Emma- Week Two

We now have two weeks behind us as a family of four. I still can't get over how that sounds. We are a family of four? Wow! It sounds so grown up...so not us.

Emma met her grandparents, Nina and Grandpa, this past week as well as her Aunt Cate. I love having people come and visit, cooking delicious meals together, and just sitting around chatting. Everyone and anyone is welcome!!!

Emma is still sleeping like a champ, but is starting to have more and more moments of awake time. I feel really guilty saying this, but she sleeps so well I feel more rested now than I did when I was pregnant. Did I mention how happy I am to NOT be pregnant anymore? Boy does it do a number on your body. I still am having some residual back pain from all the pregnancy back pain and am hoping I didn't (or more like Emma didn't) do long term damage to my back.

Ian spent some time with his Nina and Grandpa last week in Sewickley, PA and is now with his Mom Mom and Pop Pop in Havertown, PA. It has been really nice to have these few days with Emma- to really cherish her and be alone with her- and to spend these quiet days with Tim as well. I did have Ian and Emma together for two days this past week and thank the Lord everything went great! I have to admit that I was nervous about this as well. What am I going to do with two kids all day? Is Ian going to have a breakdown every time I have to feed Emma? Will I start to use the tv as a crutch? etc, etc. Instead, we trekked to the park in our new double stroller and Ian got to run around outside all morning. Once back at the house we had snack time, play time, arts and crafts time, and then nap time. Before I knew it Tim was home from work. I am sure I will have days that do not go this smoothly, but I was very thankful for these two days with both kids. Next week starts the real test however as I will be alone with Ian and Emma for the next couple of weeks before we head north for two weeks on Martha's Vineyard.

A Photo Journal of Emma's First Couple of Days

Waiting....

Just Moments After Being Born

Seven Pounds Five Ounces

So Excited To See Ian Again

Our New Family

Emma's First Visitors

Emma's First Morning

Finally Awake

And Asleep Again

Love Those Eyes!

Family Time

More Visitors

Hospital Room Chaos

Ian ordering Room Service

Emma Going Home

Emma Gets a Gift From Her Older Brother

Hard work taking care of baby sister

Four Generations

Precious!

The new seven pounder in our lives

Emma Stewart was born a week ago today, but I feel like I have known her my whole life. At this point she doesn't do much more than eat and sleep, but during her periods of awake time you can catch a glimpse of her personality. She shares the furrowed brow of her father and older brother, and is able to look deep into your eyes. We were saying yesterday that Ian looks like Tim but has my personality (stubborn and a bit dramatic). It appears that though Emma looks like me she may have Tim's pensive and discerning personality.

I have to admit that over the last couple of weeks I had been feeling somewhat hesitant about having another baby. We had finally settled into a routine with Ian, he is at that age where he is just so much fun, and I was worried about bringing a new baby into our lives- a new baby girl at that. However, we could not feel more complete now that Emma is here. We are now a family of four! WOW!!!!

As I was feeling the onset of contractions last week I phoned my mom and told her to start her two hour trip down to DC. I had been having some contractions since 3am but they were twenty minutes or so apart and rather sporatic. I actually just thought it was false labor for most of the morning. So, around 8am although I was having contractions 10-15 minutes apart I had Tim drop me off at work so I could finish up some projects I had been working on. By the time Tim picked me back up at work the contractions were getting much more intense and I was beginning to think this was the real thing but was still unsure. But by the time my mom and grandparents arrived to watch Ian the contractions were 6-8 minutes apart. From 12noon-3pm Tim and I hung out (or rather dealt with my contractions) in our bedroom while my mom and grandparents watched Ian downstairs. I don't think Ian had a clue what was going on, even in our tiny house. He was just so happy to be the center of attention. Around 3pm I had a few contractions that were only 3 minutes apart and Tim freaked out. He practically threw me in the car despite my yearning to stay home for a bit longer. I was in a lot of pain at this point and I was dreading the drive to the hospital, and having to say bye to Ian. I sobbed on the way out the door and must have hugged Ian a million times before getting in the car. Once at the hospital the contractions intensified and I am embarrassed to say that I was in so much pain for some of them I didn't know what else to do but cry. I kept trying to relax and breathe but the back pain was at some points unbearable.

We got to the delivery room around 4pm and at that point I was five centimeters. I immediately asked for the epidural fearing that my labor would progress so quickly I would not have time for the drugs...and I really wanted the drugs! Nothing seemed to be working in my favor however. It took three nurses to find a vein (one nurse actually came in and then left saying she wouldn't even attempt to prick me). Then the heart rate monitor was not working so well, my doctor was in a c-section and had to sign off on the epidural before I could get it, etc. Finally at around 7 cm, and after the most intense labor and pain I have ever been in, I got the epidural and all was well. During the two hours of waiting Tim was trying to coach me to be prepared to have this baby naturally since things were progressing so quickly. I completely refused.

The epidural slowed things down a bit but I was able to drift in and out of sleep and regain some energy. I got the epidural around 7pm and by 9:30pm felt the urge to push. Twenty minutes later baby Emma was born! She was born face up which accounted for my extreme back pain (her spine against mine) and the longer labor. I was able to pull her right up onto my chest and she opened her eyes right away. Much different from Ian who took a good two days to open his eyes. I also could not believe that Emma was a whole pound heavier than Ian. What a difference a week makes in the womb!

After Tim and I spent some time with Emma, my mom and grandparents brought Ian into the room. It was so wonderful having him and my family there. Ian was so adorable with Emma and fortunately did not freak out when seeing me in the hospital bed.

Since last Thursday we have had several family members in town to meet Emma and play with Ian. My mom stayed with us until Tuesday evening and was so incredibly helpful. I cried when she left, it was just so wonderful to have her here to share in our new family member and to spend time with Ian...oh and to cook and clean of course!

Ian is off with his Nina and Grandpa in Sewickley, PA for a few days of sugar muffins, time with Nina and the kittie, time in the tool shed with Grandpa, and tons of time with his Aunt Cate and Aunt Susannah. Of course, I cried last night when he left but today I am cherishing these moments I have with Emma.

The Waiting Game

Well, the waiting game has begun. I am trying to not think about when baby #2 is going to come but it is ALL I think about. I am now a week away from my due date and I honestly didn't think I was going to make it this far. It has been wonderful having family come into town, and Ian's birthday to celebrate though to take my mind off of the pending arrival a little.

Ian turned 2 last Thursday. Tim's mom came into town to help celebrate. She made cupcakes with Ian and had a blast. Ian got to video chat with Pop Pop and Mom Mom, and also with Grandpa and Cate. He got a lot of calls and loved chatting with everyone on the phone. Ian got gobs of gifts and really relished every single one of them. Although I have to say that the $3.00 balloon I got him is his favorite. The yoga boys came over for an impromptu breakfast to top off Ian's birthday festivities. We tried to get a picture of the boys all together but as usual it is not that easy!

Then Aunt Becky came into town this past weekend and we had a lot of fun taking Ian on walks, sometimes not the most stroller friendly, and doing squats every day to try to induce labor. Ian really loves having family in town and I notice a change in his attitude when there is one more person around for him to play with.

Ian and Nina

Becky, Ian, and Me looking for goldbug

Ian hiding in his new sleeping bag

Ian playing with his new paint set

Ian and Aidan

Ian talking on the phone on his birthday

On our walk at Theodore Roosevelt Island

Watching the planes come in at Reagan

All About Ian

I am now 37.5 weeks pregnant and SOOOO completely ready for this little girl to be here. I have some extreme back pain that will not go away, and walk about .2 miles and hour. I am stocked with newborn diapers, clean onesies, cradle for our bedroom, and a bunch of super cute baby girl clothes. This being the second time around I know that in the first couple of weeks you really don't need THAT much. And there is always diapers.com! I keep feeling like I should be cooking meals for the freezer, (I think it is these "what to do when you are expecting emails" that I have signed up for. They give me a guilty conscience) cleaning the house, and "nesting." But all I really want to do is hang out with Ian.

So, as my due date nears I am trying to spend as much time as possible with Ian. In fact we have been attached for the last couple of weeks- inseparable except for when I am at work. We have been taking long walks, going to the Arboretum to feed the fish, hanging out with Uncle Matt who was here visiting last week, and playing, playing, playing. I even made him do squats with me this morning :)

I am trying to teach Ian that he will be two years old this coming Thursday. He loves the number 5 though. Our conversations go like this,

Me: "Ian, how many vitamin treats does Mommy give you everyday?"
Ian: "Five"
Me: "No, how many vitamin treats do I give you?"
Ian: "Four. Four, five, six. Five"
Me: "No, two."
Ian: "No, five."
Me: "Ian, I give you two vitamin treats a day, one for each hand. Left hand. Right hand. Now, how old are you going to be on Thursday? It is the same number of vitamin treats I give you."
Ian: "Five."
Me: "No, you are going to be two years old. (signal two with my fingers) Two. One, two. Can you say two?"
Ian: "Five"
Me: "Ian, you are going to be two. Can you say two?"
Ian: "Five treats please."

Ian's vocabulary is really increasing now. He is obsessed with his grandparents. "Nina, Mom-Mom, Pop-Pop, and Gee-Pop. (supposed to be grandpa)" His word for car is "la-la." Not sure where that came from. And of course he is obsessed with "poo," He has to point out every bit of dog poo we see on our walks.

Also, despite my efforts to NOT potty train Ian he seems to be doing it on his own. The first thing he wants to do when he wakes up is go to the potty. He won't get into the bathtub without sitting on the toilet. Throughout the day he insists on going in the toilet and on his potty. I am really trying to nip this in the bud before the baby gets here but Ian may just potty train himself before then.

Ian loves the flowers at the Arboretum. This is right before I got yelled at for letting my son touch the flowers and stand in the flower bed. Whoops!

Feeding the fish at the Arboretum.

Getting ready for a walk.

Grinding the coffee beans in the morning.

Chilling in the backpack with Uncle Matt.

Sporting his new glasses and backpack.