Saturday, April 24, 2010

Life is *so* good.

Here I sit, on the eve of my 35th birthday, and I can't help but reflect and take stock on my good, good, life.

Two beautiful daughters.
A loving, supportive and appreciative husband.
Family calling and coming over to spend time with us.
Friends bringing us dinner.
Friends visiting to ooh and aah over our wee one.
Sweet little packages arriving in the mail from far and wide.
Hand written cards with lovely, joyful messages to our little family.

Big Sister Sadie is taking beyond beautifully to her new role.
Little Lilah is sleeping 4+ hour stretches at 2 weeks old.
Dishes are getting done, laundry hasn't piled up too badly yet.

Sure, I'm a little tired but oh, so full. So full of love energy.

Today I took time for chalk drawings and reading insect books with Sadie while Lilah snoozed.

Our days creep by; sometimes slowly, sometimes quickly. I am loving the opportunity to just soak it in and spend my time doing nothing but caring for my family.

I gaze adoringly at Sadie while she stands on her stool to talk to Lilah as she lies on her changing table. I watch with intense pride as she kisses her brow and talks sweetly to her sister - using a new, high pitched but very soft voice. I share her amusement as she tells me what Lilah is doing or thinking at any given moment.

I smile reflexively when my milk drunk babe's mouth twitches into an involuntary but deliciously organic smile. She is happy. She is basking in this new world, this new experience; this warmth of love we give her unconditionally. It is feeding her little soul and keeping her at peace. I can feel it; her 8.5 pound body "heavy"in my arms.

Oh, life is just *so* good.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Bun is Born!


She's here!

Lilah Frances Evans joined us at 4:43 on Friday April 9th, 2010 (although she wasn't named until Sunday morning). She was a full 12 days past her "due date". Maybe we should have named her Patience. ;)

She weighed in at a modest 7 pounds and 13 ounces and was measured at 19 and a half inches.

It was another marathon labor and delivery. Who says second babies come faster? I was up at 5 am on Thursday with irregular but intense contractions which continued throughout the day and into the evening. We put Sadie to bed at about 8:30 and decided to commit to getting labor going in earnest.

Boy howdy.

Long story short, I labored at home with Andrew and our FABULOUS friend and doula extraordinaire, Kerri Kastle until about 3 AM. Unfortunately, I was struggling. I was shaking, having hot & cold spells, and vomiting after particularly long/hard contractions. Off to the hospital we went.

I was stoked to learn that I was at 6cm once we were all checked in and assigned a room. By 8:00 am, I was at 8.5 cm and ready to meet this baby.

Apparently my womb is a pretty chill place, because Bun did not want to come out. We finally allowed a Pitocin drip, which kicked my contractions up a few notches (I don't want to talk about it) but the baby still was not "coming down". Eventually someone had the genius idea to break my water, which put me into overdrive and she literally shot out in 2 pushes. It was INSANE. But I survived. ( I'm not gonna lie; those last few minutes there, I kinda thought I might die.)

So there you have it. There are more details, etc. but I needed to post something before more time slips by.

We are hunkering down and trying to figure out this family of 4 thing. Big Sister Sadie is amazingly sweet and excited about Lilah, and the little one is sleeping and eating like a complete champ.

We are blessed and we know it.

more pictures at j9evans.shutterfly.com

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

in the last few days before our Bun arrives...

I thought I'd post a few pictures of our little family of 3 before this baby arrives (who is currently 10 days "late")
Here we go:

Daddy + swing = happy girl!

Walking with Uncle Justin and Daddy

Sadie with her cousins Lucy and Annie on Easter

40 weeks and 8 days

a kiss from big sis