The Princess's First Photo Shoot

Sept 5th Labor Day

I know everyone was on pins and needles about what happened to my hammy.  Instead I will tell the story of how Elizabeth Blakely Merritt came into this world with punctual style. 

After checking into the hospital I went from this adrenaline rush of we are going to have a baby to this nervous waiting game.  Elizabeth crashed open the water balloon, but then thought better of leaving her cozy home so after an hour or so of waiting they put Stephanie on a drug to get things going.  The next few hours were fairly calm.  I could watch the contractions on a monitor, but they seemed to not really bother Stephanie.  However, I also would like to say my wife expresses pain by checking out of the planet and into her own mind.  Let me explain.  Let’s say you smash your finger with a hammer.  I would raise my voice and yelp in pain.  Increasing in volume to a crescendo of OUUCHHH.  My wife lowers her voice and will say very calmly, “I hurt my finger.”  Let me give an example.  My wife and I were working in the backyard and she decided she wanted to cut down all the limbs on this mostly dead tree.  I hear a smack and turn around to see the limb cutter on the ground and Stephanie looking at her hand.  She walks over to me in the most calm fashion and says, “I think I hurt my thumb.”  I looked at her and assessed the situation and she seemed okay so I told her to go get some ice on it.  Cause I assumed she was ok and just wanted to take a break.  In reality she was in so much pain she could not even talk and I just told her go get some ice cry baby.  Husband of the year:  Andrew: 1    Other guys:  0

Back to the birth.  It was slow go at first.  We sat around most of the night (me and Stephanie’s mother) and waited for something to happen.  Stephanie was in very little pain for a long, time but then it started to come on and she was concerned if she did not get the epidural she would not be able to later.  So Stephanie got that and then took a little nap.  Oh I should not leave out how many times the nurse tried to get the baby heartbeat monitor thing attached.  It fell out like a half dozen before they gave up and put a band around her tummy.  At some point all hell broke loose, but in the most organized fashion.  Stephanie has her eyes closed zenning through one of the pains and they split the bed in half and rolled things from random places.  In a flash the whole room is set up and it is time to push.  I get the job of holding one of Stephanie’s legs and putting my arm under her back and neck to lean her up to push.  Every time she feels a contraction come I get to hold her up and coach her to breath and encourage her.  I seriously doubt she heard me at all she was so focused on getting this thing DONE!  FYI this is where I almost pulled a hammy.  The doctor started laughing at me because I was holding my breath and pushing like Stephanie and I was red in the face from holding up the partially limp Stephanie and straining with all my might to help get the baby out.  I was just trying to help, but they thought I was going to pass out.  Stephanie was a trooper and after quite a lot of pushing our world changed. Blop. (I wish I could include sound effects)  I instantly drop into tears and am thrust into cutting the cord.  It took a moment I think for Stephanie to come to Earth to realize that Elizabeth was here, and she saw her for a moment before they took the baby off to get cleaned up.  Elizabeth arrived right on time.  She arrived on the morning of her due date.  Oh and she was amazing   ..and slimy

We spent a few days in the hospital learning to feed and change diapers and letting my amazing wife recover.  We were very blessed to have Stephanie’s parents there to help us with bringing us clothing, DVD, and the necessities.  You can see a lovely picture of Stephers holding Elizabeth during our hospital stay.

The Italian Waterfall

I guess it is time we told the story of how Elizabeth arrived. 

Well not from the beginning and not sure that is appropriate for all ages.  Let’s start with a request for dinner.  Stephanie had been craving some Maggianos.  We had planned on going Saturday night however, we could not get a table before 9pm.  So we reserved a table for Sunday Sept 4^th at 5:30.  Stephanie’s folks were in town in case something happened given that the doctor had said any day she could be here.  I think you would have needed a crowbar and riot shields to keep Stephanie’s mother away from the birth of her granddaughter. 

So we arrive for dinner and our server is preggers as well.  She is due on Halloween and asks us when our due date is.  “Tomorrow” is our response.  The server eyes get large as if a baby might drop to the floor at any moment.  Here is where I placed a well-timed jab of, “It would be funny if you water broke here.”  We all chuckle at the highly unlikely scenario.  We order our meal and get through appetizers and soups and salads when Stephanie decides she needs to use the restroom.  A very common occurrence I think pregnant women have the bladder of a thimble.  I have not done a study on it, but I think I am correct on the size.  She gets up and is blocked by another server dropping off food to the table behind us.  At this moment our server comes up and ask if Stephanie is ok.  Stephanie just nods I am fine and then I look at her and ask again,  “You okay?”  This time Stephanie changes her cadence and says, “Um no I think my water just broke.”  From there her dad and I go into full panic mode.  He jumps up knocks over eleven people and runs for the car.  (This might not have happened exactly like I am telling it).  Stephanie and her mother head to the restroom cause Stephanie still has to pee regardless if fluids are leaking all over her.  I would love to tell you that the floor was covered in fluid and a waiter tripped throwing spaghetti onto a two nearby tables.  However, her “accident” was much more subdued.  Our server tells us just head out, “I will let my manager know.”   In hindsight we should have stayed and finished the meal…with towels of course. 

Stephanie’s father and I paced outside of the restaurant waiting for the leaky woman and her mother.  It seems like it took an hour for them to get outside.  I actually got impatient and went in and founded the ladies trying to be discreet which made them look very noticeable as they creeped towards the exit.  We called our doctor’s office and they told us to head to the hospital.  The attached pic is a wonderful picture of Stephanie as we were checking in.  You do not have to look too hard to see she has wet herself.  You can thank her mother for this wonderful picture.  They decided she was in fact leaking and they we were admitted.  FYI she continued to leak for days.  Women are like leaky faucets.  Next post will be about how I almost pulled a hammy during delivery.  Oh and the arrival of Elizabeth.  Mostly about my hammy.



Just a few more days, right?

With the due date just a few days away, we are eagerly awaiting labor to begin.  I am not looking forward to labor but the end result - meeting out little girl.  My belly is stretched to the max and I feel like my skin will split anytime.  My Great Grandmother's 100th birthday is Friday and it would be neat if Lizzie is born on her birthday.

Each time I get up in the middle of the night, Andrew stirs asking "are you in labor?".  I respond "No" and he instantly falls back to sleep. 

Here is a picture he took of me sleeping.  Hopefully I can lay down soon. 

We are looking forward to seeing everyone through out the month of September. 

3 Weeks and Counting Down

It is hard to believe but only three weeks until my due date.  Time has flown by.  I have swollen feet, sleep sitting upright and tire easily.  We now have the essentials for Lizzy.  I've washed all the clothes and blankets and have put everything in it's place. Andrew and I are as ready as we can be.  And now just waiting on Liz to make her debut.

Denise took some pictures of my prego belly last week and here are just a few. 

Baby Shower

Last weekend, Denise hosted a baby shower.  She did and excellent job and it was a lot of fun.  It was great seeing everyone. 

Onesies were mailed out with the invites and guests were asked to decorate them.  Everyone was so creative and did an excellent job.  I loved all of them. 

My department threw a baby shower for Andrew and I this past week.  It was a luncheon and we received the car seat, extra base as well as some other items. 

School is in Session

We have been busy over the past month taking classes to help prepare us for baby Lizzie. 

Hospital Tour - We started with a tour of the hospital.  It was our first time to Bethesda North and well worth it.  We know what to expect from check in until we are discharged and the rooms we will be in.  So when labor starts, Andrew knows where to take me.

Labor Class - A full Saturday of watching videos and learning about the various stages of labor.  Andrew doesn't think we will remember any of the breathing techniques and I think he is right considering I can only remember one right now.  The instructors were funny and picked on Andrew.  The class eased some of the apprehension I towards delivery. 

Breast Feeding and Beyond - Andrew didn't want to go to this class but is glad that he did as he doesn't have anything to do except offer encouragement.  I know it will take time and patience, but the benefits are too good to ignore.  We learned some basic techniques and benefits of breast feeding.  As well as transitioning back to the workplace and how to make breast feeding work.  Andrew's encouraging words "get a latch and latch on"

Taking Care of Baby and Mom - Most instructive - we now have the confidence to take care of Lizzie.  We learned how to diaper, give a bath, hold the baby, trim nails, swaddle, safety, and some other stuff.  We also learned what I can expect after delivery (I had no idea and it freaked me out a little). 

Signing for Babies - We are going to teach Lizzie signing.  We learned a lot of signs during the class.  Our hope is less tantrums.  We will have to stick to it and help it will help her communicate earlier.  On a side note - our daycare also teaches signing. 

Now that we have been to all the classes, we are "ready" for a baby.