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.

A little patch of land

A few weeks ago our neighbors decided it was about time we dealt with the disaster of weeds and ivy in the back of our houses. See the DC government is so generous that they tell you to put a fence in the back of your house six feet from the sidewalk, but then you still get to take care of the land between your fence and the sidewalk. It is such a great deal (smile :) We somewhat reluctantly agreed to tear everything up with them and attempt to plant grass. I was extremely hesitant to spend the money and plant the grass, but boy am I glad that we did. Living on a busy street in a city, we now have a great place for Ian to play out back and in a secure location. We need to replant the grass in our immediate backyard as it did not take that well, but will leave that for the fall. Also, we discovered that we had a grape vine wound around our peach tree. We have quite the orchard now if you count our pomegranate tree out front.





And...I mean...who has grass in the city without a lacrosse net? And a lawnmower? And a pool? And all the other goodies that we have now bought since taking back our land?

The new bed arrives!!!

Ian's bed arrived on Saturday along with my parents. While Tim and my dad painted porch railings outside in the 90 degree heat, my mom and I opted to stay in the air conditioning and began the task of putting the bed together and getting Ian interested. He loved laying on the bed and reading books, but did not sleep in the bed the first night. By Sunday though he was totally into it. He still goes back and forth from the crib to the bed to the floor but ends up in the bed for most naps and bedtimes. Ian is still getting used to the dimensions of the bed and has fallen out a few times and comes running into our room but other than that it seems to be working out just fine. I love the bed, and think it is just so cute in his room. It also makes Ian look so tiny! Ian is the tenth baby to sleep in the bed following me, five siblings, my mom, and two uncles.

It was great having my parents in town this past weekend, and we even got a chance to go out to a spectacular meal sans Ian to celebrate our birthdays. What is really neat is that Ian is starting to remember his grandparents, calls them by name, and even misses them and talks about them when they are gone.

Charting New Territory and Memorial Day Weekend

The last few weeks Ian has grown up A LOT!!! He started climbing out of his pac n' play when we were away one weekend and then climbed out of his crib when we got home. It is quite the feat to watch. Somehow he hoists himself up and over with one leg. Needless to say this opens up whole new territory for us as parents. The first few nights Ian climbed out several times before actually falling asleep and also came running into our room at 5am. We have had to be stern about him staying in his room and have even started locking his door at times. It seems like the novelty has worn off though and he now stays in his crib all night. My parents are bringing down a bed this weekend for Ian though and I am excited to have him in a "big boys bed."

Ian also thinks it is a good idea for him to take off his pajamas and diaper before falling asleep for his nap. He has only done this a few times and I have had to wake him up to put a diaper back on him, cutting his naps a bit short.

Ian's vocabulary has grown significantly in the last few weeks. Taking walks is very entertaining as Ian points to everything- bike, running, pole, bus, truck, park, tree, baby, etc. Since we were locking his door he now thinks that everything is locked and says, "Its locked" about a million times a day. Although it sounds more like "isch lawwked." It is the cutest thing in the world!!

Over Memorial Day weekend we drove to Johnstown, PA for my cousin Zach's wedding. We had a great (but too short!!!) time with family. It was wonderful having all of our family together- from great-grandparents to cousins. Ian LOVED the bubbles and was totally attached to his cousin Cate. He would not leave her side, or her feet for that matter.




Then we drove to Tim's parents house outside of Pittsburgh where we went to a Memorial Day parade. Ian was a bit terrified of all the noise and people and stayed put on Tim or his dad's shoulders. Over the weekend we also went to Ohio to visit with Tim's extended family and Ian got to see his other great-grandparents. It is always such a treat seeing so many generations together. Ian took a bath in the old clawfoot tub at the milkhouse and was a big hit.









I added a picture of my belly as well. I am now at 34 weeks and feeling great despite the insomnia. I am trying to soak up as much time alone with Ian before the baby comes. We spent a sunny cool day at the park to celebrate my 30th birthday.

Travel, travel, travel. We have been hitting the road a lot lately, trying to pack in family time before this baby comes. When we are back home work has taken over our lives. I am really looking forward to maternity leave!
I am 32 weeks now so not much more to go.

Some new developments:

1- Ian can now climb out of the pac n' play which makes travel interesting. I had to walk him in the stroller until he fell asleep and then transport him to the pac n' play for the night. We are counting down our days until he climbs out of the crib.

2-Still no name for baby girl Chapman. It is on our list of things to do in June

3- I turn 30 next week- WOW!

4-We recently planted grass in our back yard and are anxiously waiting to see if it takes

5- Ian is talking a lot more lately and seems to really have the "b" words down; boat, bird, butterfly, baby

Below is a little blip of the last few weeks....

Ian feeding Owen and learning how to take care of someone much younger than him.

While Tim was traveling for work Ian and I went to PA to visit my parents. Ian did a great job helping my dad stack wood and loved the suburban playgrounds


The one weekend we were actually in DC, Ian and I went to a truck show with the yoga mammas and boys. Ian was extremely apprehensive of the trucks but finally warmed up to the South Mountain Creamery truck and school bus.

We recently returned from Pittsburgh where we attended Susannah's graduation from college.