2 Days Old

Lettie had her first pediatric appointment today. She has now lost 9 oz since birth which is completely normally especially for a breastfed baby because my milk hasn't come in yet. Our first night at home was a little rough, as everyone says, which it's no wonder because she is hungry and I'm only producing colostrum right now. 

Her measurements:

Height: 20 in = 76th percentile

Weight: 6 lb 13 oz = 33rd percentile

Head Circumference: 13 in = 19th percentile

Lettie Charlotte Taylor

The moment I saw her, I was instantly in love and I still am thanking God for giving her to me! She is just perfect in every way!  Here are a few pictures from the hospital...

We were actually discharged a little over 24 hours after delivery and it was wonderful! We are so excited to go home with our family of three!!! :) 

Labor

I was a Cytotec induction. Cytotec is a medication that is used prior to Pitocin and it ripens the cervix, or prepares it for labor by softening it. The plan was to do 3 doses of Cytotec every four hours and then after that Pitocin would be started.  Every once in a while medications like Cytotec will put someone into labor and that is exactly what it did to me. I only got two doses of the Cytotec because my contractions were every two to three minutes apart, I was making cervical change and I was getting uncomfortable with my contractions. 

I did one dose of IV pain medication and got up on the birthing ball to try to get through the contractions but it was around 3:30 am that I went ahead and got an epidural. Isaac was amazing while I was so uncomfortable and did a great job in coaching me and keeping me calm during my contractions, he even massaged my back while I was on the birthing ball! The epidural actually had to get replaced because I only got relief on my right side but the anesthesiologist was amazing and quick so it really wasn't a bad experience and once he replaced it, I got complete relief and even got some sleep!

It was then 6:00 am and I was 4 cm so we went ahead and texted the family to give them an update. Shortly after that Dr. Dameron came in to check my cervix and my water broke as she was doing the exam and I was 6-7cm. Shortly after that I started feeling intense pressure and asked to be checked again and I was complete, 10 cm! My epidural got dosed, giving me some relief because at this point I had the urge to push and we were waiting on Dr. Dameron. I started pushing at 9:15 and Miss Lettie Charlotte Taylor was born at 9:33 am. Weighing 7 lb 6 oz and 21 in long!

I still can't believe the labor that I had and I am so happy I was able to experience it. I know that a lot of people may not understand that but all I wanted was to get the chance to experience contractions and get the opportunity to push. I just wanted my body to respond appropriately and have a vaginal delivery!

The Face Says It All

Well I am 41 weeks :/ and still only dilated to a fingertip. Although lil miss is still looking great so I am very thankful for that! I am definitely ready to get this show on the road! 

Little did I know a couple hours after I took this picture I would wake up around midnight with the flu :( At first I was thinking "oh great" I'm going to be one of those women who's labor starts with flu symptoms (I'll spare you the details) but after 7 hours of running to the bathroom and not keeping anything down and no painful contractions I came to the conclusion that it was indeed just the flu. My nephew Clayton had been sick on Christmas so I am assuming I got a lil bug from him. 

So on to the hospital I went, about 12 hours prior to my scheduled induction. I was feeling pretty miserable at this point and was getting concerned about how dehydrated I was getting. So they started an IV to get me hydrated and also gave me Zofran, which is an antiemetic. I did start feeling much better after that, thank goodness! They went ahead and moved me into a labor room and I just hung out all day until 6pm, when my induction was scheduled to start. My doctor had been out of town and her flight actually got delayed from the day before so we couldn't start it any earlier and honestly I was feeling so crummy the rest and hydration I got prior to the induction was much needed! 

40 weeks 4 days

Well, I'm still hanging in there but these last four days have definitely been long and tiresome! I went to the doctor again and no news to report. I also got a NST, which means non-stress test. Since I am over 40 weeks they automatically do one to make sure there is no indications to induce. Baby girls heart rate looked great and had all the criteria she needed to come off the monitor after 20 minutes. 

So the new plan... Induction at 41 weeks 1 day. At that point I will be considered a medical induction due to my gestation. Come Sunday Lil Miss will have gotten all the time she needs to grow and develop and she will get her eviction notice! 

40 Weeks

Today is my due date! Where has the time gone? I have been in the mindset that I would go over my due date and that reality is here! 

Yes, I am uncomfortable. Yes, I am ready to meet my daughter. Yes, I am huge! 

Even though I feel all of these things, I will let her cook a little longer and give her some time to come on her own! 

No change in my cervix again this week but I did get a sono to check for position and fluid and make sure there is no reason to induce prior to 41 weeks and sure enough everything looked great! My placenta is starting to calcify (showing its getting old) but that is to be expected at my gestation. 

Isaac was able to go with me today so that made the appointment that much more fun, plus we were able to get a pretty good look at her chubby little face! It looks like she has some big ole cheeks and some nice big kissable lips (aka Brand lips)! 

39 Weeks

Another week, another doctors appointment and no change! Baby girl is comfy in there so there she will stay! 

Change

It goes without saying that our weekends have changed since becoming pregnant and honestly I have been loving it. I have always wanted to be a mom. I was that weird kid who always loved babies and not just holding them but truly interested in what they were doing and why they were doing it. I am just so grateful that I have now been given the opportunity to be a mom and I just pray for a safe and healthy delivery!  

The days are definitely numbered of us being a family of two and I am trying to enjoy these days because as so many people have kindly reminded me, "my world is about to change forever!" This weekend Isaac and I did a lot of laying around, cooking, putting together the last couple baby things we had in boxes and truly just enjoying each others company! Even though Isaac is gone traveling for work 4-5 days a week, he does such a good job of truly being at home when he gets his home time. Sometimes I feel like we are the couple that is never apart, but our lives are so different from other peoples. I only get to see my husband on the weekends so that is our time together and I am just thankful that I have a husband who puts that effort in to make our crazy world work. New challenges are only coming our way but I am so excited to be in it with him! :) 

37 Weeks 6 Days

Another doctors appointment today, baby girls heart rate is coming down into the 130's which is to be expected and my belly is measuring back on track. The unfortunate news is that I am still only dilated to a fingertip. I was hoping I would be more because I have been feeling some contractions this week but apparently baby T is pretty comfy in there! :) Dr Dameron assured me she would be seeing me next week at my appointment!

Isaac and I went out to dinner to Medici's with Brooke & Blake to night. It was delicious as usual and so nice to have a night with them before the baby comes! I have been told my entire pregnancy that I am not very big, but it must be told that when going to dinner tonite we were sat in a booth and I had to switch sides because my belly was hitting the table! Epic pregnancy fail! :/

Our 1 Year Anniversary

Happy First Anniversary babe!

 It doesn't seem like its been a year since I walked down the aisle to you & became Mrs. Taylor. It really has been a wonderful first year of marriage and I can't wait to share many more with you! xoxo

A few of my favorites from our wedding day! 

He still knows how to make me smile :) 

We had to celebrate our anniversary a day early because Isaac had to leave today for work so that he can make it home for Thanksgiving, which was fine with me until the snow storm hit :(! Initially I was loving the snow coming down but then when our electricity went out, the day went haywire. Our sump pump was close to overflowing so as I'm running around getting flashlights and candles, Isaac is dealing with scooping out buckets of water so the basement didn't start flooding. Then in the middle of all of that he went to get something out of the garage and the door handle broke not allowing him to get into the garage! It was a very unfortunate chain of events, however the basement didn't flood so that was good and Isaac made me a fire! We did have to cancel our dinner plans to Reality Bites but I'm hoping to reschedule that for next weekend! We also cut into our wedding cake and I could not believe how good it was!!! 

36 Weeks

I had another doctors appointment this week and I can't believe that I will now be going every week. I got the wonderful GBS swab done and Dr Dameron checked my cervix. Surprisingly I was fingertip/ soft/ 50% thinned out, I was expecting to be closed, so I will take whatever I can get! My belly measured slightly bigger this week and her heart rate was 140 - 142 bpm and I have officially hit the 20 lb weight gain! She is definitely running out of room and her movements are starting to get slightly uncomfortable but overall I am still feeling pretty good! No complaints from this momma, I would like her to cook for a little bit longer ;) 

Baby T's Nursery

The nursery is finally finished and we are ready for Baby T's arrival!

Don't mind the empty coral frame, her first initial will be going in there, but as you all know it's a surprise! ;) 

Alisha got me the teal toy box as a baby shower gift and I absolutely love it! Her babysitter painted it and I love the distressing, plus it fits perfectly in the room and more storage is always nice! 

I'm still in love with this dresser that Isaac and I found at 3rd Sunday Market and I plan to put her newborn pictures in the frames above it!

The stencil wall that I painted. It's so hard to take a good picture of it since I used metallic paint but I'm in love with how it turned out!

My type A/OCD side came out... I love baskets, bins and labeling everything. Hopefully Isaac will at least appreciate it when he is looking for something! Trying out the changing table in the closet for now but I will probably move it downstairs for the first couple weeks just for convenience.

35 Weeks

Surprise!

I walked into work today and got a surprise I was not expecting, a SURPRISE baby shower from my co-workers! It was so sweet of them and I won't lie it brought me to tears, we will just blame it on the pregnancy hormones ;)! There was a diaper baby basket and a diaper castle, how awesome! Some of the ladies even came in for the shower that weren't working that day! I have only been at BEI since the end of July and these ladies have made me feel so welcome, I truly couldn't ask for a better work family! 

34 Weeks & A Baby Shower!

I know I have said this time and time again, but how in the world am I 34 weeks already?! It has truly been an easy pregnancy and I am just so happy and blessed to have a healthy baby girl growing inside me. Being a nurse, and an OB nurse at heart, I think often about how fascinating it is to not only get pregnant but to stay pregnant and then to deliver a healthy baby boy or girl. So many people take it for granted and that is why I remind myself every day how much of a miracle it is :) 

My sisters and mom threw me my second baby shower on Sunday, we had a sandwich and soup menu that was so yummy! They definitely went all out on the decor and presentation of food! There was a mimosa bar complete with both alcoholic and non alcoholic options, a  dessert bar which included the cutest individual yogurt parfaits (that I didn't take a picture of, sigh) and the veggie dip was even in a real pumpkin! 

My Nana.

 I of course ruined this picture because I am wearing black and you really can't see my belly but I am 34 weeks and Alisha is 19 weeks!

My Sisters.

Mandy & Jenny!

Lynley Mae, Rhen & Britni!

Grandma Taylor & Aunt Melissa!

Amy, Jenny, Me, Jenna, Jenn & Jordan!

First Baby Shower

 My mother in law and sister in law threw me a wonderful baby shower this week, it was so much fun! Italian beef was on the menu and of course a funfetti cake (with only girl color funfetti of course)! I got a lot of goodies and I am so excited to get the nursery completely organized! We played the "tray game" which meant that Melissa put 19 random baby items on a tray and she carried it around the room once. You then had to remember as many of the items on the tray as you could and when she left the room with the tray you could start writing the items down! My sister Alisha, the competitive one, is of course who won! Kathy and Melissa also got these really cute personalized cards called "Baby Girl Wishes" and everyone wrote down things that they wish for Baby Taylor. It was a lot of fun to read them when I got home! Baby T is definitely one spoiled little girl already! 

33 Weeks

Another doctors appointment and lots and lots of homework! With the semester coming to an end and me wanting to wrap up all my assignments as soon as possible I have been busy busy!

 

Baby girls heart rate continues to be in the 140s and my belly is measuring right on track. 

32 Weeks

Another week of pregnancy down and another wedding in the books! I also had an appointment this week, baby girls heart rate was in the 140s and my belly is measuring right on track! We are making major headway in the nursery and it is really all coming together. (Pictures to come)

The belly is definitely getting bigger and heavy. I'm not sleeping as well as I was before and am also starting to have periods of just being uncomfortable but I think that is what is to be expected at this point in the pregnancy. I can't believe I only have 8 weeks left!

This week we are off to Schaumburg to celebrate the new Mr & Mrs Boyd! Oh and of course make a quick stop at Ikea on our way home ;) 

The ladies at wedding #3.

(Kyla, Kiley, Kailey, Jessica, Natalie)

Christina & Brian's Wedding!

This pregnancy truly seems to be flying by and I'm not sure where the time has gone but what I do know is that I am still feeling pretty good and I am so thankful for that!

This week we have our second wedding in a row and we are off to Iowa to celebrate Christina and Brian. Isaac is a groomsmen in the wedding so he went up Friday night while my prego self stayed home! 

The picture is a little dark but nonetheless we got a picture together, which if you know me this is a success in itself! I truly hate having my picture taken but I am trying to get better!

Some of the ladies I had the pleasure of spending the day and night with!! (Jenn, Amy, Jenny & Krysta)

30 Weeks

Discovery Museum/ 29 Weeks

Isaac & I attempted to take Avery and Chazz to Rader's Pumpkin Farm but due to weather we had to change our plans, so instead we went to the Discovery Museum in uptown Normal. I just hope they weren't disappointed and had as much fun as we did! It was so fun to watch Isaac with his niece and nephew, he is gone so much but we finally made plans to take the kids for the day and do something fun! 

Isaac & Chazz at the water table!

Avery was cracking me up, running back and forth to grab the scarves as she was putting them in tube system!

She wasn't so sure about this climbing maze at first but I was so proud of her by the end she was crawling all around!

Uncle Isaac & the kids jamming out!

Avery putting on a performance for me! I can't wait to give Avery a girl cousin so they can play dress up!

Of course we had to go to Firehouse Pizza afterwards, baby was hungry, right?!!!

Pumpkin Obsessed!

I will have to admit, I among so many others have joined the pumpkin craze! Today I made some Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins and they are oh so good, so I thought I would share the recipe, all three ingredients! ;)

1 Can of Pumpkin (15 oz)

1 Box of Yellow Cake Mix

1 Bag of Chocolate Chips

Bake at 350 for 15 min

28 Weeks

I had a doctors appointment this week and everything went well. My belly is measuring right on track and baby girls heart rate was 145 bpm. I had to do the one hour glucose test and also get my Tdap and Flu vaccine this visit, so I pretty much felt like a pin cushion! I already start going to see Dr. Dameron every two weeks and I get a sono next visit so I am super excited about that! 

Its been a busy busy week and man am I one tired mama! I will leave out the non-fun details (aka school) and show you what else I have been up to!

I finished the stencil wall in the nursery! It's called "Roses all Over" and I used a metallic gold paint! It really turned out great, I can't wait to get the furniture in and everything hung on the walls!! 

Here is a closer look at the stencil!

On Saturday I went to Clayton's soccer game, it was so much fun and I honestly couldn't believe how coordinated and skilled he is, only being 7 years old! It was so fun to watch him and see how excited he got when he made a goal! He also was the goalie and did a great job!!

These two, they just crack me up! [Soy Soy (Sawyer) on the right and Jack Jack (Jackson) on the left.] To explain the nicknames, I will blame my oldest sister Brooke, although when Sawyer calls Jackson "Jack Jack" it is about the cutest thing in the world.