Monday, March 8, 2010
Two Week Stats
Rilo Jane is gaining weight like a pro! She was down to 7 lbs. 11 oz. when we left the hospital and is back up to 8 lbs. 8 oz (55th percentile). She measured 21 inches (75th percentile) from 19.5 inches at birth (I don't think the original hospital measurement was accurate though)! The doctor said everything looks great.
Two Weeks
Do I really have a two-week old?! This is going way too fast already!
You gotta love all the flailing arms at this stage.
Love love love this little girl!!
Today is her two week check-up...I'll post her stats when we get back!
You gotta love all the flailing arms at this stage.Love love love this little girl!!Today is her two week check-up...I'll post her stats when we get back!
Friday, March 5, 2010
Liberty of London
{Found via Apartment Therapy}
Can't wait for the new Liberty of London Target line! I love how affordable the line is too! Just two more weeks until it should be in stores.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Alicia's Inspiration Board #2
Okay so "tomorrow" turned into a day later, but hey, I'm busy lovin' on a little lady.
This board was based off of the funky CB2 duvet cover.
Option 2: Modern Fun
1. Colors/Theme- White, Accents of lime green, orange and a bit of dusty blue. I would leave the walls white or paint it the kind of sandy gray color found in the bedding. There's no real theme...just white, clean and modern.
2. Bedding- The duvet cover that inspired this room is from CB2. I would just do a white sheet set and throw in the punches of color with the pillows. All the pillows are again from Target, except for the orange pattern one...That's from Etsy.
3. Headboard- I have 2 other suggestions with pictures included. The first would be to use a cube shaped bookshelf and put it behind the bed (bonus: extra storage!). My other suggestion would be to fake a headboard by placing 2 rows of white frames with art, fabric or paper in them.
4. Nightstands- The one pictured is from Ikea, but as I mentioned before, I found a similar one on Amazon for $13. Matching nightstands and lamps create balance. The lamps pictured are from Ikea, but any modern white lamp would work.
5. Mirror- The ones I have pictured are from Pottery Barn and are a bit of a splurge. I liked them though because they mimicked the shape found in the bedding. Again, I would place these in between the closets. I would just look around for mirrors that would coordinate if you don't want to spend $149 on mirrors!
6. Futon- Same as board #1, except I would do a white cover.
7. Desk- If it were me, I would paint the desk white or a fun funky color and add cool knobs. But since we're respecting Travis' wish, to modernize the desk I would do the paper/glass cover suggested in board #1. I included a fun green dotted wallpaper I found to give you an idea, but the paper is horrendously expensive so it's just an idea. Again, try to balance the desk with filing cabinets or modern white storage units on either side.
8. Exercise Bike- No changes here. My room divider idea still stands.
9. Lighting- Again, another light from Ikea...I love how modern and fun this light is. I think it would really jazz up the space.
10. Accessories- CB2 has some cool green vases that match the bedding. I would find white shelves and white framed art. I found these funky prints from an Etsy seller that would pick up on the bedding colors...these could go above the futon. For over the bed, I picked this "Keep Calm and Carry On" print. Again, the Ikea cheap curtains would be perfect in this room and a white rug or a cool graphic rug picking up on one of the colors in the bedding would look nice placed between the bed and futon.
I'm not sure what Alicia and Travis have decided, but I hope they will share pictures when they finish the room!
I've had several other inquiries about inspiration boards. I really love to do them so if you are at all interested, please send me an email at: jacqandmal@gmail.com and we'll see what we can come up with!
This board was based off of the funky CB2 duvet cover.
Option 2: Modern Fun
1. Colors/Theme- White, Accents of lime green, orange and a bit of dusty blue. I would leave the walls white or paint it the kind of sandy gray color found in the bedding. There's no real theme...just white, clean and modern.
2. Bedding- The duvet cover that inspired this room is from CB2. I would just do a white sheet set and throw in the punches of color with the pillows. All the pillows are again from Target, except for the orange pattern one...That's from Etsy.
3. Headboard- I have 2 other suggestions with pictures included. The first would be to use a cube shaped bookshelf and put it behind the bed (bonus: extra storage!). My other suggestion would be to fake a headboard by placing 2 rows of white frames with art, fabric or paper in them.
4. Nightstands- The one pictured is from Ikea, but as I mentioned before, I found a similar one on Amazon for $13. Matching nightstands and lamps create balance. The lamps pictured are from Ikea, but any modern white lamp would work.
5. Mirror- The ones I have pictured are from Pottery Barn and are a bit of a splurge. I liked them though because they mimicked the shape found in the bedding. Again, I would place these in between the closets. I would just look around for mirrors that would coordinate if you don't want to spend $149 on mirrors!
6. Futon- Same as board #1, except I would do a white cover.
7. Desk- If it were me, I would paint the desk white or a fun funky color and add cool knobs. But since we're respecting Travis' wish, to modernize the desk I would do the paper/glass cover suggested in board #1. I included a fun green dotted wallpaper I found to give you an idea, but the paper is horrendously expensive so it's just an idea. Again, try to balance the desk with filing cabinets or modern white storage units on either side.
8. Exercise Bike- No changes here. My room divider idea still stands.
9. Lighting- Again, another light from Ikea...I love how modern and fun this light is. I think it would really jazz up the space.
10. Accessories- CB2 has some cool green vases that match the bedding. I would find white shelves and white framed art. I found these funky prints from an Etsy seller that would pick up on the bedding colors...these could go above the futon. For over the bed, I picked this "Keep Calm and Carry On" print. Again, the Ikea cheap curtains would be perfect in this room and a white rug or a cool graphic rug picking up on one of the colors in the bedding would look nice placed between the bed and futon.
I'm not sure what Alicia and Travis have decided, but I hope they will share pictures when they finish the room!
I've had several other inquiries about inspiration boards. I really love to do them so if you are at all interested, please send me an email at: jacqandmal@gmail.com and we'll see what we can come up with!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
We Miss You Gigi
My Mom spent all last week with us. We miss her already!
I love all the little faces of Miss Rilo in these pictures.
Happy Gigi, grumpy baby!
I love all the little faces of Miss Rilo in these pictures.
Happy Gigi, grumpy baby!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Alicia's Inspiration Board #1
A few weeks ago, one of my best friends from high school asked me if I would do an inspiration board for her. Alicia and her fiance recently bought a cute new place together in my hometown in Pennsylvania. Even though she is still finishing up school in Virgina, they have begun working on decorating their new place. Alicia sent me pictures of their recently finished master bedroom. It has classic colors with some hints of modern. So when she asked me for an inspiration board for their guest bedroom, I decided to give her two: one a little more classic and one a bit more modern.
Alicia's only requests were simple. Her fiance's antique desk couldn't be changed, they wanted to be able to keep the exercise bike in there if possible, and they wanted a spot for the futon they had in the living room in case they had even more guests. Everything else could stay or go. The room is a great size and should have space for all the things she wants. Here is a before shot:
There is another window on the other side of the bed and the antique desk is to the left of this shot.
Today's inspiration board is the more classic one. I named it "Casual Beach". They already had a few beach items in there, so I went with that.
#3 and #4 have my favorite ideas for the room!
Option 1: Casual Beach
1. Colors/Theme - Cream/Tan, White, Cool Blue and hints of Chocolate Brown. I would paint the walls a nice light tan color. Nice and neutral and great for resale. Subtle hints of a beach vibe with small accessories without being too "themey".
2. Bedding- The bedding I found is from Pottery Barn. It's a striped tan and white duvet cover. Then I found a fun damask blue sheet set from Target. The pillows are all from Target, except for the "sea" themed pillows...those are from Pottery Barn. I liked the duvet cover, because it's pretty gender neutral for the male or female guests you have stay with you. Plus it's pretty classic and could be used even if you changed the room around.
3. Headboard-Okay, several ideas here. You could just purchase a headboard or find one on Craigslist. OR, my favorite idea for this room would be to find an old, white, distressed door. There are stores that just carry old doors. Turn the door sideways and mount as a headboard. I think that would be a really cool feature of the room and would feel beachy. If you can't find an old door, you can just pick up one at Home Depot and distress it by beating it up/sanding it. Here are two links to show you what I'm talking about (also shown below): One (this one is the is the right height for my liking, but not distressed enough) and two (this one is nice and distressed, but I think it's mounted up too high and they left the knob on which looks silly).
One
Two
4. Nightstands-The nightstands here are from Ikea and are supposed to be a brown/black color. I found a white nightstand on Amazon with good reviews for only $13 that I'm including on the other board, but you could easily use it for this room as well. I think they should be pretty small since the space between the windows isn't super large. Then I would suggest 2 matching lamps with a clear, glass base that can be filled with things (this style is pretty popular right now, so you shouldn't have a hard time finding some like this). I've seen them all around: Target, Ikea, TJ Maxx, etc. I would fill the base with either sand or seashells.
5. Mirror- I would put a mirror in between the closets. This makes the room feel larger and will be a nice space filler. I would go with a chocolate brown frame or a white frame. I like the idea of a round shape, but a rectangle would work just as well. I find mirrors on Amazon, TJ Maxx or HomeGoods.
6. Futon-I would get rid of the dressers and place the futon centered along that wall. I would suggest finding a futon cover in a tan or chocolate color. I'm including this link to a random one online. If you're feeling crafty, you could sew one as well.
7. Desk- I know Travis said he didn't want to touch the desk, so I came up with an idea (for both boards actually) of a way to jazz it up and coordinate it with the room without permanently changing it. Find a wrapping paper or a wallpaper that matches with the room. Cut it to the size of the desk and place it on using double stick tape. Then lay a piece of glass over that so you have a nice workspace. I think that would coordinate it with the room. I see that the desk isn't very big, so maybe get 2 filing cabinets and place one on either side of the desk for more storage, but also to anchor and balance out the desk in that space. You can also add some white shelving above the desk for some extra space.
8. Exercise Bike-My suggestion, if you are wanting to keep it in the room would be to get a room divider, like this one, and place it in the corner next to the futon and closet. My other suggested space would be in the corner by the desk and window. It's hard for me to judge the space from the pictures, so you would have to play around with it. I think it might look better by the couch and closet. The one I found isn't too expensive, but if you guys are feeling adventurous, you can make your own divider using a tutorial like this.
9. Lighting- This one is from Ikea and I think the material looks light and beachy.
10. Accessories- Seashells! They can be placed in a white bowl or just scattered around, set on shelves, etc. Again, I wouldn't go too overboard, but some here and there would be nice. Then I would suggest any other little white accessories you have or find for cheap. Ikea has little white vases for a dollar or two that I have in my house. For art, I would seriously suggest checking out Etsy.com...you won't find a better selection for cheaper prices than there. You can search by color, theme, etc. I like the collection of pictures I found of Coney Island, but they're on the more expensive side of Etsy. But you don't even have to go with beach art, just any cool prints you find that you like would work. I would hang a large print above the bed. You can keep the one you have. If you kept it, I would paint the frame white. For curtains, Ikea has a nice white set of panels for $14.99. You can't get any cheaper than that! I would also suggest a small white rug or runner to place in between the bed and futon.
Tomorrow I'll share the second, more modern inspiration board.
Alicia's only requests were simple. Her fiance's antique desk couldn't be changed, they wanted to be able to keep the exercise bike in there if possible, and they wanted a spot for the futon they had in the living room in case they had even more guests. Everything else could stay or go. The room is a great size and should have space for all the things she wants. Here is a before shot:
There is another window on the other side of the bed and the antique desk is to the left of this shot.Today's inspiration board is the more classic one. I named it "Casual Beach". They already had a few beach items in there, so I went with that.
#3 and #4 have my favorite ideas for the room!
Option 1: Casual Beach
1. Colors/Theme - Cream/Tan, White, Cool Blue and hints of Chocolate Brown. I would paint the walls a nice light tan color. Nice and neutral and great for resale. Subtle hints of a beach vibe with small accessories without being too "themey".
2. Bedding- The bedding I found is from Pottery Barn. It's a striped tan and white duvet cover. Then I found a fun damask blue sheet set from Target. The pillows are all from Target, except for the "sea" themed pillows...those are from Pottery Barn. I liked the duvet cover, because it's pretty gender neutral for the male or female guests you have stay with you. Plus it's pretty classic and could be used even if you changed the room around.
3. Headboard-Okay, several ideas here. You could just purchase a headboard or find one on Craigslist. OR, my favorite idea for this room would be to find an old, white, distressed door. There are stores that just carry old doors. Turn the door sideways and mount as a headboard. I think that would be a really cool feature of the room and would feel beachy. If you can't find an old door, you can just pick up one at Home Depot and distress it by beating it up/sanding it. Here are two links to show you what I'm talking about (also shown below): One (this one is the is the right height for my liking, but not distressed enough) and two (this one is nice and distressed, but I think it's mounted up too high and they left the knob on which looks silly).
One
Two
4. Nightstands-The nightstands here are from Ikea and are supposed to be a brown/black color. I found a white nightstand on Amazon with good reviews for only $13 that I'm including on the other board, but you could easily use it for this room as well. I think they should be pretty small since the space between the windows isn't super large. Then I would suggest 2 matching lamps with a clear, glass base that can be filled with things (this style is pretty popular right now, so you shouldn't have a hard time finding some like this). I've seen them all around: Target, Ikea, TJ Maxx, etc. I would fill the base with either sand or seashells.
5. Mirror- I would put a mirror in between the closets. This makes the room feel larger and will be a nice space filler. I would go with a chocolate brown frame or a white frame. I like the idea of a round shape, but a rectangle would work just as well. I find mirrors on Amazon, TJ Maxx or HomeGoods.
6. Futon-I would get rid of the dressers and place the futon centered along that wall. I would suggest finding a futon cover in a tan or chocolate color. I'm including this link to a random one online. If you're feeling crafty, you could sew one as well.
7. Desk- I know Travis said he didn't want to touch the desk, so I came up with an idea (for both boards actually) of a way to jazz it up and coordinate it with the room without permanently changing it. Find a wrapping paper or a wallpaper that matches with the room. Cut it to the size of the desk and place it on using double stick tape. Then lay a piece of glass over that so you have a nice workspace. I think that would coordinate it with the room. I see that the desk isn't very big, so maybe get 2 filing cabinets and place one on either side of the desk for more storage, but also to anchor and balance out the desk in that space. You can also add some white shelving above the desk for some extra space.
8. Exercise Bike-My suggestion, if you are wanting to keep it in the room would be to get a room divider, like this one, and place it in the corner next to the futon and closet. My other suggested space would be in the corner by the desk and window. It's hard for me to judge the space from the pictures, so you would have to play around with it. I think it might look better by the couch and closet. The one I found isn't too expensive, but if you guys are feeling adventurous, you can make your own divider using a tutorial like this.
9. Lighting- This one is from Ikea and I think the material looks light and beachy.
10. Accessories- Seashells! They can be placed in a white bowl or just scattered around, set on shelves, etc. Again, I wouldn't go too overboard, but some here and there would be nice. Then I would suggest any other little white accessories you have or find for cheap. Ikea has little white vases for a dollar or two that I have in my house. For art, I would seriously suggest checking out Etsy.com...you won't find a better selection for cheaper prices than there. You can search by color, theme, etc. I like the collection of pictures I found of Coney Island, but they're on the more expensive side of Etsy. But you don't even have to go with beach art, just any cool prints you find that you like would work. I would hang a large print above the bed. You can keep the one you have. If you kept it, I would paint the frame white. For curtains, Ikea has a nice white set of panels for $14.99. You can't get any cheaper than that! I would also suggest a small white rug or runner to place in between the bed and futon.
Tomorrow I'll share the second, more modern inspiration board.
Baby's First Bath
Last week, we gave Rilo her first bath. Here are her reactions in pictures.
The initial shock.
Maybe it's not so bad...
Adjusting.
And liking it! All she needed was some warm washcloths to cover her and she was content as can be!
The initial shock.
Maybe it's not so bad...Adjusting.And liking it! All she needed was some warm washcloths to cover her and she was content as can be!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Family Photos
Saturday we had Sheena Jibson over to take some photos of our new little family. She did such a great job capturing what I wanted: us just hanging out as a family. Nice and classic. I love them! You can check out a sneak peek of a few more on her photo blog.
Before I found Sheena's photo blog, I found her everyday blog. I've been reading daily for a LONG time now...I felt like already knew her even though we'd never met. She has the most hilarious stories, cute kids, great pictures and yummy (healthy!) recipes. She is inspiring me to make lots and lots of homemade bread!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Baby Week
Continuing with my theme of "baby" all week long, I thought I would share two things I love right now. I think these onesies are absolutely adorable. I love the fun fabric choices.
{images via Lee Marie}
Hope you all have a happy weekend! We'll be catching up on sleep and snuggling our little baby! Next week, I have some inspiration boards to share and hopefully the big bathroom reveal.
{images via Lee Marie}I'm also loving these adorable books. My friend Whit, gave me "In My Nest" for my baby shower. Now I have 2 others in the series. They really are such sweet little books and I love that each of them has a finger puppet. Around here, you can find them at Costco, but you can also find them on Amazon.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Rilo's Birth Story
So I know this is going to be long, but I really wanted to have a record of my experience. I've always enjoyed reading other birth stories so I figured I'd put it out there for others to read.
My birth story really begins a long, long time ago. All growing up, I knew my Mom had all 4 of us without any medication. She always had such good things to say about her experiences that I always knew that I wanted to do the same. When I started doing some research and reading and recognizing that I had a nice, normal pregnancy, I really determined that a med-free birth was exactly what I wanted. I recognized though, when it comes to getting pregnant/giving birth, things don't always go as planned. I'm thankful for the miracles of modern medicine and the options that they provided for me. Luckily, I didn't need any of the interventions, but I really was glad to know that they would be there if needed.
By the end of the last week, I was beginning to worry that she might not come on her own. I knew I didn't want to be induced because it can make your labor much more intense. We had tried all of the tricks in the book to start labor, but she was not quite ready yet. Friday afternoon, while doing some work on the computer, I noticed I was having very mild period-type cramps. It didn't phase me though, because contractions had been described to me as wrapping from your back to your front, and this didn't seem like a contraction by that description. Adam and I decided to head out to dinner and by the time we were eating, I realized that I was having this cramping feeling much more frequently. We left the restaurant at 9pm, after I used my iPhone app to time the contractions. A quick walk around Target confirmed that they were getting closer and definitely more intense. We headed home and I sent Adam to bed.
I tried to get some sleep, but my contractions were coming frequently...about 3-5 minutes apart lasting about 45 seconds. So instead I wandered around the house, took a bath and a shower and tried to sleep the best I could out on the couch. By morning, I knew we would have our little girl that day and I was so excited! Contractions had intensified over night and began lasting much longer. I was just breathing through them, really concentrating on nice deep breaths.
Relaxing through a contraction with Adam. He was the BEST through the whole process.
I called my doula, Melissa, at 8:30 am and she came right over. I was also lucky enough to have a doula-in-training come as well. I'm so so glad that Hannah and Melissa were both able to be there. We spent the morning chatting away in my living room. When I would have a contraction, I would interrupt the conversation and turn and lean over onto something. Then Adam and my doulas would find their positions: one on each hip and one on my back. They would apply pressure while I would relax my muscles and breathe nice deep breaths. I would concentrate on letting my body help her move down each time. It was amazing...my body was just doing exactly what it needed to do. So we continued this pattern, chat and contractions, all morning and into the afternoon. My goal was to labor at home for as long as I could without feeling like I would have a baby in the car on the way to the hospital! So by 1:30 pm, we decided that it would be a good time to head over there. We felt fairly confident I was far enough along in labor that I wouldn't be sent home.
Adam applying pressure on my back
Hannah sat in the back with me, while Adam drove. I was dreading the car ride...I always heard it was one of the worst parts. Good thing Miley Cyrus had my back...When we started driving, Miley's song "The Climb" came on and we all had a good laugh about the motivating and cheesy song that happened to come on at just the right time. The car ride was actually really smooth...I just kept breathing and relaxing and remembering I would be holding a baby in my arms soon enough.
We got to American Fork Hospital and they checked us into a triage room. Since I was a first time Mom, I think they assumed I hadn't progressed very far yet. They told me I would have to be in the triage room to be monitored for at least an hour or two. After checking me, I was already close to 6 cm dilated. The nurse happily decided to admit me to my room right away.
We checked into my room and I hopped right into the jetted tub. Water during labor feels so wonderful! I spent a very long time just soaking away with Adam by my side, encouraging me. After awhile, my temperature spiked and the baby's heart rate went up. To avoid putting me on antibiotics, my midwife had me get out and put some ice packs on me to see if that would cool me down. Thank goodness it worked! They did a quick check and I think we were all surprised to hear I was already at an 8. Only 2 cm more to go! I labored some more, with the applied pressure from my doulas, midwives and Adam. I really could not have asked for a better group to be with. I actually had my midwife Kathryn and a student midwife there. I had so much extra support and encouragement! One of the things I really enjoyed about having a midwife, was that she was there throughout almost all of my labor. Instead of just popping in to "catch the baby", Kathryn and the student midwife were there to support me all the way through.
I think it may sound strange, but I was actually really enjoying myself. I was so relaxed and in the zone. I was still smiling and laughing during the phase they call "transition". Everyone was teasing me because I was still saying "please" and "thank you". I can't really explain the how or the why, but it was all very bearable for me. It was a beautiful, natural process that my body was handling with ease. I had worried that in the heat of the moment, I would want meds, but the thought never even crossed my mind. I couldn't believe it when they told me that it was going to be time to push! Even though I had been laboring for a looong time, I was in shock we were at that point already.
Pushing was definitely the most challenging part of labor. I could feel the urge to push, but I didn't know exactly how to go about it. It took about a half an hour until I finally figured out the most effective way to push. It really is such hard work! I was tired at this point and really wanting to meet my little girl. Thank goodness for my great support team, because they really helped to keep me motivated! Finally after an hour and a half of intense pushing, Adam helped pull her out and onto my chest. Twenty-four hours or so since contractions started, we had our little Rilo Jane. It was the most amazing, beautiful moment of my life. I still can't believe that Adam and I brought a sweet little girl into the world. She is so perfect and we really couldn't be two happier parents!
"Pinking" her up with some oxygen...can you tell how happy we were?!
My amazing team of doulas! And me with my "I just had a kid" face.
My birth story really begins a long, long time ago. All growing up, I knew my Mom had all 4 of us without any medication. She always had such good things to say about her experiences that I always knew that I wanted to do the same. When I started doing some research and reading and recognizing that I had a nice, normal pregnancy, I really determined that a med-free birth was exactly what I wanted. I recognized though, when it comes to getting pregnant/giving birth, things don't always go as planned. I'm thankful for the miracles of modern medicine and the options that they provided for me. Luckily, I didn't need any of the interventions, but I really was glad to know that they would be there if needed.
By the end of the last week, I was beginning to worry that she might not come on her own. I knew I didn't want to be induced because it can make your labor much more intense. We had tried all of the tricks in the book to start labor, but she was not quite ready yet. Friday afternoon, while doing some work on the computer, I noticed I was having very mild period-type cramps. It didn't phase me though, because contractions had been described to me as wrapping from your back to your front, and this didn't seem like a contraction by that description. Adam and I decided to head out to dinner and by the time we were eating, I realized that I was having this cramping feeling much more frequently. We left the restaurant at 9pm, after I used my iPhone app to time the contractions. A quick walk around Target confirmed that they were getting closer and definitely more intense. We headed home and I sent Adam to bed.
I tried to get some sleep, but my contractions were coming frequently...about 3-5 minutes apart lasting about 45 seconds. So instead I wandered around the house, took a bath and a shower and tried to sleep the best I could out on the couch. By morning, I knew we would have our little girl that day and I was so excited! Contractions had intensified over night and began lasting much longer. I was just breathing through them, really concentrating on nice deep breaths.
Relaxing through a contraction with Adam. He was the BEST through the whole process.I called my doula, Melissa, at 8:30 am and she came right over. I was also lucky enough to have a doula-in-training come as well. I'm so so glad that Hannah and Melissa were both able to be there. We spent the morning chatting away in my living room. When I would have a contraction, I would interrupt the conversation and turn and lean over onto something. Then Adam and my doulas would find their positions: one on each hip and one on my back. They would apply pressure while I would relax my muscles and breathe nice deep breaths. I would concentrate on letting my body help her move down each time. It was amazing...my body was just doing exactly what it needed to do. So we continued this pattern, chat and contractions, all morning and into the afternoon. My goal was to labor at home for as long as I could without feeling like I would have a baby in the car on the way to the hospital! So by 1:30 pm, we decided that it would be a good time to head over there. We felt fairly confident I was far enough along in labor that I wouldn't be sent home.
Adam applying pressure on my backHannah sat in the back with me, while Adam drove. I was dreading the car ride...I always heard it was one of the worst parts. Good thing Miley Cyrus had my back...When we started driving, Miley's song "The Climb" came on and we all had a good laugh about the motivating and cheesy song that happened to come on at just the right time. The car ride was actually really smooth...I just kept breathing and relaxing and remembering I would be holding a baby in my arms soon enough.
We got to American Fork Hospital and they checked us into a triage room. Since I was a first time Mom, I think they assumed I hadn't progressed very far yet. They told me I would have to be in the triage room to be monitored for at least an hour or two. After checking me, I was already close to 6 cm dilated. The nurse happily decided to admit me to my room right away.
We checked into my room and I hopped right into the jetted tub. Water during labor feels so wonderful! I spent a very long time just soaking away with Adam by my side, encouraging me. After awhile, my temperature spiked and the baby's heart rate went up. To avoid putting me on antibiotics, my midwife had me get out and put some ice packs on me to see if that would cool me down. Thank goodness it worked! They did a quick check and I think we were all surprised to hear I was already at an 8. Only 2 cm more to go! I labored some more, with the applied pressure from my doulas, midwives and Adam. I really could not have asked for a better group to be with. I actually had my midwife Kathryn and a student midwife there. I had so much extra support and encouragement! One of the things I really enjoyed about having a midwife, was that she was there throughout almost all of my labor. Instead of just popping in to "catch the baby", Kathryn and the student midwife were there to support me all the way through.
I think it may sound strange, but I was actually really enjoying myself. I was so relaxed and in the zone. I was still smiling and laughing during the phase they call "transition". Everyone was teasing me because I was still saying "please" and "thank you". I can't really explain the how or the why, but it was all very bearable for me. It was a beautiful, natural process that my body was handling with ease. I had worried that in the heat of the moment, I would want meds, but the thought never even crossed my mind. I couldn't believe it when they told me that it was going to be time to push! Even though I had been laboring for a looong time, I was in shock we were at that point already.
Pushing was definitely the most challenging part of labor. I could feel the urge to push, but I didn't know exactly how to go about it. It took about a half an hour until I finally figured out the most effective way to push. It really is such hard work! I was tired at this point and really wanting to meet my little girl. Thank goodness for my great support team, because they really helped to keep me motivated! Finally after an hour and a half of intense pushing, Adam helped pull her out and onto my chest. Twenty-four hours or so since contractions started, we had our little Rilo Jane. It was the most amazing, beautiful moment of my life. I still can't believe that Adam and I brought a sweet little girl into the world. She is so perfect and we really couldn't be two happier parents!
"Pinking" her up with some oxygen...can you tell how happy we were?!My amazing team of doulas! And me with my "I just had a kid" face.
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