Your Birth Story

Dear little Waverley,
You're here, you're here, you're here!!! I was SO convinced that you were going to come late because I wasn't having any labor signs, and surprise! You came nine days early!!

It was the morning of Friday, March 18th. I woke up about 8:15am feeling totally normal, got Pemberley out of her crib, and went downstairs. We were hanging out, watching cats meowing on YouTube, and about 45 minutes later I started feeling just...off. I was texting your Grandma Joanne because she and Grannie were supposed to be heading over to go to brunch at First Watch with me and Pem. All of a sudden I felt one contraction...then another...then another. I downloaded a contraction timing app on my phone and just about dropped dead when I realized they were five minutes apart! I tried to stay calm and get Pem dressed, make the beds, and clean up the toys in the living room to take my mind off the fact that help was 30 minutes away and I was GOING INTO LABOR, but panic set in when they started getting so intense that I needed to sit on the couch and cry. I texted your Daddy and told him that you were on your way!!!

Daddy got home about five minutes before your grandmas and we quickly loaded up the hospital bag and made sure your sister was okay, then it was off to the hospital, where we literally hit every red light that we possibly could. I checked myself in while Daddy parked the car, and they took us up to triage where I found out I was already dilated to a six. A six!!!! At our 38 week appointment a few days before that I was almost to a four, so you made serious progress very quickly. That should have been a sign right there that you were coming whether we were ready or not!

We were in our birthing room by 11:30am, and I waited and waited for the epidural to kick in...except it never did. I ended up getting something called a spinal block, which totally numbed me from the waist down. Waverley, it was the most bizarre feeling in the world!! Not too long after it started working, around 1pm, I was dilated to a 10 and the doctor came in to tell me it was time to start pushing.

I was scared shitless.

I told her that I would try my best, but I wasn't sure it would work because I literally couldn't feel a thing. She reassured me it would be fine and told me when I was having a contraction so I could start. About 15 minutes later, you were born. Words can't even begin to describe the flood of emotions I felt when they told me you were 9 pounds, 21-1/2 inches long, and had a full head of hair and chubby cheeks. You were given your first bath after we did skin-to-skin for awhile, and a few hours later we were moved to our post partum recovery room.

The next day, Saturday, Daddy brought Pemberley up to meet you. I would be lying if I wrote that I didn't cry the first time you two met. Of course, the tears quickly gave way to laughter when Pemberley looked at you and called you a cat, but we kind of expected that to happen ;)

We were discharged on Sunday the 20th, and I ugly cried when I got home and saw this from your Daddy. He's the best! 

I hope you know how excited I am to finally hold you in my arms, sweet little baby girl. I can't wait to watch you grow! 

With all of the love in the entire world,