A day at the beach

We interrupt this post to put in a gratuitous picture of Kate with her big sister Eleanor. We had Kate's two week check up today and almost everything looks good. Her abdomen is larger on one side than the other and it's probably nothing, but she will have to have an ultrasound to make sure all is where it's supposed to be. She has gained back to her birth weight and seems to be doing super. We are really enjoying having her at home and she's not making me too tired.

Now back to our regular post. . .

Even though I'm supposed to be resting, I've been a bit busy with putting together an auction "basket" for our school's PTA silent auction. Since I'm room mom for one of my daughters, it's one of my jobs to send out notes to the other parents, gather supplies and money and put the whole thing together. The auction is this Saturday and I got everything in just under the wire! I was hoping parents would send things in early so I could get most of it done before Kate was born, but no such luck. As it was, I received very few donations and had to do a lot of fill in myself. One of the dangers of being room mom!

Even though it's still winter, Target had a lot of "beach" type items already in their store. Not in one place, so you had to know where to look, but still I was able to get almost everything we needed. The only item I was not able to get there (and I was not going to go all over town with a new baby trying to find it either) was a beach bag. I remembered Ann Steeves (of Georgeous Things) posted how to make a quick and easy Two-Hour tote bag at BeSewStylish. I had some netting we used for a sandbox cover, in our shed and some k.p. kids cotton fabric with a beach theme I had received years ago through a coop in my stash. About two hours later, here is the result:
I made the bag a bit bigger than Ann's directions, but it went together very well and I'm pleased with the result. Here's a picture of the completed "basket":

Now that I'm feeling mostly normal again, I found myself really enjoying sewing again. It will be hard for a while since Kate likes me best right now, but I'm already starting to get ideas of things I can work on next! For now though, it's an early to bed night since I spent my nap sewing instead of sleeping. Oh and my daughter Macy brought home the newest Junie B., First Grader book that I haven't read and I'm going read that tonight before she takes it back to school. What a treat!

Twelve hours later . . .

and Kate makes her entrance!!!!
What a surprise! I had no idea when I had my husband take the belly shot that it would be just a short time later and I would have that belly no more, but a beautiful baby instead!

Georgia Kate was born on Valentine's Day at 9:18 am. What a wild ride and delivery! At 5:30 I woke up to a clunk and knew that her head had engaged since this happened with Ellie. I thought about calling my husband to come home as he had just left for work, since Ellie's labor had been so fast (2 1/2 hours), but I was having no contractions. Big mistake! Around 6:15 I started having very mild contractions about five minutes apart. Very mild, so I figured I was in early labor if that and had time. Claire woke up around 6:45 and I brought her upstairs. Contractions a bit more strong, but still short-15-20 seconds long. I called my husband's work and left a message as he was working out and not at his desk. At 7:00 I think this really may be it and with none of my last three labors lasting longer than 5 hours, I think it's a good idea to call the midwife as the birthing center is at least 45 minutes away in good traffic and we are now starting rush hour. She says to come on in when my husband gets home and we'll hang out and see what happens.

At 7:10 I call my husband again and he answers. By now I'm pretty sure this is it and tell him he needs to come home. Contractions still short, but more intense. I call the mom who I carpool with for Ellie's preschool and tell her I need her to take Ellie to school and bring her home. I call my neighbor and ask if the older kids can come over until time to go to school. Still thinking about what to do about Claire. Call our friend who always watches the kids when I'm delivering and she's on her way (about an hour away). Get Valentine stuff for my daughter Macy's class (I'm class mom and supposed to provide party supplies, cookies, etc.) and then call my back up parent and tell her that I don't think I will be making it to the party after all and can she come and get the supplies.

By 7:30 I know this is no false alarm and I'm worried. Trent finally arrives right when carpool mom does to take Ellie to her house until time for preschool. Claire goes with older kids to neighbor's until our other friend can get to our house. We leave the house sometime between 7:45 and 8:00. It is now the height of rush hour and the drive is SLOOOOOW. I move to the back seat so I can lay flatter and call the midwife. I am sure we are not going to make it and that I'm going to have the baby on the freeway. The midwife stays on the phone with me and talks me through each contraction. I start to feel pressure and I know this is it. She has me blowing out those birthday candles and it helps. Soon the pain is gone, but the pressure is intense. Trent reads off each exit as we get closer and traffic starts moving. We finally get to the birth center. Trent drives up on the sidewalk and they are ready to deliver in the car or at least on the floor of the birth center at the bottom of the stairs.

I manage to get out of the van, but I can feel the baby coming. At that moment I'm ready to drop down on the floor and give birth, but the pain stops and I run up the stairs to the birthing room. Five minutes (?) later Kate is born. Whew!

She weighed 10 lbs and measured 22 1/4" long. We left about 3 1/2 hours later and came home. Here we are right before we were ready to go home:

I feel really good and despite how fast my labor was, it was my easiest. I would have rather it been a little less stressful, but I'm glad it went as well as it did. Nursing is going extremely well and everyone is pleased with their new sister-even Ben! She did well her first night home.

I had a feeling she would come before her due date (which was the 16th) and I was right. All my others were 8-10 days past! Ben was pleased since he guessed she would be born on Valentine's Day. I had hoped to make her a going home outfit, but ran out of time. I think it was prophetic that the outfit I did buy to take her home in was covered in hearts. :)

Baby outfit and belly shot

I made this Kwik Sew 2433 for my son's teacher. She is having a son in March and I wanted to make her my standard baby outfit. I wanted to give it to her for Valentine's day. I finished it Tuesday night, just in time! I couldn't picture her baby in light blue so I was different and made this in a soft navy blue knit. I hope she doesn't think that's too weird!
I bought the teddy bear applique and made the label using iron on transfer paper. I really like how they turned out!
I never had a belly shot with any of my other children and asked my husband to take one right after I finished up the baby outfit. I look at this picture and wonder why my mother is standing there! I find it amazing and a bit disconcerting how much I look like her. I have managed to gain 8 lbs for this pregnancy (thank you nausea!) and as you can see, it's all belly.