese we had to get some things in order. Luckily I had already packed myself, Ryleigh and Reese for the hospital. Brandon still needed to pack his bag and took the dog to be boarded. While waiting for Papa to come pick up Ryleigh I sat outside and watched her ride her bike and scooter around on the front sidewalk. 

It hadn't really hit be yet that I was closer to having my baby. 

Here she is riding her scooter, having fun on her last day as an only child.