Sweet Baby Jane

Dear Jane,

Welcome to the world! You are six weeks old now and just as cute as can be! Here is the story of your birth, Sweetheart.

You were born Monday, November 19, 2012 at 4:51pm, weighing in at 7 lbs 2 oz and 19.25 inches long. I woke up at around 7:30am with mild contractions 3-5 minutes apart. As I wasn't in any pain, just feeling a little crampy, I got up and started my day! I made some bread, went to the chiropractor, finished packing my hospital bag, and took a shower. Nana came over at about 11:00 to help me get ready, and aunt Ashley came to take a pregnancy picture with me since she was still carrying baby Nora. Good thing we got it then!

Daddy came home at noon for lunch and I had my heart set on Thai food, but when a strong contraction brought me to the floor, he thought we should go to the hospital just in case. When we got there I was dilated to a 3+ and my hopes of Green Curry and Pad Thai were crushed! I was admitted at about 1:00pm and Dr. Gatherum came to break my water and start Pitocin. At this point I was getting really uncomfortable and very frustrated that the nurse kept asking me questions and poking me. Luckily Phyllis and I are both pretty sarcastic people. We got along great!

After about an hour of that I was finally able to relax and focus on the waves of productive pain that I knew would eventually bring me you. They gave me something to help me relax even more. I settled in and used meditation, visualization, deep breathing, and hypnobirthing techniques to manage the pain and make contractions efficient. At 3:00pm the nurse checked me again and I was already dilated to a 6 and totally in my rhythm.

~Going in to labor we had all kinds of plans for how your Dad was going to help me through the pain (music, massage, coaching, etc.) but once I got focused I didn't want anyone touching or talking to me, so he just hung out with Nana and let me be. I was so grateful for his gentle support.~

Auntie Cara called Dad at around 3:30pm asking how I was doing. Cara has always been my greatest cheerleader so of course I wanted to talk to her! I thought I totally played it cool on the phone but apparently I was so relaxed that I sounded high as a kite! Still, it was so great to hear her sweet, encouraging voice.

Suddenly I was yanked out of my happy place at about 4:00pm with an urge to push that was so strong and unexpected that I yelped after hours of almost total silence! Dad leapt to my side and I asked him to quickly get the nurse. Doctor Gatherum arrived a few minutes later and I was dilated to 9 3/4 and fully effaced. It was time to push! And kiddo, were you ready or what! About 45 minutes later I gave what I knew would be my last push (after about 20 maddening minutes of hearing about how much hair you had) and held you in my arms for the first time.

At that moment I felt pure joy, relief, and love. You know how sometimes in the movies it looks like the world is blurry and swirling around two people? (Of course you don't. You're an infant. But you will!) That's what it felt like. There were many people in the room that had hands in my vision, taking care of you, but I never saw most of their faces. All I saw was you. You didn't cry at first. You just looked up at me with the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen. You only cried when they started to take you away from me, and then they were satisfied that the gunk was coming out of your hearty little lungs and gave you back to me. You were so positively beautiful. I held you for as long as I possibly could, and only gave you up when I absolutely had to. I watched Dad give you your first bath and the nurse get your foot and fingerprints, and gratefully heard everyone say how perfectly healthy you were. I will never forget the rush of love I felt for you and your father that night as we all rested peacefully.

Nana, Grampa and Aunt Hilary were there right after you were born and Papa Neves came a few hours later and everyone was in total awe of your sweet, tender spirit. We were blessed with a constant stream of family and friends the next day and throughout the ensuing weeks. Nana stayed with us on and off for a week or two to help us get the hang of this whole parenting thing, and was such a blessing! Thanksgiving was wonderful and you are still quite the belle of the ball wherever we go and although no one needs to tell me how wonderful you are, I just hope it doesn't go to your head!

You are growing like a weed and you have changed so much in the last few weeks. You have been smiling at us since you were about 3 weeks old and you bequeathed that impish little grin on Dad first; he can get you to smile and coo almost anytime! You love to be held and, as I totally knew you would, you fight sleep at bedtime just like Mama! You are also VERY demanding when hungry and had to be given formula as a supplement before my milk came in because you just weren't satisfied with colostrum, ya greedy little thing! But most of the time you are an absolute delight! You love to snuggle and will go to just about anyone, although no one can soothe you as fast as I can, and you make the cutest little squeaks and gurgles when you sleep. You are a total productivity killer, by the way! I don't get anything done most days because I would rather watch, cuddle, and listen to you than anything else in the world!
You are my most precious gift and I thank Heavenly Father every single day for trusting me with your life.
With so much love,
Mom