Maggie is ONE!

Maggie is one today! What a wonderful year it has been watching her grow and learn. She is amazing and a true miracle. We sometimes look at her and think about how she isn't supposed to be here. It is truly humbling to think we were chosen to be her parents and that God gave us that second chance to have her! (If you are lost as to what I am talking about, you can read it about it here and here.)

I am not good at doing monthly updates on everything Maggie did and each month she did what, but here are a few highlights of her first year!

1 month: Started smiling and by three months smiled all the time. She was and still is the happiest baby! She also started teething this month but didn't get teeth until 6 months or so. It was ridiculous how much she drooled!!!

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2 months

3 months

3.5 months to 4 months: Started cereal. Milk just wasn't cutting it and I said I didn't want to do cereal at all and go straight to food, but that didn't work and Maggie had other plans. We didn't do cereal for long before we were doing food. We started with squash and worked up. Maggie was different from Sophie in that she loved veggies and meats better than fruits. Bananas were and still are not a favorite of Maggie's system. She can have them once in a day, but more than that and we are constipated. Poor thing!

I also left Maggie at four months for the first time. I had a work meeting in Wisconsin. She stayed with my Dad and Dee to help Klint out. I think it just made him more miserable. We missed her so much. Dee was so good about sending a picture of her everyday while we were separated.

The pack n play one is my favorite!

6 months: First trip to the beach!!! We went to St. Augustine. We stayed at the Holiday Inn in the historic district. We got a good price and they had a portable crib. It was great! Maggie did not like the ocean, but loved the sand. We had a blast and will be going back soon. Just an FYI, baby powder does work to get most of the sand off, but you need a lot of it!

Look at the drool! Still teething!

The Portable Crib wasn't the best thing in the world!

We also went to Klint's mom's for the 4th of July. We actually went there before we went to the beach. While we were at his mom's, Maggie started crawling! She turned 6 months on the fourth and started crawling that morning. By that night she was pulling up on stuff! I just wanted to cry! She was growing so fast! Maggie also had her first experience in a pool at her grandma's house. She liked it okay, but really wanted to be held and not put in her float.

7 months: The beginning of the "Stink Face"! We went in August to meet Maggie's newest cousin, Caleb, and celebrate her older cousin, Haiely's, birthday! We practiced on the way up and this was her first stink face.

We also finally had teeth by this point! Shortly after her bottom teeth came in her top ones started. We are now up to 6 teeth, four on top and two on the bottom.

9 months: HALLOWEEN!!! SO FUN!!!

10 months: We got RSV! So scary! She ran a fever and just looked and sounded horrible! Thanks goodness Dee was available to come be with her for the week so we didn't have to miss a whole week of work. We also had Thanksgiving at my aunt's house and Klint's parent's house. We saw grandma Linda. It was a fun filled month!

Tayor, Maggie, Sophie, and Ethan (Cutest Cousins EVER!)

11 months: Christmas and Pre Birthday Party! We had a great Christmas. Here are a few of our Christmas pictures taken by our friend, Hope Baldwin!

We also lost a couple of good friends in December. Cody and Chelsea had to move back to Mobile since Cody finished school. She was the girls' personal seamstress! I guess I have got to learn to sew now! Miss them so much!

My parents came the 30th and we did a pre-party for Maggie since they will be out of town for her party day. Here are a few pictures from that.

We also discovered Eli's kennel, Chick-fil-A, and the Tupperware cabinet!

12 months: Maggie is not walking! She crawls like lightning though! She will furniture surf and stands on her own. Sophie didn't walk before 12 months either. We aren't too worried!

Maggie can say mama, dada, Eli (E-I), thank you (tat tu), what's that? (sat?), and uh oh. She occasionally says "done" and "here". She shakes her head no. She puts her finger up when you say "shh!" She clicks her tongue to call Eli. She points to what she wants.

She loves her babies (Elmo mostly) and will hug them. She loves to rock in her rocking chair! She loves brushes and brushes her hair. She will rip out hair bows and try to put them back in. She tried to take her temperature. She knew the thermometer went in her ear.

She started eating table food at 11 months and is a great eater. She is also a messy eater!

We are so proud of her and everything she is doing! I am ready to see what the next years have in store for us!

Happy Birthday Maggie June!

Pictures are from newborn to twelve months going around the frame clockwise. Amazing to watch her grow!

Welcome 2014! Fresh starts and starting new habits!

Wow! What a whirlwind year 2013 was! I never thought being a mother of two would be so rewarding and so exhausting at the same time! I literally have almost no "me" time which means the blog kind of went to the wayside. I am hoping to change that in the new year. (However, as soon as I pulled out my computer to start (almost two hours ago) Maggie woke up, Sophie needed a movie turned on, and Klint needed help with something. Geez!)

So this is my customary post for the new year. You can read my resolutions for 2013 here. Some of the ones I had put were to continue to organize the house (ha ha!), keep the weight off after Maggie, work on our Total Money Makeover, paint and decorate our bedroom and bathroom (again ha ha!) Not sure when I thought I would have time to do a lot of these.

A quick update on my resolutions from last year.

• Organizing the house is ongoing. We are in a constant state of figuring out what works best and where to put stuff. 
• I did keep most of my prebaby weight off. Once I had Maggie I had lost almost 30 pounds from before I got pregnant. I have gained about 10 of that back so I am still in the positive, but would love to get that 10 back off plus more. 
• We are continuing on the Total Money Makeover. Budgeting has been a big thing for us this year. I may share what we do in a post one day. 
• Painting our bedroom is on my to do list for summer. I have a big project list for this summer! I will also have a little helper this year with me at home, Sophie Rae! Should be fun!

This year's resolutions are general and some I should work on everyday, not just because it is a new year. I will say that I have done so much reflecting this past year with the birth of Maggie and figuring out our new life. So the resolutions below are based on some of those reflections.

1. Study my Bible and get closer to God and what He wants in my life. I am a Christian. I believe in God and what the Bible says, but I am not good at the specifics of where certain things say what in the Bible. I have tried to read my Bible daily and did good for awhile, but got off track. That is something I am going to start in the new year starting today. Part of getting closer to God is talking with Him daily. I feel like I have an open conversation with him daily, a never ending prayer of sorts, but I struggle with telling Him thank you! I used to keep a prayer journal of all my prayers and blessings. It was a wonderful tool to really see what God has given me and my family.  This is something I am going to start doing again in the new year.

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2. Put down the technology! Okay, this is kind of backwards since I want to start blogging again, but I think I have become so dependent on looking at Facebook (or Fakebook as my husband calls it). I grab my iPad and look at Pinterest and other brain mush apps just to pass the time. My husband said yesterday he sat outside and looked at nature and just sat and thought. I need to do that. We need to do that! Blogging is different. It is an outlet. It is logging memories and causing me to think and communicate. So I am going to start limiting my electronic devices. Leaving my phone and iPad in my bedroom and purse more and focusing on my husband and children. I am going to blog, but limit it. This is something I have got to do for me and my family.

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3. Focus on my husband and our family! I feel that we do a lot of things as a family, but I want us to be stronger. I find that I get impatient with my kids, my husband, the dog and I think that part of that is losing focus of what my job is as the matriarch of my family. My daughters are looking at me and following my example of being a mother and a wife (trust me, I have heard my voice come out of my four-year-old). I need to slow down, be more patient and not expect everything to be perfect. Sometimes my husband and I don't talk until we go to bed. The kids go to bed at 8 and we sit for three hours and hardly speak to each other. This goes along with number 2. I want that to change in the new year.

4. Be thankful for what I do have and not be discouraged by what I don't have! I don't have a large bank account. I don't have a brand new Infiniti QX56 (my dream car!). I don't have the finest name brand clothes. I can't go and buy my husband a brand new truck and boat (right now). But I have so much more that you can't put a monetary value on. I have two healthy girls and a wonderful husband! I have a great extended family! I have wonderful friends! I have a job that is so rewarding! I have a church family that loves my family as if they were blood kin! I have a car and no car payments (both of our cars are paid for). I have a beautiful home! I have so much to be grateful for!

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5. Don't kill myself trying to make everyone happy! I just can't do it! Someone will always be disappointed in something I do. I had an instant last year where I doubted everything. Did I not do enough? Could I have done more? Does no one like me? I got home and my dad was staying the night with me and the girls while Klint was out of town. I cooked dinner, did my normal nightly things, and got everything ready for the next day while playing host to my daddy and entertaining children. The next day, I was still feeling low and thinking that life wasn't fair when my dad texted me. It simply said, "You make me so proud! I love you!" Things just clicked!  I can't please everyone. I can only do what I can do. I have to prioritize who I can make happy and who I really care about making happy. That is not meant to sound hateful or uncaring, but I can't kill myself trying to make someone happy who is going to be unhappy no matter what. I want my family to be happy! I want my friends to be happy! I want to be happy! That is my focus!

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6. Set small daily goals! I think sometimes the big picture can be so daunting and overwhelming that we lose hope of getting it accomplished. I have decided this year to set goals for myself. Goals for home and goals for work. Rome wasn't built in a day. Why do I feel that I need to clean the house from top to bottom every night, cook a healthy dinner, and have everything at work done by the time I go to bed? Something I hope to change this year.

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7. Blog!!! I love to blog! I love to write! I love to share! I have gotten so busy with the new baby that I just stopped altogether and it has been something I truly missed. While I will be putting down mind numbing technology, this will be something to help me think, reflect, and share. (And it only took me almost three hours to type this post. I got this! Ha ha!) I am going to try to blog once or twice a week. No pressure!

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Well, there you have it! No weight loss goals. No big money resolutions. Just simple life changes to focus on! I hope this inspires you!

Happy New Year!!!

Letter to Mom...

Dear Mom,
Four years....that is a hard pill to swallow once you see it written out or say it out loud. Four years is too long to go without a mother. A day is really too long without a mom. I would know because it was impossible for me not to call you everyday when you were alive. Four years...so much I haven't been able to share with you in those four years.

Me...I'm fine! I find I say that a lot now a days because it just seems the easiest thing to say. What I should say is I am not fine. I haven't been fine for four years. I haven't felt balanced for four years. I haven't felt complete for four years. I haven't had my best friend for four years. You just knew. You knew me as only a mother would know their child and what they think, how they feel, what makes them tick. You knew what to say, when to say it, and how to say it. You let me make my decisions and when they backfired you wouldn't say "I told you so!" You would be my shoulder to cry on, my listening ear, and my compass to the next part of my life. Don't get me wrong. Klint is a tremendous light in my life and his advice and love are all I need most days. But there are still days when I long to hear you get excited because I am excited. Hear you laugh because I am exasperated with something Sophie has done. See the pride in your eyes at your youngest granddaughter, who you didn't meet on Earth, crawl before the other kids in her class.That's what I miss. I cling to things with your signature because it is my proof that you were here and that you loved me. I still have your number in my phone because it was once my connection to you. I still have emails in my inbox that you sent to me because when I see them for an instant I feel like you just sent them. I know this sounds like the ramblings of a mad person and that I am in denial, but I am very aware that you are not here physically. But these pieces make the world continuing on without you a little more bearable. It keeps me a little more balanced. It is my testimony that you were here!

Klint...He is the best husband, Mom. I am not an easy person to live with (as I know you are aware). He takes my flakiness, blondness, emotional times in stride and loves me even more for them. He is the first person I felt human around and felt like I could be myself besides around family of course. He does everything for me and the girls. He is the best daddy! Sophie is his little girl. She loves her daddy and they both think each other hung the moon. God couldn't have sent me a better partner when He put him in my life.

Sophie...Goodness your girl is a mess!  She brightens my life everyday. I have told her she helped me through one of the darkest parts of my life, losing you. I know she is too young to understand now, but maybe one day she will! She is so strong willed and stubborn and driven to get what she wants! I also know your pain in picking out my clothes when I was her age. We have a daily battle! She knows what she wants to wear just like I did back then. She's is very smart. Her reasoning and logic are unbelievable. You would love hearing her talk endlessly about princesses and loving church and her friend Justin and how she is going to marry him. (We tell her that is a long way off!) You would be amazed by her!

Maggie...How I missed you through my journey with Maggie and I wish everyday I could hear you talk about her now. I like to think you are a small part of the reason she is here with us today. (God, His grace, and faith are the big parts!) She is so perceptive and learns so fast! She came home smiling and she is my girl! She said "Momma" first and and calls me very often! Makes my heart happy! She is my little girl!

This year has been tougher than the last three because there are so many first that you have missed this year. You missed Sophie's first day of school. Maggie being born (Goodness, I missed you that day, but I felt you everywhere)! Maggie crawling! Maggie's first word! Just so much that you should be here for and you aren't.

I get angry. I get sad. I feel robbed! I feel hurt! Then I feel guilty for feeling this because I know that you are happy up there and you don't have gray hair (that plagued you here :) ) and your knees don't hurt anymore and you are with Pa and the child you never got to meet. Those thoughts make me happy and make me impatient to see you again one day.

I love you, Mom! Not a day goes by that I don't think about you!

20 lessons I hope my children learn...

I started this post last year and didn't get around to finishing it! Here it is completed!

2012: The other day, as I was driving to work, I passed a big truck with a high school boy and a girl riding in the middle of the truck. It reminded me of my days in high school and being the girl in the middle of the truck. I started to think about one day that girl might be one of my little girls. Made me a little nauseated honestly. My mom did a good job of instilling in me the things that were important  and what she expected of me. I started to think of the things I wanted Sophie and Maggie to learn or appreciate in their lives and what I expected of them. Here are my 20.

To My Sophie and Maggie:

1. Always put God and His church first. You can do all things through God. Let Him be your guide in life through prayer and reading His word, the Bible.

2. Love is not just a four letter word. Love is a big deal and is not a word that you just throw around. Love is something that you do. It is something that you don't give on a whim. It comes with trust and respect. It is something that needs continuous work to help it continue to grow. Love is the greatest action in the world!

3. Your mama and daddy love you no matter what. Yes, you will disappoint us. Yes, there will be times that we have to ground or otherwise punish you. Please know that does not change our love or feelings for you. You will always be part of us. Our love will never go away!

4. Boys will lie! Some of them will. This is when putting God first comes in handy (and a box of tissues and chocolate ice cream and your mama's shoulder)!

5. Girls will lie! Sometimes even your "friends." Refer to number 1 for help (and the box of tissues, chocolate ice cream and your mama's shoulder work for this too)!

6. Wash your face every night! (I mean it!) Your mother has struggled with bad skin her whole life. A lot of it was because I didn't wash my face. So I will be making sure you follow through with this one.

7.If you don't enjoy something, then stop doing it. Don't play a sport because you think we want you to or because you think that is what you are supposed to do. Don't participate in drama because I did. Don't pretend to like golf because that is what dad watches on the weekends. Do what makes you happy when it comes to activities in school!

8. The most popular boy or girl in school is not going to be popular forever. Eventually they become adults and they become just like everyone else. Sometimes they lose their muscle, they lose their charm, and in all honesty they lose their appeal. Don't feel bad if you aren't their friend in school or if you appear to go unnoticed. God has other plans and He has something even better in store for you.

9. Save your money! Watch what you spend and save when you can!

10. Read your Bible and pray! The answer is always there and God is always listening!

11. Don't let anyone ever question your worth! You are more valuable to me and your daddy than you will ever know!

12. Putting a plan into action doesn't always mean it will go how you have it planned. Buckle up and enjoy the journey!

13. Find a love that is more like a comedy then a romance movie! If you can find the person that makes you laugh at yourself and life (and not take everything so seriously), then you have found the right one!

14. Look for inspiration everywhere! Take everything in because the smallest thing can inspire you and make your day go better!

15. When you find friends that understand your sense of humor, knows what you are thinking with just a look, and can use code words with you to have a whole conversation, you are truly blessed with a great gift! Cling to these people because they are rare jewels!

16. Never be ashamed of who you were or mistakes you have made! Life is too short to live in the past! Chin up, learn from them,  and move forward!

17. Be adventurous! Don't be afraid to try something new (except a tattoo or some weird piercing! Discuss that with us first PLEASE)!

18. Date someone that you would marry! I'm not saying you will find "the one" in high school (but you could). But look at every boy through the scope of "Would I want my children to call this guy "daddy" one day?" "Does he have goals beyond high school or Friday night even?" "Does he value what I value?" Seriously think about these things!

19. You always have a home with mom and dad!

20. Dance! (When you are happy, when you are sad, when you are cleaning the house...just dance!)

I'm sure there are more that I want you, my sweet little girls, to get from life, but these will get you started and guide you on this journey of life!

Love,
Your mama

Sophie at 4 and Maggie at 6 months

New Baby Must Haves!

My cousin is expecting a baby in July. While talking to her this past weekend, I pulled out Gripe Water to help get rid of Maggie's hiccups. We also talked about Mylicon drops. She looked at me and said, "Why did you not tell me about all of this with Hailey?" I laughed and said, "You had the first baby. I didn't know about any of it." So it gave me the idea to share some of the things that I have really found useful with both girls. Here are a few of my favorite things where babies are concerned!

1. Gripe Water: I heard of gripe water with Sophie and tried it, but didn't have much luck with it. It didn't help her so I just kind of dismissed it. Maggie has been totally different. She gets hiccups all the time. A blogger friend, Emily Parker, suggested Gripe Water. I was desperate and gave it a try. It worked instantly. When she gets hiccups, I just give her a little and it almost always knocks out her hiccups. It is a miracle drug!

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2. Mylicon: I love Mylicon drops. I like that it kills the foam in formula and I feel like it does help their tummies with gassiness. With Sophie I used the Target brand and found they worked a little better than the name brand kind. With Maggie I have used the Equate brand and they work great! Why pay more for just a name?

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3. A good diaper bag: I totally recommend finding a diaper bag that you love. Shop around and don't just go for looks. Look at the function of the diaper bag. I really shopped around for a diaper bag this time and ended up going with the same bag I had with Sophie. I got a Kalencom. I love their bags! They clean easily and have plenty of space. Zulilly will occasionally have a sale on them and you can get them cheap! I also love the SkipHop diaper bags. You can find them cheaper on Amazon then on their actual website. They also carry them at Babies R Us and I saw one at Ross the other day. They are really cute, coated for easy clean up and have lots of space. Find one that fits your needs and go with it!

                                                     Skip Hop                                     Kalencom

4. Rock N Play Sleeper: I highly recommend the Rock N Play sleeper by Fisher Price. This is what we got for Maggie to sleep in and she seems to really like it. It is angled which is great since she has reflux issues. She sleeps in it pretty good, but she is a grunty baby so it is hard to tell how soundly that really is. They are reasonable in price as well. They are also really easy to travel with because they are light weight. Glad my step-mom got this for me! There was a recent recall on these that said mold grew between the padding and the seat. I can see where this would happen if the child had an accident and you didn't clean the cover and let it dry. We have had no issues so far!

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5. Breast Pump: I have tried to breastfeed both of my girls. With Sophie I ended up pumping. With Maggie I breastfed until we got home and then switched to formula. If you choose to pump, you need to invest in a good breast pump. I highly recommend an electric one because the hand pumps are time consuming and I don't think they work as well. My step-mom had purchased one for my cousin so I just used it. It is a Medela and it worked great! I would also recommend investing in the bra for hands free pumping  Holding the bottles while you pump really ties you down. Target has a good variety of Medela products and they carry a lot of them in the store. A few more things I recommend if you decide to pump or breastfeed is lanolin cream for your nipples, hydrogel pads (water based are best and only use for 48 hours), and the nipple shields (for when you can't use the hydrogel pads anymore). There are also other accessories out there. 

                         

6. Bouncy Seat: We have a Boppy Bouncy Seat we used with Sophie that we use with Maggie as well. It is great for propping her up and for moving her where we need her (at the dining table, in the bathroom, etc.) Definitely get one!

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7. Boppy Pillow: These are great for a lot of things. We used it to prop Sophie up while we got ready in the morning. We used it for tummy time occasionally  We used it for feeding her (its real purpose). They are great for a lot of different things. I do not recommend leaving your child sitting in it unsupervised or for extended periods of time. We have used it for Maggie some, but I know we will use it more the older she gets.

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8. Cloth Diapers: No, not for diapering, for burping! I have a stack of all kinds of cloth diapers that I used around the house for burp cloths. I save the cute one for when we go out. They are great for feeding and if they are a little stained, who cares? You just use them around the house, right? I have a ridiculous amount of them from Sophie and I bought a pack with Maggie as well. I go through four to five a day. It gets spit up on it or milk, in the clothes hamper it goes! I highly recommend getting some of these.

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9. Carseat Canopy: This is something I wish I had with Sophie! It is like a tent that goes over the baby carrier. It is great for the doctor's office and other places you are worried about germs getting in or when it is cold. You can make your own (I found several tutorials) or buy one at carseatcanopy.com.  I bought one and then had one given to me as a shower gift. Sometimes in parenting magazines, you can find a code to just pay for the shipping on one which is what I did. 

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10. A&D Ointment: I still use this on Sophie and she is potty trained. She gets irritated once in awhile and this clears it up instantly! Get the ointment not the cream. I had a doctor tell me this. He said it worked better than any cream out there and so far it has!

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11. Orbit Labels: I highly recommend these if you are sending your child to daycare or even for the church nursery. These are little rubber bands that have your child's name on them. I had these with Sophie and I am ordering some for Maggie as well. You can order these from inchbug.com. I love Inchbug! They have all kinds of neat things. I highly recommend their website!

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12: Gowns: I love gowns for babies! They are so easy in those first weeks when you are changing diapers every 10 minutes. No snaps and it keeps them covered! Maggie's doctor at the hospital said she loved them because of their ease as well. Sophie lived in them and Maggie does too for the most part.

This is one of Sophie's old gowns from Old Navy! I think she looks like a caterpillar!

13. Quick Clean Micro-Steam Bags: I LOVE these bags! They are great at sterilizing and they are super easy to use. They are made by Medela, but there is also a Munchkin kind for cheaper. I have used both and they are the same. You wash your bottles and nipples or your breast pump equipment and put it in these bags with a little water and sterilize them in the microwave. You get 20 uses out of each bag. So great!

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14. Graco Electric Nasal Aspirator: (I don't want to end on 13...he he!) This was suggested to me by a doctor when Sophie was really sick and had a very runny nose! It is super easy to use and really gets out the crud. Sophie wasn't crazy about it, but Maggie doesn't seem to mind and it kind of vibrates which causes them to sneeze which definitely gets the yucky stuff out! I would definitely get one!

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Here is my list of essentials! I could go on and on! I have my opinion on bottles and pacis (I use Avent for both) and diapers and wipes (I use Pampers Sensitive), but that is something you need to decide for yourself at what works for your baby! I hope this helps all my new mommy friends!

January 4th: The Day Our Miracle was Born!

I have gone back and forth about writing Maggie's birth story because a) I feel that sometimes we put too much out there that should be private. That is not directed at anyone specifically. I have been told that I share too much at times. That is one reason I have struggled with this post. b) I have a lot of friends right now who are expecting and I don't want to freak them out because Klint and I were shocked after her birth. I really don't want to scare anyone else.

I guess I should preface my story by saying that Maggie was my second and second babies tend to go a lot quicker. Where Sophie took me from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to have, Maggie did not. Here is her story...

From the beginning with Maggie I made it clear that I did not want a man to deliver me. I wanted my doctor who I had seen the whole time. I knew that if it happened naturally I was in for whoever was on call, but I had hoped we could induce again and I would have my doctor. It worked out that is exactly what happened. I chose to be induced on the 4th so I could have who I wanted deliver me. I know that may seem silly, but with Sophie, I had a male doctor who I was not happy with. He didn't let me get loud at all in my pushing. He wouldn't listen to me when I tried to adjust my position. It was just horrific. I didn't want that experience this time.

Up to my induction date, Klint and I traveled to Valdosta. We knew we were chancing it, but Tifton is only 45 minutes away. I was sure we would be fine to make it back. Ha! If I knew then what I know now, I would not have chanced it.

We went in at midnight on the 4th. I was a nervous wreck. Sophie was with Klint's mom and I just wanted to cry the whole night. The feelings of her not being the only one anymore and what if something goes wrong, all of it just had me on edge. 

39 weeks with Maggie!

39 weeks with Sophie!

They checked me in and I had to be monitored for an hour before they would insert a pill to help progress my dilation. When I went in I was almost 3cm. After my hour of being monitored they inserted the pill. I had to lay flat on my back for an hour which was torture!!! The beds are so uncomfortable and my back was killing me. As soon as my hour was up, I flipped to my side. I could tell I was having contractions, but they weren't too bad. They came in to check me to see if they needed to do another pill. I was a full 3cm almost 4cm and thinning. They decided to wait until 5:00 to do another pill. After suffering through an hour of laying on my back again, I finally flipped to my side and dozed off. At 8:00 the doctor came in. She checked me and said I was 4cm, almost 5cm. She wanted to go ahead and break my water. I asked for one last potty break before we went forward. I remembered with Sophie that once they broke my water, my contractions really got to rocking so I wanted to be ready. They broke my water at 8:02 and within 10 minutes I was contracting pretty good. I told Klint to get the nurse to start my IV so I could get my epidural. They came in and started it and the contractions got worse and worse. 

After about three more bad contractions, I told Klint I really needed to push. He told the nurse and she checked me. I was at 7cm. She called the doctor to see about my epidural or some kind of IV meds. I had a couple more contractions. At this point I looked at Klint and said, "I'm not going to get an epidural." He tried to reassure me I would, but when he looked at the nurses they wouldn't meet his eyes. He pretty much knew I was right. Poor Klint! I felt horrible because I was trying to rip his hand off. The contractions hurt so bad! He said he looked down at one point during one of my contractions and his fingertips were purple! They probably should have x-rayed his hand after it was all over to make sure it was functional! Ha!

I told Klint I needed to push. I just felt like if I pushed I wouldn't hurt anymore. I never felt this feeling with Sophie, thanks to the epidural, and know this is why I ended up pushing for two hours to have her. The nurse checked me and she said she only felt my cervix on one side. They got the head nurse to check. She told me to push through the contraction. In the middle of it she looked at the nurse and said, "Get the doctor! I feel the head!"

My bed became a transformer and transformed into my labor bed! Pushing was great! Until the second round when I told the doctor I couldn't do it and she told me to focus and I could (my wimp out moment)! Let me stop right here and say, I am so glad that I chose to induce to have my choice of doctor. She was wonderful and it was a totally different experience then my first. She let me pretty much do or say what I wanted and she was so professional. She knew I was a worry wart and she made sure I had no reason to worry. Love my doctor.

At the end of my second round of pushing I noticed that Maggie's heart rate was dropping and it was taking its time getting back to normal. After my third round of pushing, the doctor told me that we had to get Maggie out. So we started our fourth round. It was so much easier pushing this time because I knew what I was doing. I could tell what was happening. I asked for a mirror, but they didn't get it in time. I pushed three times on my fourth round and the head was out. The doctor looked at the nurses and told them that she couldn't pull Maggie. Klint looked and realized the cord was around her neck and the doctor was having to hold it from squeezing her neck. During my last push I had two nurses help push because the shoulders were stuck. And with 20 minutes or so total of pushing she was here at 9:03! One hour and a minute after they broke my water! We were dumb to think we would have made it back from Valdosta if my water had broke! There is no way!

She came into this world weighing 9lbs. 8oz. and they measured her at 22in. long (but at the doctor last week she was only 21in. so we aren't sure how long she really was at birth). I looked at the doctor in shock. I couldn't believe I gave birth to that big baby without any drugs. I felt proud! I am pretty tough after all! (Even though I did apologize to the nurses for being a wimp and yelling. They assured me I did great and they said I didn't yell at all!) Here are pictures of Miss Maggie!

 

 

It happened so fast that there was no family there. They got to the hospital right as they took her to the nursery. I did get to see Sophie without Maggie in the room which was a big deal to me because I didn't want her to see me with the new baby and feel she was being replaced. When Sophie did see me she was scared because of the IV and she wasn't sure of the bed because of a bad experience in the ER and gluing her chin. As soon as she knew I was okay, she wanted to go back and see Maggie.

I was exhausted and Klint and I were both in a state of shock. We expected something comparable to Sophie's birth. This was so fast! I stayed sore for most of the day, but I did notice that I seemed to recover quicker with Maggie then I did was Sophie. I really feel it was because I didn't have an epidural this time. And for the few minutes of pain I had, it was well worth it to have a fast delivery and a quick recovery! 

Klint was a little dazed!

I had to do an hour of skin to skin with Maggie (this was something new). Before Klint took her to the nursery, he got to hold her for a little bit!

Announcing her arrival!

We felt so blessed that Maggie was here and healthy especially since she wasn't supposed to be here at all! She is our miracle (as is Sophie) and we can't wait to see what the future holds for her!

Our family of four!