It's Bath Time Baby!

Despite my efforts in sponge bathing, Bradeigh was beginning to smell a little on the funky side; so finally the moment had arrived....Drum Roll....to give baby a bath. This was a very exciting moment in the Green household. We all piled into the kids bathroom, filled a tepid bath for baby and oohed and awed over her sweet rolls of chub.

All of a sudden a cry rang out."MOM!! We need the camera! This is Bradeighs first bath, we almost forgot to take pictures!!! Dad! Run, get the camera", Hannah ordered. Noah runs out with Jared in search of both cameras. (Noah really wanted to use our "run around" camera to take his own pictures).

In the past Jared held the honor of first bath giver-this time it was all me, and Jared got to take this super cute picture.

Now the moment is gone...she'll never have her first bath again. I'm glad it turned out to be such a monument es occasion.

We love you BABY! :)

1 Week Old

I'm not sure how I'm supposed to nap when Bradeigh does. How can I sleep when she makes such cute faces in her sleep. I seriously can just stare at her for hours. I remember doing this with Hannah and Noah too. I decided if I'm going to watch her sleep I may as well watch her through a camera lens. So here is my project - BABY week by week.

She's here!

March 30th , 6:00am

Jared: Good Morning! Any Contractions?

Me: No, not really any worth mentioning. My uterus and I aren't really on speaking terms

right now...

8:30am- Kids are off and Jared and I decide to go grocery shopping, rather than walking because frankly, I'm just tired of walking.

8:45am- Fry's Grocery Store-

Me: Produce doesn't look very good.

Jared: Nope, produce doesn't look very good.

Me: Cereal is on sale. Actually, I don't want to but any more cereal...

Jared: To Walmart then?

Me: I hate Walmart...

I have to stop here and just mention last week (outside of not having a baby) was really wonderful. Jared and I had a great little date week. Lots of walks, lots of laughing at the situation. We had a great time speculating all the crazy birth stories we could end up with. In fact one morning we took a jaunt to the Donut Wheel for that jelly donut I had been craving for weeks- and I became hysterical after imagining myself giving birth right there in the parking lot with powdered sugar all over my face. Another morning we went for a three mile stroll that got the contractions going and we imagined hitching a ride in the back of one of the landscaping trucks. During one of the contractions I started laughing hysterically again, and this time Jared wouldn't let me stop walking- so here I am bent over in a contraction laughing saying I think I feel my bag of waters, and Jared laughing pulling me behind him saying lets break it. There was a woman across the street walking her dog who became our first spectator of the day. My sister in law Amy came over with Zane and Gabriel and we had a great time with them-they were an awesome distraction. Saturday we all took the kids to Funtastics and had lunch. By the time Monday rolled around though I had really lost my sense of humor.

Fast forward to Monday night.

7:30: Kids in bed, contractions start

Me: Well...they're starting again

Jared: How regular?

Me: Pretty regular-but this is the time of night they usually do this. I'll let you know if their is a change.

8:00pm

Jared: Melanie, they seem really close I think we should call someone to stay with the kids.

Me: Oh.....What if it's just another false alarm.

Jared: I think we need to go in.

We call the Hillmans, in the mean time the contractions are picking up momentum. This is good.

Hillmans arrive and we're off.

By the time we're through triage and to our room, my uterus has me well aware of just how limber and strong it is. The nurse is figuring out the "mobile" baby monitor so I can walk if I want to. I let her know I won't be needing that after all, (I'm way past the walking through contractions phase). The nurse leaves and Jared and I are alone.

The contractions were so strong and close they had no pattern or rhythm I could work with. I began whistle breathing which Jared found really amusing. This was the point I recollected all my friends stories of how great epidurals are. They checked in, got the epidural, took a nap, pushed and out came the baby. That sounds so nice...I look over at Jared and say- I'm so tired, my legs hurt I don't think I can do this.

Jared is very encouraging and tells me I'm close. He checks the room for supplies- no sign of Dr. or nurse. He just maybe delivering after all. Jared resumes applying pressure to my legs just above the knee. Helps so much.

Dr. arrives sometime after midnight, maybe before I'm not sure. Just relieved she's going to break my water, I feel like I need to transition to pushing. She asked Jared if I made those marks on my legs as I motion to Jared to squeeze again- HARDER. Jared explains this trick we learned during Noah's birth. She breaks my water. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh that feels so good.

Jared instructs them on how the squatting bar works (they had never done this before.)

Then helps me up. I begin pushing. It feels good but I can tell the baby isn't far enough down yet. I have to push harder and longer. I begin pushing longer and Jared reminds me to breathe. I think- breathing can come later right now I just need to push. Reading my thoughts- (or counting 40 seconds since I held my breath to push) he tells me more sternly to breathe. Okay- I'll breathe. I feel her crowning- the Dr. wants to know if I can lay back. I shake my head no and she says okay no problem you do whatever you need to do. I can feel babies shoulders- one more push. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh she's here!

I lay back while Jared clamps the cord and they give her right to me. She begins suckling right away, the room is so peaceful, I thank the Dr. and she laughs and thanks me. I'm so happy, our baby is here, born spontaneously 40 minutes into March 31st, on her due date. 8lbs 10 oz. 20 inches long. No complications, not even one stitch -(no epesiotomy no tearing). I'm so thankful.

The day and a half hospital stay wasn't bad either. The staff treated us so well, and gave us lot's of privacy. Not once did anyone lecture me about baby sleeping in bed with me. We had the same nurse each day (she dibbed us :) who also happened to be from the Chicago area originally.

Home has been wonderful, Hannah and Noah love thier cuddle time with baby. Our neighbors have been bringing us amazing meals, and diapers have been being dropped off at our doorstep. Sweet Bradeigh is as content as can be. Jared went into work this morning. Now it's time for me to shower. :)

No Baby

I'd like to crawl in a hole right now. Just complete isolation until I have the baby. Well that's not completely true- I really enjoy the company of Hannah and Noah. No pressure just sweet kids who enjoy cuddling and reading to me, and love the simplest of surprises like fresh strawberries in their lunch.

It's been a rough week. But it shouldn't be.

Saturday night we had contractions into the morning- we called my parents to come over and hang out with us while I labored. I labored all day at home until Jared made me go to the hospital. I tried to explain they weren't transitional labor contractions yet. Though they were regular I could still function just fine. We went to the hospital anyway, spent three hours in triage where though my contractions went from 2-4 minutes apart then increased to 45 seconds apart until they subsided and didn't dilate my cervix any more. Still at a 5 and 80% effaced.

Had an appointment yesterday where the NP said she couldn't believe they didn't keep me and break my water. Jared agreed. I'm at a 6 now and 80%. She feels like the baby will drop and come right out.

Which is slightly concerning, especially for Jared. I feel so bad for him. I would like to just let things happen let my body do the work the way it knows how. I'm sure I don't have membranes of steel. I don't think I want to deliver in the car though either.

I keep trying to relax and enjoy this time, appreciating my bodies ability to do so much work without discomfort and allow me lots of rest time in between nights. Thank you body. I keep feeling like if I were just having this baby at home it sure would relieve a lot of stress.

Most of the frustration stems from feeling like I'm not doing enough to get baby here in a convenient time frame. Jared had his patients this week rescheduled after our little hospital visit. Now when I wake up in the morning I feel the pressure on. Am I having contractions? Are they strong? Well not really. On one hand it's nice to have your husband think you have an amazing pain tolerance on the other hand I know what I'm feeling, or should I say what I'm not feeling- on the other hand I can totally understand Jared's position.

So-no baby yet, the clock is ticking, soon I'm sure we will have news soon.

I just love anticipation...

It's been a funny two weeks. I have learned 4cm and 60% effaced means nothing...Nothing but a freakish ability to stay on top of laundry, dishes, dusting, mopping, cabinet oiling, baseboard washing, freezer and pantry packing. Our food storage is better than ever.

Fun stuff this week: Kids are on spring break, and fortunately find washing the cabinets and swiffering the floor "fun" stuff. They're so awesome. :) My dad gave us a ton of maple cabinets that we have since installed in our garage. Love them!!! Love organizing them!!!

Yesterday contractions woke me up at about 2:30am, lasted for about an hour or so- in which Jared and I did a load of laundry, made our bed up for the lucky person we may be calling at the wee hour- then went back to bed as the contractions subsided. Well, I went back to bed Jared stayed up and finished an online medical education thing and went back to bed around 5:00am. Poor guy. Woke up at 7:00am to more contractions-called Dr at 8:30am to only be referred to hospital triage.

I didn't want to go to the hospital yet-I just wanted the Dr. to check me out-so I proceeded to cry, then got it together, told Jared to go to work- I would call him once I figured out where I was. I drove to the hospital where I learned I would be charged $300 if I didn't get admitted after they poked and prodded me so I decided to leave and pay my Dr. a visit. $300 is a pretty nice post baby wardrobe, besides I have already payed my Dr. alot of money to take care of my prenatal and delivery care. Hmmm poked and prodded for three hours- nice shopping trip after baby... I was able to be seen at my Dr. office and learned that I am now at a 5 and 70% effaced- but not ready to be admitted to the hospital.

Came home took a nap, cleaned the garage, played outside with the kids, made dinner and slept like a baby all night long, awaking this morning feeling great with no contractions at all.

Hmmm. The body is truly an amazing thing. I usually feel so in tune. I feel like I'm totally out of the picture on this one. My body and baby are making there own plans which apparently include keeping me in the dark and in total suspense :) Poor Jared, every morning and evening he looks at me with such a hopeful expression as he says "Let's have this baby." It's almost enough for me to induce. Almost.

Well, I'm off to dust some bookshelves. The kids are playing Cooking Mama on the Wii. Hopefully the next post will have some fun pictures of our expanded family. :)

Waiting Waiting Waiting

Hmmm, I know if I take castor oil I will go into labor. Do I want to go into labor? Do I want to actively choose to go into labor? What difference does it make if I do it spontaneously or if I help it along a little- same result , labor=baby. Ohhhhhhh, I just don't know what to do.

I gave a talk today in church today. I was asked to speak along with the wives of the Bishop and First counselor. That was slightly nerve racking-not enough to send me into serious labor though. My specific topic was about teaching in the home. I really ended up bearing more of a testimony on the subject based on a talk given by Pres. Hinckley. I spoke of all the amazing home classrooms that have helped to guide me and help form my own families traditions and spiritual learning in our home. Many of those classrooms have taken place since Jared and I have been married. I have watched as my sister in laws and friends have ran FHE, have counseled their children, have made holidays fun and spirit filled. I have watched you manage many children for scripture study and family prayer. While you have been shaping your own posterity you have also helped to shape mine. Thank You.

My joy in life is my family-my opportunity to stay home, teach my children, and spend my days loving and watching them grow is the third greatest gift I have ever been given. The first being the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the second being Jared who has afforded me the third, and is the most amazing husband. most amazing man I have ever known. I know what treasures I've been given and hope that I never squander them.

OH BABY!!!

I had my Dr. Apt today and while I was fully prepared to hear I wasn't dilated yet, and hoping I would hear I was at least at a 1 or 2, I couldn't help but laugh out loud when he told me I was at a 4 and 60% effaced. REALLY! WOW!!!!!!!!!! I'm pretty excited about that. I'm ecstatic!!!! I can't wait until she is here-and the fact there is a high probability she will be here soon is just AWESOME, WONDERFUL, FANTASTIC, AMAZING. I'm so happy, I think I'll cry.... It's like getting the best present ever early.

I bought diapers and nursing pads Tuesday, haven't gotten the car detailed yet though-we were going to do that this Saturday. Ugh, I really need to wash the floors. I'm making Danettes broccoli and chicken tonight-maybe I should make an extra batch... I wonder if my water will break this time-a new experience would be fun. Oh I can't wait!!!!

It's really hard keeping that little thunder cloud away that says, Hold on...your not in the clear yet. Something dreadful may be looming ahead. I just want to be happy and excited. Go away cloud, I don't want to think about awful possibilities. If they come I'll deal with them, but until then I want to expect the best. Now I've gone and gotten myself all worked up.

Okay-I think I'm better now.

On a different note-I took pictures of a family in our ward yesterday. Their son got his mission call to Bulgaria.

His cute niece and nephew

This is the tree I'm willing to throw down for....

This is me and my pregnant belly.