this is the story of a girl..part 2.

Something changed in me at my 39 week appointment. My doctor informed me that he'd be on vacation the following week. The week I was due. I realized then that this birth was out of my hands and that she would come when she was ready. I was prepared to wait.

Because both of my other babies were eight days late, I assumed that Ingrid would be overdue. There were signs that she was coming, but I was still doubtful. When we got to the hospital, I left our bags in the car in case they sent me home. I did not want to be sent home.

The night before she was born, we took a walk. Nate pulled the kids in the wagon and I waddled. We walked a couple of miles. We stayed up late watching 30 Rock and talking. By midnight, I was in labor but because both of my other labors had been so long, I assumed I had another day or 2 before I would meet my baby. I tried showering to get the labor to stop. At 3 in the morning, I called my doula to tell her I thought I'd be going to the hospital in the morning. I also called my mom but told her to take her time. Thankfully, my mom didn't listen to me.

We arrived at the hospital at 6:45 AM. I was dilated to an 8. They didn't send me home. Even then, I still thought it would be hours before Ingrid would be born. With Everett, I arrived at the birth center at an 8 and he was born 12 hours later. My doula thought the baby was slightly posterior, so she employed the most non-invasive tool possible. She used a rebozo. The rebozo is a large Mexican shawl. Basically, the laboring woman lays on top of the rebozo hammock-style. Judy and a nurse vigorously shook me and then things got interesting. My body + rebozo= best birth ever.

I felt Ingrid move down into position. I felt my water break. I knew I was really going to have a baby. And less than 10 minutes later, I did. I assumed I'd be pushing and pushing and pushing. I asked for a mirror so that I could see her, but there wasn't time for mirrors.

People want to hear a horror story when you tell them that you had a 10 pound 7 ounce baby, but this was the best birth I could imagine. My doctor wiped the goo off of her and placed her on my chest. Ingrid is the only one of my babies that I got to hold right away. It is a moment that I'll never forget.

I am still in shock that everything went so well. My only expectation was that she would come out of me. Instead, I feel like the other two births were redeemed. Her birth changed me. It doesn't make sense that it could be so simple and easy, but it was. And after a c-section and a vacuum-assisted birth, I will take it. To quote St. Therese of Lisieux, "EVERYTHING is grace."

I am grateful.

this is a story of a girl...part 1

I don't know how to tell this story without telling everything.

First there was this.

And then, this.

I have spent five years convinced that there was something wrong with my body. When Claire was born, the doctor that delivered her suggested that perhaps the reason that she was posterior was because my pelvis was "odd shaped."

I went into Everett's birth hopeful that my odd shaped pelvis would prevail. I don't think that what I wrote when Everett was born communicates how scary that birth was. Any time apparatus is applied to those parts of your body its never good. My first look at Everett was watching his tiny head suck in and out of my body for hours while attached to said apparatus.

Having a third baby was truly a leap of faith. I thought my best chance at having a regular birth was a small baby. I prayed earnestly that she would be 7 pounds. I expected her to be face up because the others had been. I expected to push for the better part of a day because that was all that I knew. I expected Ingrid's birth to be like the apocalypse. Instead, her birth was something else entirely.

And? It turns out my pelvis is just fine.

*We'll get to the good part next, for now I have chunky little peanut to cuddle.

born yesterday.

You guys, this is Ingrid Ruth.
Born March 18, 2011 at 7:49 AM.
10 pounds 7 1/4 ounces
21 1/2 inches long.
She is wonderful.

I can't wait to tell you all about it.

oregonian.

things that go bump in the night.

Kudos to you ladies who can take decent pictures of yourself while pregnant. Mine are almost always blurry. Here we are, me with an almost fully cooked babe inside and just itching to get my hands on her. Somewhere last week I turned the corner and even though I know that having a newborn is going to be exhausting and overwhelming, I'd take her over one more minute of this pregnancy.

Anybody want to come over for a castor oil cocktail?

duuuuude.

This boy is busy. Even when he should be asleep. Even when I should be asleep. He runs. All. Day. Long. This picture was taken at around 7 AM. Notice he isn't wearing pants. Pants are optional. Playing outside isn't. That's how he rolls.

speaking of huge, face-up babies.

The girlie and I got some rare "lady time" this week while Everett took a longish nap. We used the time to make this granola, which is fantastic. I made a few changes to the recipe (different oil, different sweetener, different dried fruit), but holy cow-delish!

I got time alone with him while she was at school and time with her while he napped and it was a day that made me think that somehow I'm going to be able to handle 3 of them.

perfect.

We love Nikki McClure around here.We also love the image she used for the month of March for this year's calendar. We think it's perfect.

I get nervous about sharing my due date with people (though my doula insisted on knowing the real one). Something about having those two huge late babies makes me gunshy about announcing to the world when this one will be here. However, there is a high likelihood that this little girl will be here by the end of March. She could possibly hang out til April (though she would then be later than the other 2). Regardless, she will be in my arms by May.

Let's all pray that she comes soon. That she is a manageable size and that she is not sunnyside up.