One Month Old

Stitch is my teddy bear from childhood and I thought it would be fun to use him in all of her monthly pictures to show her growth! Now I know I am biased but I just can't get over how beautiful my baby girl is! 

Two Weeks Old

Another doctors appointment and Ms. Lettie is almost back up to her birth weight, which is right where she should be! My milk came in when she was 3 days old which was a relief. I did break down and supplemented once with formula, it was on the third night and she just couldn't be consoled but once she ate she was as happy as a clam and went right to sleep! 

I also learned at this appointment that babies who are solely breastfed need a vitamin D supplement because it's the only vitamin that isn't transferred through breastmilk. So we picked up concentrated Vitamin D drops and she will get 400 iu per day.  I love learning new things! 

She eats every 2 - 4 hours during the day but sleeps about 4-5 hours at night gets up to eat and then goes back to sleep for another 2-4 hours. She is a good little sleeper already so I know I'm a lucky momma in that aspect. She is easily consoled and loves to snuggle with mommy and daddy. 

Her measurements: (I think the CNA wrote down the percentiles wrong :( but I will share what I was given)

Height: 20 in = 49th percentile

Weight: 7lb 5oz = 29th percentile

Head Circumference: 14.25 in = 87th percentile 

Reality

Well my baby is a little over a week old and my husband has gone back to work. As I have mentioned before he is an over the road truck driver, meaning when he leaves the house "to go to work" he doesn't come home until all of his "loads are delivered" which is usually about 5 days. This has always been his career and it is to no surprise to me but on this day I am feeling mad. I am mad that the father to my baby doesn't get to see her grow every day, I am mad that this is the life we live and I am also mad at the people who take it for granted. (Just to clarify... this is a new momma ranting and and I may not agree with what I am saying tomorrow but for today I have to get it out.) I just wish we had a "normal" life. I wish we both had 9-5 jobs and we got to all three be home together every night but that just isn't in the cards for us right now and I hate it. 

Ya know, I do consider myself to be a strong women. Someone who can do it all. But I know with what I am taking on... full time job, part time graduate school and single motherhood 5 days out of the week... I am going to have to ask for help, and I HATE asking for help! That is probably going to be my biggest feat in all of this. I also hate for feeling the way that I do because I know it is just as hard for my husband to be out on the road. Today I just feel like life isn't always fair but...

 what I do know is that I have a BEAUTIFUL HEALTHY BABY GIRL and that in itself is enough for me :) 

We miss you Daddy

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!