Sybil Jane,You're one month old! This month has been so sweet and I'm honestly a little sad it's over. You have been such a sweet, mellow newborn (I am praising the Lord!). With you being our third I'm really aware just how fast this time goes and while I truly love all (*most) of the stages there is just something so special about this time.
You came when you were ready--I thought for sure you'd be early because you're my third baby...but you were actually the only one of my babies who went past her due date! Hazel was a week early, Eleanor came right on her due date, and you were two days late.
I was so nervous about when you'd come, who would take care of your sisters, and if I would make it to the hospital in time (E came in two hours and I was anxious about how fast you'd be!), but for some reason you going past your due date caused me to relax and truly realize that all of it is out of my control anyway...I spent a lot of time praying the day after your due date. I prayed about all the things I was feeling so anxious and frustrated about (namely still being pregnant and nothing going according to my timeline). That night I slept great and woke up to contractions.
The contractions started around 5:30am but I didn't know if they were real because I had been having so many Braxton Hicks, but by 6am I knew they were real and decided to wake up your dad. By 6:30 my contractions were closer together. Your dad called our friend, Candace, and she came right over to take care of your big sisters. I thought it was silly to go to the hospital so soon--the contractions were about 4 minutes apart, but I was still talking through them and didn't think we needed to go. Thankfully your dad is smart and thought through the timing of calling a cab and rush-hour traffic! Also by the time we actually got out the door the contractions were even closer together. We were in the cab by 7:15am and the contractions were getting much more painful. It was rainy and dreary outside, but all I could think about was the fact that I was going to meet you so soon! And I wouldn't be pregnant anymore!
We arrived at the hospital around 7:45am and there was no one in the waiting room! This was shocking. They got me back in triage and I was 6cm dilated and in active labor. As they wheeled my bed to a delivery room I heard my my doctor (who I had never met before and who had just arrived) say, "I'll be right there! So exciting!" After you were born she told me she was on the subway when they called her saying, "You need to get here! She is going to have this baby so soon!"I don't remember getting into the delivery room, but I do remember pushing...because pushing with you was the hardest out of all three labors. I only pushed for about 10 minutes, but it felt like a lifetime! For some reason breathing became a hard concept for me to grasp which made it pretty difficult to breathe let alone push you out. Thankfully after the 100th time of the nurses saying, "take a deep breath--like you're going under water!" it made sense to me. I heard one of the nurses say, "I think two more pushes and she'll be out." That was all I needed to hear :) You were born in two more pushes!
You were born at 8:45am weighing 8lbs 5 oz. Your sisters were both born in the middle of the night so it was new to experience a morning delivery. I had a good nights sleep the night before so aside from being tired from labor I felt pretty great (this was NOT true for your sisters birth stories)! Honestly your labor felt so smooth--I felt so calm and excited the whole time. Plus your dad encouraged and cheered me on through the entire process...I couldn't have done it without him.I'm so grateful for your birth story because I've also experienced the opposite of calm and excited (I'm also very thankful for those times because I don't think I would've experienced your birth the way I did had I not had those experiences).
You are such a gift to our family! So many people told me going from 2 to 3 kiddos would be our easiest transition and although I've had my fair share of tears from sheer exhaustion and feeling overwhelmed with the neediness of three kiddos under three, it has been our easiest transition to date. It definitely helps that you're a dream of a newborn too!You're sleeping, eating, and pooping like a champ. At your two week appointment you were back up to your exact birth weight and growing great. We've had lots of snuggles and your sisters just adore you. Gigi came up and met you in the hospital and Grandma came up two weeks later. You've met so many friends already and you'll meets lots more friends and family throughout the summer. You are one loved little girl, Sybie!
We're so glad you're here!
I love you, Sybil Jane.
Always,
Mama
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