Friday, March 14th at 8:10am I met my daughter. 8lb 5oz, 20.25 in long.
Hannah Leigh is beautiful and, despite having a couple of "soft markers" for genetic defects early on in pregnancy, perfectlyhealthy.
I plan on sharing her birth story soon. But for now, here is a beautiful video story of Hannah's arrival. Filmed and edited by my brother-in-law and awesome uncle, Justin Robinson.
You may want to grab a tissue.
As I sit here eating my Vanilla Caramel Drumstick in the middle of the day, enjoying my last few days/weeks/moments of being pregnant, I have a million thoughts going through my head. But only one that I want to write about.
I am going to meet my little girl soon.
I want to be able to remember what I'm feeling in this moment. In the waiting. I couldn't tell you how many times I've gone back and read my last post before Micah was born. Remembering the swollen hands and feet. But more so, the grateful heart.
These are the times I am so thankful that I blog. Maybe not as consistently as I would like, but it beats having to search my house up and down for my paper journal and then flip through the pages hoping to find a meaningful word or memory. It's all right here, with a quick search.
Of course, this also means I am parading my heartfelt thoughts and emotions to strangers. But if Anne Frank could do it, then so could I.
I have a feeling Hannah is coming any day now. I am only 37 weeks, technically, so there is still plenty of time. But there have been twinges and hints that she is on her way. In fact, I just left the doctor and they gave me a smile and left me with the words, "maybe we'll see you tonight!" Maybe. Or maybe in three weeks when she is due.
I don't feel anxious at all, honestly. I have to admit, I was with Micah. I wanted so badly for him to be here the moment he was full term! I was so ready to hold him in my arms. But this time is different. I am content in waiting. I want Hannah to come when she is ready. And the Lord already knows her birthday.
I spent most of yesterday, "nesting," I guess you could say. Setting up a cozy corner in our room where I will nurse and rock her at night. When Micah walked in our room and saw the chair... he quickly came over and hopped up in my lap. It's like he knows.
But this lap has room for two. It has room for a whole lot more than that when I don't have a giant belly. And I can't wait to hold them here together.
How Far Along: 35 weeks, 3 days (although, last two u/s have shown baby is measuring at original due date of March 11th which would put me at 36 weeks, 4 days) Size of baby: size of a coconut, weighing an average of 5lbs already! Total Weight Gain/Loss: + 28lbs. Maternity Clothes: You know you are getting close when you start outgrowing your maternity clothes! I went to get dressed yesterday and picked out a shirt that JUST FIT a couple weeks ago and now was too tight for my big ole belly. But I don't mind at all, it just means she is growing and developing into a healthy baby! Gender: We had an u/s done a couple weeks ago to checkup on Hannah's kidneys (everything is working perfectly!) and they gave us a great 3D shot of the female area and said, "Oh... definitely still a GIRL!" At least that's one thing we don't have to worry about being "surprised" about at birth! Movement: She is a little mover! More of a squirmy thing than a kicker and puncher (like Micah was!) She seems to always be making some little movement, which keeps my mind at ease. Sleep: Is definitely going better than it was with Micah, that's for sure. Probably because I am so tired at the end of the day from chasing a toddler around! :) I am waking up a couple nights a week to go to the bathroom, but nothing consistent. Definitely taking advantage of any sleep I can get, before I need to get ready for those 3am wakeup calls again! Cravings: Not a lot of outrageous cravings this pregnancy. I am loving hamburgers more than usual, I think that may be attributed to my low iron level and the need for red meat. Symptoms: Some sciatic nerve pain in the right side of my back/leg. It hurts every time I get up to walk. Also, having lots of Braxton Hicks on and off. I can tell my body is getting closer to labor by some of the twinges I am feeling! Best Moment this week: Always love going to the doctor and hearing baby's heartbeat! And also, some good news that I am progressing - had my first weekly checkup and was told that baby's head is really low and I am dilated 1cm. The countdown is on... :)
//previous updates on baby Hannah: 30 weeks27 weeks21 weeks 18 weeks14 weeks
Just a few more pictures from our maternity shoot last week.
This pregnancy is almost over and I can remember vividly the day I found out we were expecting another baby. I can remember the shock, the surprise, the feeling of being sick to my stomach (but I'm pretty sure that was just a pregnancy symptom, because I had so much joy in my heart!) and looking at my 10 month old, Micah, wondering how I could ever love another child the same way that I love him.
I still wonder that sometimes, honestly.
But the truth is, before I actually gave birth to Micah and saw his precious face for the first time - I didn't really know how deeply I could love. I knew what being pregnant felt like and I knew the anticipation and joy I felt about becoming a mom. And I loved my unborn child, from the very beginning. But I didn't know Micah, yet. And there is no way to describe the change that happened in my heart when I finally met him.
Maybe that's wrong for me to admit, but I think it's also important for me to realize as I finish out these last few weeks of pregnancy. Because what I am feeling right now for our daughter is nothing compared to what I will feel when I finally get to hold her, to smell her, to see her face. I already know how much love my heart can hold for a child, because I have been so blessed to experience that with Micah. And I think that I may be anticipating Hannah's arrival just that much more, because of it.
It doesn't seem real that we will have another baby in the house within a month. The pack n play has been transformed back into a newborn napper and the pacifiers are being dusted off for use again (although they didn't get much use the first time). I feel like I just put them all away. And I picked up a newborn diaper the other day and, I promise, I never remember putting Micah in something that small.
17 months with Micah have flown by like a dream. And for the past 9 of them, I've been pregnant.
And now I have one month left to cherish the bond I have with my husband and son as a family of three, before our love extends to another precious blessing from God.
Oh, the joy and anticipation... I can't wait to meet you, Hannah Leigh.