Because I never told the story

She arrived on the scene at this time last year.

This is Bird's birth story - might be a little TMI for some, just a warning.

January 17th 2010, I was just trying to hold it all in. Literally. We were at my parents house to celebrate my oldest brother's 36th birthday with a family dinner before he returned to Philadelphia on a flight the next day. I apparently looked like I was struggling, my mom told me later. It had been a kind a rough day already, with my tummy seizing up, regularly but not painfully, over the past couple weeks and especially the last 12 hours.

We headed home after handing out hugs and receiving a quick, "Don't have that baby on my birthday!" and tried to get some sleep. T and I thought we were going to bed early, calling 10-10:30 pm early for those days when sleep was evading me, and therefore the both of us.

Around midnight, I just couldn't sleep anymore and I didn't know why. About half an hour of tossing and turning on my part left me with one answer. I had to go. #2. That's right.

I was feeling a few pains and thinking they might be contractions but didn't want to wake T for nothing, so I went to do my business and kinda kept time on my own. After some "success" but still feeling a pressure to produce and some pain still cycling through, I thought I better wake T up. I didn't get to say "It's time!" or anything that dramatic but I did shake him and mutter something to the effect of, "I think this is it." This was around 1:30 am.

We started to really time things out and all the while I just wanted to stay in the bathroom, on my special seat and never leave, because the pressure was really getting to me. We waited until they were so many minutes apart regularly and then waited an hour from that time (around 2:30 am) before we decided it was time to call the doctor and head out. There were walks around the living room, bags to finish packing, and coffee (yes coffee, that I am now thankful that T stopped for!) to be made. About 3 am we called my doctor and told her we were heading in and that I was in labor. Lucky for us the hospital was 7 minutes away and it was the middle of the night. There were definitely a few red lights run. We got to the hospital and T parked and helped me walk inside, which was a feat in itself, with the snow and ice covered parking lot and my contractions growing closer and stronger every minute.

It was 3:30 am when I finally got up to the triage, they checked me and I was already at a 6. The nurses were surprised and began to get me ready for my delivery. I was asked what I wanted to do about pain management. I told the truth: I'm not good with pain but I really want to try a natural birth. I would regret that in about an hour, but when all was said and done I'm happy I had a drug free birth.

For the next two hours it was a roller coaster of breathing, focusing, vomiting, back rubs, position changes, groans and grunts, and calming words from T and my amazing nurse Mary. I can honestly say I never imagined myself in half the "positions" I was in for comfort, with so much of my person exposed, but in the moment I think you cease to care about modesty!

Around 5 am I really felt the need to push and my doctor still wasn't there. I was asked if I wanted to wait for her and thought to myself, "I don't think that is up to me, I think you should ask this little person who wants out. I don't care who catches them, but they are ready to say hello!" Within minutes of that, my doctor showed up, swooped in, I was in position and pushing.

About 20-25 minutes later, I was asked if I wanted to look down at my daughter. I was so confused because a) this whole time I thought I was carrying a boy (just a guess) and b) I was too focused on pushing to want to check anything out. But there she was.

January 18, 2010, 5:30 am, 19.5 inches, 7 lbs. 2 oz.

T cut the cord and he brought her to me and everything else kind melted away as the doctors finished up their work down below and T just smiled at me holding our little lady.  As the staff faded out of the room and they periodically came to check on me before moving us to our recovery room, it got so quiet and our little family of 3 could just be, before the phone calls and announcements and congratulations.

It was just us. Three birds.

2011, starts with a bang

2011 has already been full of goods and bads, mostly goods

Bad: first cold of the year- no nursery time with my babies
Good: time to just lounge around with T and Bird at home

Good: planning Bird's 1st birthday party
Bad: hand cramps from addressing invitations so soon after addressing holiday cards (oh January babies!)

Good: my first etsy sale!
Bad: saying goodbye to this beauty

Good: late night crafting by T's side
Good: friend and family time
Good: Bird's new tricks - shaking her head no, clapping, steps + stomps and climbing everything

I'd say we're off to a great start, looking forward to all the great things to come!

Christmases, in photo

Taking a break from the verbose to share our 3 Christmases + bonus visit from Peter and Enomhen, enjoy!

Our visit up north:

Dropping Bird off for a Christmas Eve Eve sleepover at my parents

Christmas Eve morning:

The 3 of us at home on Christmas:

Christmas #3, just the 3 of us

It was exactly what we wanted and hoped for. We all got to sleep in, I was actually up first, but not until about 9 am.  T woke up and we had some quiet chats before Bird joined us and we got breakfast started.

We had been dreaming of this breakfast for weeks. Homemade french toast on egg challah with cinnamon + powdered sugar made by yours truly. Applewood smoked bacon (an entire package) slow cooked in the skillet and tended to by T. A little Cran-grape juice, a lot of butter, flowing maple syrup and we were in a food coma.

After breakfast, we opened presents and Bird showed some improvement on her paper ripping that was lacking during the last two Christmases. We also learned that we need to remove the opened gift from the room before she will really focus on the next one. She is very spoiled. All the excitement pooped her out, so she went down for the count for a couple hours and T and I just got to relax, all quiet style.

Dinner was the second meal of the day we were excited for. We decided against cooking another big meal at home and opted for our second annual trip to a local Chinese restaurant for Christmas dinner. Apparently the memo finally got out about Chinese restaurants on Christmas because they were packed. Last year there were only two other couples there and this year we had to wait for a table. (Side note: Last year, while greatly pregnant, our waiter told us we were having a boy. We were hoping to see him again to show him the contrary evidence.)

Things were going well through the soup and other appetizers but as soon as our dinner arrived, Bird decided she had enough of the evening and she was ready to go home and go to bed. We packed up our leftovers, after only a few (delicious!) bites and headed home quickly.

I am still in awe of the amazing generosity that was poured on us this year. It is just great to know that so many people wanted to spend time with our little fam of 3 and cared enough to get us such thoughtful presents.

Stay tuned for a photo recap of our Holiday time soon!

Happy Thanksgiving

Today has been nothing like I thought it would be but I still have so much to be grateful for (not in any particular order)

Bird
T
Family
Great friends that are family
Old Country Buffet
Not having to do dishes after dinner
Jesus Christ
my health (including my sugar loving teeth)
baby orajel
World of Warcraft
having rich people's problems
enough money to have clutter
my blog
me time

The list goes on but it is late and I'm headed to bed.

Oh and as a special Thanksgiving present to any who read here and wanted to pick up a little something from my shop, Goose and Trisser:

use code 

GANDTBFCMBLOG 

between now and Monday 11/29, at 11:59 pm 

to get 25% off your items (not including shipping and tax). 

enjoy!

Teeth: eruption, extraction, correction

Bird is teething. No one is sleeping.

I am missing a tooth. 14 of my teeth have fillings. You do the math.

I got a new cavity filled yesterday in less than 30 minutes. I was stunned by the dentist's speed and accuracy. I took the numbing needle like an old pro (see above.)

I am getting my wisdom teeth out January 6th. Sympathy e-cards can be sent here. I'm practicing my counting down from 10 to make sure I get it right at surgery time.

Little bits

I am exhausted.*

Bird has been waking up in the middle of the night every night since we went to visit T's parents back in early October. I can't figure it out. She shouldn't be hungry. She knows how to get back to sleep on her own. But every night for weeks now it is like we're back to square one. It is affecting the rest of our day because Mom is no fun when she is tired/cranky/ready to snap from lack of sleep.

I'll get over it.

--

My teeth hurt. Again. I'm 49% serious when I say I'm thinking of getting them all taken out at 27. Either that or I can never look at Coke/candy/anything other than water again. It's that annoying. I'm almost jealous of Bird in that she has no teeth to rot away with sweet sweets. (side note: She still has no teeth! Where are they?)

I have a dentist appointment on Monday and I'm sure they will tell me about 5 of my teeth are rotten (have a cavity) but I think it is just so they can see Bird more often since she is my sidekick and accompanies me every time.

Again, I'll get over it.

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Don't forget to enter the giveaway. No one has yet, so your odds are great for winning. Just pointing out the brightside.


*No I am not growing another person...yet.