Things I've learned...

Here are some things I've learned since becoming a Mommy- some are funny, some are serious.

1. I never knew I could love someone so much as I do my little girl
2. I think Jeff is a mega Hottie when he holds Faith
3. Poop can drip out of a diaper and onto a foot...and leave a trail on the carpet from the living room to the changing table in the nursery
4. The cry of a baby in the backseat of a car when you are driving is probably the most stressful sound I've ever heard... ever...
5. Sometimes someone (not to mention any names) can poop and spit up at the exact same time
6. If poop or pee gets on my sheets any time between 12am and 6am, I wipe it with a wipe, throw a towel over it, and go back to sleep- yes, on top of the poop or pee
7. I can fit into regular bathroom stalls now...
8. Running errands is a BIG deal, and I usually avoid them without Jeff
9. I can't figure out a good way to go grocery shopping- I can't see over the carseat sitting on top of the cart
10. I sit and wait for Baby Faith to smile... sometimes I just stare at her for a long time...
11. It is not always wise to kiss baby's feet- sometimes they take a dip into a dirty diaper when getting changed.
12. Sometimes jealousy creeps into my heart when someone else holds my baby for too long! Give her back! :)
13. The swing was a great invention- I've give that person a big HIGH FIVE!
14. You can't be prepared for being a parent- you just have to learn as you go along.
15. Having a baby makes me love Jeff even more- gosh, I can't even describe it!

Alright, that's it for now!

The Birth of Faith

It was 10:30pm on Wednesday night, October 13. We were scheduled to go in early Thursday morning where Noel would break my water and induce labor. Jeff and I were crawling into bed, well, for me, it was more of heave myself into bed, when I felt the first of my water breaking.

I went to the bathroom to confirm, and it was definitely my water breaking. I called out to Jeff to come to the bathroom, and with nervous excitement, I told him my water has just broken. He went to the top of the stairs and yelled down for my mom to come upstairs...we would be meeting Baby Faith soon!

And then the contractions started. Whatever I had been feeling for the last week was NOTHING compared to this immense and indescribable pain wracking my body. It started at my spine and intensified around my sides and met at my belly button. It was like a leg cramp but no relief. And this happened every 5 or so minutes.

The drive to the hospital, although only 10 minutes away, was hard. Jeff was trying to remain calm and telling me to try and relax my body, but there was no way I could relax. Why do they tell you to do that?

We checked in, and got settled into the room. For 3 hours I wanted to go natural, and when I hit 4cm and the contractions were coming closer and closer together, and I literally felt like I couldn't do it anymore, I asked for the epidural.

And my life changed.

I slept, chatted, and enjoyed my time watching my contractions on the monitor.

By 8:15am I was dilated to 10cm, and Noel had just arrived at the hospital. She told me to labor down, so they rolled me to my side for 30 minutes. Then at 8:45 I started pushing, and by 9:14am I held Baby Faith in my arms!

She was 7lb 8oz of pure beauty (even with all the gross stuff on her) and 20 inches long!

Although I wouldn't say I "enjoyed" labor, it was an overall positive experience. :)