Eat, Poop, Repeat

First stroller ride

Awake and Alert

Daddy's Girl

We have had our little Emily with us for almost 2 weeks now! Although the days seem to blur into one another, there have been some special moments that have really stood out. Emily went to the Dr. for the first time and is now up to 8lbs 7 1/2 oz!!! She loves her food!:) We go again for her two week check up on Friday. We have gone on several family outings to Target, Wal-Mart we visited Grammie and Pappy in Graham, and took Emily to see the animals at Northwest Trek (she slept the whole time).
Emily had her first bath, and afterwards we wrapped her up in a cute personalized towel that Auntie Katie got her and Emily peed all over the towel and me!:) Emily is very alert when she is awake, and is really working on lifting her head up, it amazes me how strong she is already!! Her hair has these amazing golden/red highlights that I LOVE! And her baby blues are as bright as ever! Everyone comments on the color of her skin, it is a perfect rosey, healthy pink! She loves her horse that plays "Farmer in the Dell" Grammie Malone got it for her, anytime I sing to her or she hears music she stops crying and begins looking all around.
The cats are adjusting very well to Emily being in the house, they keep each other entertained, and the crying does not bother them at all. They are very curious about Emily and enjoy smelling her cute little head (while Mommy and Daddy are present). Todd goes back to work on Thursday and then my job as a stay at home mom begins. I'm looking forward to getting into more of a routine and enjoying many summer outings with our little family! Next weekend Todd and I are taking Emily to meet her Great Grandpa Hamllik in Washougal!

Emily Jean's Birth Story

Emily Jean Stone
Born @ 4:34am
May 13, 2009
8 lbs. 1 oz. 21 inches long!!

Emily was born a week before her due date! I had a feeling that she would be early but I had no idea what I would be in for when I woke up on Tuesday morning....:) I woke up to some light bleeding and called the Dr., the nurse said that my cervix was probably dilating and to record any contractions and be prepared for my water to break. I was excited because my friend Emily was going to be coming over to spend the day with me, and I knew that if anything happened I would not be alone! Emily and I spent the day together and even went to McDonalds for lunch (something I rarely do)! Emily left around 4:15, Todd was going to be home in about an hour and I had only felt some very light contractions, in fact I didn't really know they were even contractions. At 4:35 I had my first major contraction, it completely took my breath away, and then I KNEW I was for sure having contractions. I started timing them and got in the tub, they were about 5 minutes apart but only lasting about 15-30 seconds. However they were get a lot stronger as time progressed. I called Todd and told him he needed to get home ASAP! He was home in about 30 minutes and by that time I knew we needed to get to the hospital. We called first and told them about my contractions and they advised that I come in and be checked.
5:30pm- We got to the hospital and I was 1 cm and 80% effaced, my mom arrived at 6:15 (we pretty much knew I would be having Emily sometime in the next 24 hours) The nurse said that I should walk around the hospital to try to make some more progress, and if no progress was made I would be sent home to labor there and return later. I was so angry!! There was no way they would send me home, I was in PAIN and needed to be at the hospital! So we slowly began walking around the hospital, stopping about every 2 minutes for my very strong contractions...my Mom walked behind us taking pictures and updating the family, after about 45 minutes the nurse checked to see if I had made any progress...NOTHING! I began crying and said there is no way I am going home, she said they could give me a shot of morphine that would help me to relax and rest during contractions, I agreed and was never more happy to take a shot in the butt:)
7:30 pm-We drove home from the hospital, my mom came with us. I labored at home on our couch until 10:30pm, my contractions were really close together and over a minute long,we decided it was time to head back to the hospital.
11:30pm -Finally checked back into the hospital and was checked, 3cm and 90% effaced, I was then moved into the Labor and Delivery room, I was given my IV and filled out lots of paper work and told them I wanted my Epidural ASAP!
12:00am - I got my epidural, after about 45 minutes of attempting to place it in my back!!
12:50am - Epidural is done and I was feeling much better, but still felt the contractions, basically all the epidural did for me was take the edge off. Todd ran to the car to get our bags.
1:27am - Dilated to an 8!!
2:15am - 9+ cent. I began to push about 20 minutes later, as I started feeling more of the pressure and urge to push.
2:45am - I started pushing...I expected it to be like on tv, about 10 pushes or so and the baby is out...no way...I pushed for what seemed like FOREVER, and even though I had the epidural, I still felt A LOT of pressure and pain. As I began to make more progress pushing the labor and delivery nurse commented on all the hair she could see on Emily's head, I got to feel her hair, and that motivated me to get her out!! I used the 'pull on a towel' method, it worked great for me, I basically reached forward and pulled on a cloth that was tied to a bar in front of me, it helped me to use all my body to push.
3:55am - Emily began to crown and they were all still commenting on her hair!
4:34 am- Emily was born! I could feel her head come out, and once they got out the first shoulder I could feel her whole little body just shoot right out! It was an amazing feeling of accomplishment to know that I had been the one doing all the work to bring our little girl into the world. The placed her directly on my chest and I finally got to touch my baby:) Todd and I were so happy and relieved to see her! After many tears and smiles we were finally a family of 3:)


All of Emily's tests went great, she passed everything with flying colors, she was so calm and barely cried when she got her shots and her bath! We stayed in the hospital for two nights, with no sleep at all! I was beginning to feel physically ill from lack of sleep.
We brought Emily home on Friday and have loved every minute of being her parents:) Everything has changed and we are so grateful for what God has given to us!

Waiting

Todd putting the stroller together

37 weeks 3 days

Today I am 37 weeks 3 days pregnant, it could really be any day now! I went to my OB appointment on Tuesday and my Dr. checked to see if I had made any progress and she told me I am dilated half a centimeter. Not much, BUT it is something! I realize that I could stay at half a centimeter for weeks..but I also know that my body has physically started the first steps toward labor, and that is very exciting! I have gotten plenty done around the house, and Emily's room is completely finished. We purchased her travel system and even have the car seat installed and ready to go in the back of our car:) Yesterday we met with a Pediatrician at Olympia Pediatrics and we really felt comfortable with her. So we decided that we will use her as Emily's Pediatrician. She has two young boys herself, and answered all of our questions and then some! Todd really felt comfortable with her too which is important! This coming week I have another appointment where they will check again to see if any more progress has been made.
Tucker and Chloe have been getting a long great, I even caught them snuggling on the couch while sleeping....:) This week I plan on getting a pedicure and I have a hair appointment, I think it is important for me to still feel good about myself even though my size is expanding EVERY day! Todd is building shelves for our garage as we speak, a project that he has wanted to complete for awhile, I'm glad he got to do that today:)
My friends have been WONDERFUL! So many have offered to come out and visit, Katie Jo even took the day off of work to spend the afternoon with me. And this coming week I will have several visitors as well!
18 days until our due date!!