Our Birth Story

 

It has taken me quite some time to finally put this experience into words. This is for many reasons, but most importantly because I realize how quickly time passes and I want to spend every minute I can with my sweet girl before reality sets in and I go back to work. However I also know that penning it to paper (or to the more eternal version: the internet) makes this life changing experience not just ours anymore, it is something that everyone has an eye into. I cherished the fact that Oliver & I lived it together, it was just us in that room and something about that is so sacred. I can't say that it should be that way for everyone but for Oliver & I it was exactly the way we wanted it.

So here goes the short version of how our little angel arrived...

My due date was December 19th which came and went without any sign of labor. I went to my OB and she tried to work her magic to get things started, but our girl had no plans of exiting anytime soon! Christmas came and went and she was still not here, which I think was the hardest part. I had envisioned her in the already purchased Hanna Andersson PJ's snuggled up with us watching Christmas movies- maybe next year!

Oliver & I arrived on Saturday December 26th at 7:30AM for a scheduled induction. We were both anxious and excited, completely unaware of what was to come. They began the induction process at 8:30am with a cervical ripening agent which requires bed rest and fetal monitoring for an hour, followed by 3 hours of just "wait and see". We did this twice, I then started to show signs of progress so we skipped the last dose. Around 6pm I started to feel some mild contractions, I walked the halls and sat on an exercise ball to help through those. Around 11pm the contractions became more painful and frequent, despite only dilating 1 cm more than when we arrived! This was incredibly frustrating! They started pitocin and shortly after an epidural. Around 2:00am the MD attempted to break my water, however Maggie was still in a position that was too high to do so, so we continued to wait. At nearly 4:00am my water broke on its own, but still no progress in terms of dilation. Finally at 8:30 am on Sunday 12/27 the OB on call explained if we still continue to see no progress we will move towards a c-section, but he would give me until 11 am.  This decision was made due to the length of time since my water broke, and the fact that they knew Maggie was measuring on the larger side.

Just after 10:00am the nurse came rushing in and noted abnormal heart rate tracings on the monitor (I was really reaching to remember from my nursing school days!) moments after that we were in the OR. I remember crying, not because I was scared, I was incredibly overwhelmed. We had waited so long for her and I was overcome with emotion that soon we would be holding her.

There were some minor complications which prevented me from holding her in the OR, which made that nearly 2 hours feel like an eternity. I felt so helpless when she was crying and wanted nothing more than to console her.  Luckily the newly minted Daddy came to the rescue! Oliver held her close to me so I could kiss and snuggle her. Unlike myself, Oliver didn't grow up around babies or have much experience so he was definitely nervous going into parenthood, but those first few moments seeing them together made it ever so clear he was a natural and would be the best Dad to our baby girl.

What came after that was endless snuggles, kisses and happy tears! I can't possibly put into words how blessed we are to have this sweet baby.

I just love this photo of Oliver, I woke up in the middle of the night to see him just staring at his little girl. It makes me tear up every time I look at it- he really is the sweetest Dad ever! 

For now we are cherishing every moment with her, but I hope to be back to regular blogging very soon!

As always thank you for reading along and sharing in this journey with me!

XO

Welcome back...

Wow, it sure has been a while! Life has gotten just a little bit crazier around here and I know that is only going to be busier in the coming months with the arrival of our little peanut! 

When I look back and think I haven't posted in nearly 3 weeks I don't know where the time actually went. I am confident I was just entering my 3rd trimester and posting about it, and here I am nearly 35 weeks pregnant and incredibly behind on everything.

I always prided myself on being able to "do it all" I worked full time, took care of household chores, had a chalked-full social calendar and never missed a birthday or thank you card. Of late, I am lucky if I can make it through a work day without closing my eyes at the desk just for a few minutes! I can't say it is all pregnancy related, I think life just finally caught up with me. 

I am learning to say no to plans that sound fantastic on Monday but by Friday I am in tears about having to leave the house. I am learning that it is okay to have help around the house (thank you Oliver!!) and that if the thank you card isn't in the mail the next morning I haven't failed as a person or friend. 

This past weekend Oliver and I slept in on Saturday and snuggled with Clo, it was 8:45 but it was heaven! After that we spent the day together, no phones, social media or distractions. Granted we were running errands it was still quality time and it was perfect! 

Side note: How cute is my Clo Clo? That is a kitchen towel in his mouth, Mum was too tired to get up and take it away- I am fully aware this will be problematic with baby stuff!!

I am working on slowing down (not my nature as a typical New England gal ;)! ) enjoying the moments and embracing all the change.

Here is a photo from our GORGEOUS baby shower two weeks ago- keep an eye out for a post coming soon! 

So thank you for being patient with me as I work out all the kinks, I know it is about to get a hell of a lot crazier in just 5 weeks!! 

Second Trimester Recap!

Symptoms: Holy migraines! They lasted from 13 weeks until 21 weeks, it was brutal! I think the worst part is that you can't really take anything. Oliver was so sweet and made sure I drank plenty of water, got lots of rest and definitely picked up all of the extra stuff around the house for me! One morning I woke up and they were just gone, it was the best day! I have since moved on to the heartburn stage, if the old wive's tales are true our little girl is going to have a full head of hair!

Cravings: I know this is pretty much the same as the first trimester, but I still ate my normal foods. Nothing I craved or had to have. I was pretty conscientious of what I ate because I had a really big fear of gestational diabetes but fortunately I my test was negative! :)  

Sleep:  I have noticed I was less tired, but on the flip side sleeping was more difficult given my size! I love my maternity pillow, but then again so does Clovis- I am confident he thinks we bought it for him! :) 

Best moment: Seeing the look on Oliver's face the first time he felt her move. It was honestly the sweetest moment! Also every single time he talks to her my heart melts! 

Worst moment: I can't think of a single thing to put here. Honestly this pregnancy is not really what  I expected, I feel pretty good and don't have much to complain about, especially because in just 8 short weeks I will be holding our baby!!! (holy cow that is reallyyy soon!!)

Starting to show?: This bump is out of control! I have had several people ask me if I am sure there is just one baby in there! I think it is a product of being SO short- there really isn't any place for it to go but out.

Gender prediction: We are having a girl, read all about it here on our three year anniversary post! We also have a name picked out! For a little hint her monogram will be mRc (she may already have a few things) 

I am almost done with the nursery, it has been a slow process but I really wanted to find things I loved. This past weekend our rocker arrived along with some of the wall art. I am waiting on a few custom pieces I ordered, and then we are set!

We also have our baby shower coming up this weekend! I can't wait to see how it all comes together as I have been left completely in the dark on everything!- Maybe that is the worst moment so far ;)

THANK YOU FOR READING!! XOXO

Miniature Style

I have been slowly collecting a (somewhat) small collection of clothes for our little one. This weekend I finally cleaned out the closet in her room and made plenty of space for her clothes. I also hung up a few pieces I have purchased or been given. So far one of my most favorite stores to shop for her in is Janie and Jack, mainly because I would actually wear a good amount of the things in the store myself!

Here are few pieces I love from their fall lineup!

I love this little shirt paired with these adorable plaid pants! 

Love the texture on this little shift dress with a cute bow & tights!

This little jacket is the perfect pairing with this grey dress & little plaid bow!

If this came in my size you can bet your bottom I would own it!

What are your favorite stores to shop in for your little ones?

Fighting the stretch mark battle

After finding out I was pregnant I did a little research on cremes that can help with stretch marks. As you can probably imagine there are hundreds out there, all claiming to be the answer- also coming at a hefty price tag!

I know realistically no one creme or lotion is going to prevent me from having any stretch marks at all but I wanted something that would help moisturize and would make me feel good about being proactive! :) 

I got a few recommendations and finally settled on the Basq NYC skincare line and I am thrilled so far!

I went with the Intensive treatment butter and Resilient body oil. I use the oil after getting out of the shower, I love the Lavender scent and I think the oil is perfect for hydrating summer skin. I use the butter nightly, I love the rich texture, it feels very luxurious! Both of these products fall into the "a little goes a long way category" so I foresee them lasting well into the pregnancy! 

Here's the best part, the price tag on both of these items are under $40 each and available on Amazon Prime with free next day shipping! (I'll admit I am a Prime snob, if the shipping isn't free I don't buy it!)

Also how cute is this Expecting Mama's kit? This would be a fabulous gift for those pregnant ladies in your life! I may just have to get one for myself :)

Our Fertility Story

Before I start on our story I first want to say that unfortunately we did have trouble conceiving. It was difficult and trying, but I also know we were lucky because we were able to get pregnant in the end. I know people have had a much harder time trying to conceive and I want to be sensitive to the fact that this is a tough topic for many people. Everyone's journey is different and I am here merely to tell my own experience. 

We found out very early because we were being seen by a Reproductive Endocrinologist (aka infertility doctor). There were many mornings of blood work and ultrasounds, followed by medications and luckily only one injection, before I get ahead of myself here is how it went...

The months that led up to our good news were long, scary and filled with uncertainty. I had just started a new job, which actually turned out to be the best thing for us in this process. I was no longer working a day/ night rotating schedule and I had more flexibility in my hours. 

From the moment we met with our Doctor I knew we made the right decision. After spending over an hour with him he ultimately told us these words which were my saving grace during the process, "It is not a matter of if it is a matter of when". I could of  did hug him and thanked him profusely.

When we started our first round of treatment I did my best not to micromanage the situation, (very hard for a type A personality!!) I tried to sit back and let it all happen the way it was supposed to. I was mostly successful in this, but I won't lie there were times where it was all consuming. They told us we would know the results if it worked or not, on April 11th. When the words came out of the nurses mouth I knew it was a sign, silly of course, but I felt it in my bones it would work. 

April 11th, 2014 was the day Oliver passed his dissertation defense, essentially solidifying his work was worthy of the PhD he had worked so hard for. While we were out celebrating that night we got a call from the breeder that our boy Clovis was born and we would be taking him home in June. We had been on a wait list for months, and even when we knew there was a litter coming we were not sure we would get a puppy.

So April 11th, 2015 had to be just as lucky right? In my mind there was no doubt. Until I did the dumbest thing any woman who is undergoing fertility treatments could do, I took a home pregnancy test and it was negative. Deep down I knew it wouldn't be accurate but I cried for days upon days anyway. 

On Saturday April 11th at 7:30 am when the office opened I went for blood work.We rushed back home to set up for Clovis' first birthday brunch, yes I know he is a dog, but everyone deserves a birthday party! In the middle of brunch the office called, I could barely breathe. The nurse said "Congratulations, you are pregnant" I almost fell over. There are no words to express my happiness, gratitude and panic!

We waited several weeks, which felt like a lifetime to see our little bean on the big screen. It was our first ultrasound and at 7 weeks and 2 days there was a perfect little unrecognizable blob with the strongest heart beat I've heard. (PS I'm a cardiac nurse so that probably isn't true, but it felt that way!)

This ultrasound is from 8 weeks, I must have tucked the first one away somewhere reallyy safe because I couldn't find it while writing this post! #pregnancybrain

Just like that we jumped head first into the next phase of our life! 

Happy Monday..a day late

The driving factor that got me out of bed this (and yesterday) morning was the fact that it was a short week! I am plugging along until Thursday at 5 pm when I leave work and get to enjoy a long weekend! :)

This past weekend was jam-packed but super fun! I headed out for a little shopping date with my cousin on Friday night. We had a family wedding this weekend in NY and of course we "needed" a few last minute things! 

I ended up getting a bra fitting at Nordstrom which has been a game changer! I had been complaining for weeks about things not fitting right, but I finally did something about it and boy was I happy I did!

Saturday morning we got up really early and road tripped to New York for the wedding with my siblings. It was certainly an eventful ride, many bathroom breaks and comical conversations.  Once we arrived the comedy continued, our room wasn't ready, none of us had showered, and the church started at 2:30. Luckily my parents stayed the night before so we took over their room to get ready.

We had a fabulous time celebrating a very sweet couple! They had a blast and were so happy which always makes being a guest all the more enjoyable! I only snapped these two pics, I seriously need to get better about that! I loved my BCBG Maxazria (which is now sold out everywhere) BUT I found it on Amazon! I paired it with these amazing Aldo pumps, J Crew crystal earrings, and a suede snakeskin clutch!

I plan on rewearing this dress again for an August wedding where I am sure there will be a much bigger baby bump under there! :)



























Two very dear friends of ours watched Clovis while we were out of town and sent us this cute photo. I missed him very much, but I knew he was in good hands and having a blast with his girlfriend Daisy (our friends St. Berdoodle!)

We headed back home early Sunday and enjoyed lots of snuggles with our sweet boy!

Hope you all had a great weekend! :)

First Trimester Recap

I swear I will try NOT to turn this into a mommy blog! I swear I will try NOT to turn this into a mommy blog! I swear I will try NOT turn this into a mommy blog! 

That was to convince you as much as it was to remind myself! I do want to share this journey with you all but I promise to maintain all of the style, home decor, and entertaining posts that the blog was founded on!

In the mean time here are some updates about my first trimester now that I am smooth sailing into the second!

The ultrasound on the left is from our 9 week scan, the one on the right is at 12w. It was amazing to see how much had changed in such a short period of time. That little hand, seriously?! The cutest! :)

Symptoms: Tired beyond belief, the kind of tired where it hurts to think about getting out of bed in the morning. I was so fortunate to not get morning sickness, not even once! (I know every woman wants to slap me for admitting to this....) My Mother and Grandmother never did either so it must be in the family? Just a side note my Grandmother had twelve children so I don't exactly consider her the "typical" woman but she coasted through all ten pregnancies (she had twins, TWICE!) 

Cravings: I ate my normal foods throughout the first trimester, other than the restricted ones. I still wanted coffee, I know many women who were totally averse while pregnant, but I was not one of those. I did however switch to half caff, cut out all soda and minimized chocolate so I could safely enjoy my one cup a day. I will say with the warmer weather and my DC visit I really wanted a cold glass of Rose'... However, that will have to wait till December (although not exactly Rose' season!) 

Sleep: I think this goes without saying but I slept ALL the time given how tired I was, and with the lack of my afternoon cup of Java! I napped when I got home from work, then showered and went to bed by 9pm every.single.night. I did however wake up nightly from week 7 onward to pee, what a pain in the A$$ that was, and will likely continue to be. 

Best moment: Seeing our little one on the ultrasound screen and hearing her little heartbeat! 

Worst moment: I can't think of anything... except maybe having to keep it a secret?- Not my forte - ask anyone who knows me!

Starting to show?: Just looking bloated. To the point where people will stare but never say anything, talk about uncomfortable! The picture below is at 12w 3 days, I was off to a bridal shower and was hoping no one would notice, luckily they didn't! Don't mind the dog crate in the background, if I wasn't so tired all the time I'd probably have moved it ;)

Gender prediction: According to the Chinese gender chart and Ramzi's we were having a little boy. I then was convinced it was a boy.  Clearly from my previous post you now know we are having a baby GIRL according to our genetics testing.

Speaking of nursery planning, do I have ideas! I will make sure to share that with you all after I have posted about a few parties with fun cocktails (for the guests of course) and my summer style inspiration and anything non- mommy related! 

THANK YOU FOR READING!! XOXO