Lydia's First Photo Shoot

My friend Nickie Mullin took these pictures. She's amazing, check out her blog at www.nickiejeanphotography.blogspot.com

Funny...

I love when something happens that you don't realize is absolutely hilarious till after the fact. Then you look back and can't stop laughing. (I have to first say Ryan told me NOT to post this on the blog, but since he never actually reads my blog, just looks at pictures.....I think he'll skim right past this one.)

Here's the story.

When I was in labor and we had arrived at the birth center, our wonderful Midwife Debbie had us go for a 30 min walk to get things going. We went on a rather humiliating walk in a semi-busy part of town with people walking and driving by, while I was having regular contractions. I could only imagine what people thought. Anyway at one point there was a punk kid on the other-side of the road just behind us. I noticed him briefly and got a "danger" vibe from him, but then a contraction came on and I forgot about him.

That was that. So I thought.

Later that night, after Lydia was born and my Mom and sisters were there visiting us, Ryan gave them the run-down of the night. He mentioned going for a walk and a punk kid who he felt the need to protect me from.

Again, that was that.

Then later as I was writing this whole experience in my journal and I started to write about the kid, I realized I had never asked Ryan what was going through his mind at this point. He was sitting next to me, so I asked him. His response: "I got a bad vibe from him so I looked around on the ground and made sure I could always grab something to throw at him if I needed to." This sunk in. I asked him, "like a rock?" "yes, like a rock". Then suddenly I pictured myself, bent over through a contraction and my husband chucking rocks and sticks across the street at this punk kid who intended us harm. I couldn't stop laughing. He was really thinking this, keeping his eye on the ground every step of the way. Looking for rocks.

My Hero!

The Happenings at the Marley's...

It has been a bit of a mad-house around here lately. I wonder how other new Mom's do it because I often feel like everything is falling apart faster than I can put it back together. Not in a horrible way, just in a the house gets messy, the kids are both crying, and we have to do this and this and this....all at the same time. Along with having a new baby, which is wonderful, we are also preparing our foster girl to leave for Job Core on Tuesday. So here's a bit of what's been going on.

Adelle meeting her sister for the first time. She was very interested.

Kisses...

and cuddles...

My Mother the life saver. She has been the best Mom/Grandma a person could ask for. She helps and offers to help, and so perfectly holds and gives attention to both babes. It has meant so much to me to share these things with her, and to hear her wisdom. I feel just as young as my kids as I become her "kid" again.

And isn't she beautiful?

Here's babe number 1. She is adjusting well, it's been hard for her to see me sitting so much, nursing, but luckily Daddy has been around to give attention. And she really loves her sister, she is concerned for her when she cries, wants to kiss, hug and pet Lydia. It's adorable to see that maternal side come out of a girl so young.

I think one of the greatest things I have done in life is to give these two girls to each other, best friends for life.

Meet Baby Lydia

It's been pretty crazy-wonderful around here :o). Here's a last pregnancy shot, me at 39 weeks 2 days. ALMOST done!!!

I went into labor the morning of the 12th, two days before my due date. This was my Grandmother Louine Bromely's birthday, and I was begging her to see that Lydia be born on that day. She came through for me. The contractions took a little time to get going but we went to the Birth Center at 6:30 pm ready to NOT get sent home. (My labor with Adelle totaled 4 days and 4 nights. I was scared to death this would happen again).

The midwife Debbie had us go for a walk to get the contractions stronger since I was only dialated to a 4. When we got back to the center Debbie came into our room with a breast pump (a contracting womans worst enemy. I remember this torture device and wanting to die from it with Adelle) Luckily when she saw my contractions and checked Lydia's heart rate, which was a little high, she decided we needed to give Lydia a break. She let me get in the water. Ahhhhh. My contractions were strong and very effective, so I managed to escape the breast pump torture. Debbie even guessed this baby would be here soon so if I wanted to have my sisters and Mom be here for the birth, or just after, they should be here around 9:30 pm. That was VERY shocking to me as it was only about 8:50 and I had no clue I was moving along that fast. Very exciting.

Soon after this she broke my water, and then after that Debbie informed us that I had an anterior lip. Basically a part of the cervix was not dialating as it should making the baby unable to pass through it. Not that you have this option, but this is something you DON'T want in natural childbirth. This slowed the process down quite a bit, when I should have been pushing I had to wait through the pain hoping that changing positions would move it naturally. After that didn't work Debbie suggested holding it back while I pushed Lydia past this. This was the most painful part of the whole birth, but luckily it worked.

Baby Lydia came out after 10 minutes of pushing and was born at 10:40 weighing 7 lbs 4 oz at 20". She looked up at me the moment she came to my chest and just stared at me.

My Mom said this baby had more vernix on her that she had ever seen any baby have. I totally agree.

The moment she was born we called in the "Female Support Team"and it was SO wonderful for me to have them there. Not only were they so supportive and excited they did all the baby holding while the other stuff went on. Having them there was something that lifted my already high spirits, it was so much fun to hear them talk to each other about anything and everything. Getting stitched up was made pleasant as I was distracted by all the talk about Lost.

My sisters Vanessa and Melissa, and My Mom Pauline, whom Lydia Pauline is named for.

Ryan was the best coach I could have ever asked for. I squeezed his hands and arms and put him through the ringer. That is the closest he will ever come to the pain of childbirth.

I am glad I married this man.

My Mother said she looks like me as an infant and I agree. She also weighed exactly what I did. Pretty niffty.

She has been the best baby so far. Easy to comfort, hardly cries and sleeps a LOT. We love her to death and are so excited for her and Adelle to meet later tonight.

And that is our new family addition. Keep checking in on us as she gets cuter and cuter :o)