See how she's grown:
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| 1 day |
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| 1 week |
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| 4 weeks |
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
one month!
Our little Lena is one month old today. Well, kind of. She's 4 weeks old. Her one month is technically on Saturday. She is becoming quite the little active baby! As active as a 4 week old can be. She's starting to stay up longer during the day so we actually have time to play. It's not just wake, eat, sleep anymore. But now I get to spend more time with her.
See how she's grown:
I would post more pictures, but all the pictures we have of her so far are only of her sleeping. As the weeks continue, hopefully we'll get some pictures of her awake.
See how she's grown:
Monday, June 18, 2012
Meeting the Herlins
Little Lena has been quite the popular little angel since she joined our family. Already becoming the social butterfly she will probably be as she gets older. She sleeps through most of her social interactions now, so hopefully that will change as she grows.
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| Meeting Granny Annie |
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| Meeting Steve. He is afraid of babies. Whoda thought. She's been here for 3 weeks and he still hasn't held her. |
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| Meeting Aunt Alicia |
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| Meeting Uncle Clark |
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| Meeting Grandpa |
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| Meeting Uncle Todd |
Lewis's family comes out to visit on Monday, so it will be fun to see them welcome their newest granddaughter.
the dad
I just wanted to share some of my favorite pictures of Lewis getting to know and taking care of his new little girl. It has been so fun for me to watch him interact with Lena and watch him get more comfortable taking care of her. When Lena is crying, Lewis walks up to where she's laying, starts talking close to her ear, and she immediately calms down. It is fun to watch. He loves her so much.
This adventure that Lewis and I have started has been so fun and rewarding. We are excited to see what the next few weeks will bring!
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| holding her for the first time after she was born |
helping with the feeding
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| first family walk together |
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| chatting it up in bed in the morning |
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Labor and Delivery (but mostly just delivery)
A few weeks before Lena was born, Lewis and I took a prenatal class where they teach you what to expect during labor, delivery and the postpartum period. During class, they told us that labor and delivery for first time moms would last 12-18 hours.
They lied.
We just barely made it to the hospital in time.
May 8 - 36 weeks
At our 36 week appointment, the doctor that we saw measured me to see that I was already 4 centimeters dilated and 80% effaced. He told us that he wouldn't be surprised if we had the baby that weekend.
I was terrified. Still working full time, hadn't gotten anything really ready for the baby (I was going to do that when I was done with work at the end of the week) and my mom was going on a trip to Europe for 10 days and wouldn't be around if we went into labor. I called my mom to tell her what the doctor said and she started getting anxious too. For her first baby, she was induced when she was 3 cm and 70% effaced. So she thought the end was coming too.
The next day, I had some complications so I called to talk to a nurse. She suggested that if my job was flexible then I should have that day be my last instead of waiting until the end of the week.
So I quit my job early.
The next day, with orders from Lewis, I was to stay in bed and relax for as long as I wanted. But I had so much to do! When Lewis was done with work, we hit the stores to go shopping. We bought sheets, towels, our mattress, and everything and anything else you might need for a baby.
The next day, we washed it all. Washed all the clothes, sheets, blankets, towels, wash cloths. Everything. We were ready for the baby and she could come whenever she wanted (still didn't have a name, but figured we could decide that at the hospital).
May 15 - 37 weeks
At our 37 week appointment, there wasnt much change. Now about 4+ cm and still 80% effected. The doctor we saw told us, just like the doctor the week before, that he wouldn't be surprised if the baby came within the next few days. My body was ready.
He then gave us something to think about: he was on call the next Tuesday. He said if I came into the hospital, he wouldn't send me home but he would induce us so we could have her.
As much as I wanted Lena (still nameless at this point) to come ASAP, Lewis and I decided to wait and see if I'd go into labor naturally.
May 22 - 38 weeks
Still no baby.
Now we were 5 cm dilated and 95% effaced. And the doctor this week said the same thing everyone else had said: baby is coming in the next few days.
I was starting not to believe them. This baby was staying put for a long time.
May 29 - 39 weeks
3:20 - doctor appointment. Once again, still 5 cm but now fully effaced. The doctor we saw decided to strip my membranes to induce more active labor. I'd been having Braxton hicks contractions every so often for a few weeks. Around weeks 38 and 39 they had become more regular but still not painful so I didn't ever think I needed to go to the hospital.
7:00 - the cramps started. They just felt like menstrual cramps - not painful so again, I didnt really do anything about it. Made dinner, helped Lewis get to class, made some baby bows and headbands.
7:30 - mom invited us over for dinner the next night. I told her we'd be there unless we were in the hospital since cramps were starting.
7:45 - Lewis came home and I started timing the contractions. About 4 and a half to 6 minutes apart but still not painful.
8:00 - home teachers came over. Lewis was getting anxious and made sure I was still timing every contraction.
9:00 - mom came over to drop off some hospital goodies. The contractions still weren't painful so I didn't think anything would happen for a while. I thought if I laid down and relaxed, they'd get farther apart.
9:30 - felt a contraction in my lower back that actually hurt
9:30-11:00 - Lewis and I cleaned the house, got ready for the next day, took a walk to check the mail
11:00 - Lewis and I laid down on the couch. Still timing the contractions. I kept telling Lewis to go to sleep because he had work the next day and I didn't want him to be tired. He was trying to convince me to go to the hospital. Had been since 9:30 when back labor started. I was being stubborn and told Lewis I'd wake him if I needed to. He didn't believe me.
11:30 - I had two contractions. One 7 and a half minutes apart. The next one was 8 minutes apart. Was starting to feel better that the contractions were slowing down now that I was relaxed. The next contraction came 4 and a half minutes later and it was the most painful thing I'd ever felt. Lewis jumped off the couch, ran to the bedroom and started packing the things he would need for his evening stay at the hospital.
For my so-called 12 hour labor.
May 30
Midnight: show up at labor and delivery to check in
12:15 - am shown to my room and told to put the gown on so they can check me. Contractions are every 2 minutes. I'm walking around the hospital room because it helps the contractions to not feel as severe.
12:20 - nurse comes in. I ask if she's going to send me home. She said she'd see how far dilated I was and then decide. I told her as of 7 hours ago I was a 5. She said if I wasn't more than a 5, she'd probably send me home. When she checked, I was a 6 so I got to stay! Contractions were hard and strong and coming about every minute and a half to two minutes.
12:30-1:00 - everyone was in the room trying to get me ready and everything set up all at the same time. The anesthesiologist was busy with other people and wasn't able to come in to see me. When the contractions came, the nurse would push up on my knees and Lewis would massage my back for the back labor pains. We saw the doctor who was on call and would be delivering the baby.
1:00 - anesthesiologist finally makes it to my room. The whole epidural thing is kind of a blur. Everyone was talking and rushing, trying to get everything ready. I was told to curl up in a ball while he did the epidural thing. So painful to lay in a ball during the contractions. Lewis was being an angel rubbing my back during the contractions and the nurse kept pushing on my knees.
1:15 - could still feel the contractions on my lower left side, but they were not even close to as painful as they were before. The doctor came in and started setting things up.
1:30 - Nurse checked me again. Told me I was a 10 and I could start pushing. Then I asked a stupid question: "are you sure?" Of course she was sure.
Then the pushing commenced.
2:23 - little Lena was born. And I don't feel like I even had a labor. Only a delivery.
But we are happy to have her here! We love the little addition to our family.
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They lied.
We just barely made it to the hospital in time.
May 8 - 36 weeks
At our 36 week appointment, the doctor that we saw measured me to see that I was already 4 centimeters dilated and 80% effaced. He told us that he wouldn't be surprised if we had the baby that weekend.
I was terrified. Still working full time, hadn't gotten anything really ready for the baby (I was going to do that when I was done with work at the end of the week) and my mom was going on a trip to Europe for 10 days and wouldn't be around if we went into labor. I called my mom to tell her what the doctor said and she started getting anxious too. For her first baby, she was induced when she was 3 cm and 70% effaced. So she thought the end was coming too.
The next day, I had some complications so I called to talk to a nurse. She suggested that if my job was flexible then I should have that day be my last instead of waiting until the end of the week.
So I quit my job early.
The next day, with orders from Lewis, I was to stay in bed and relax for as long as I wanted. But I had so much to do! When Lewis was done with work, we hit the stores to go shopping. We bought sheets, towels, our mattress, and everything and anything else you might need for a baby.
The next day, we washed it all. Washed all the clothes, sheets, blankets, towels, wash cloths. Everything. We were ready for the baby and she could come whenever she wanted (still didn't have a name, but figured we could decide that at the hospital).
May 15 - 37 weeks
At our 37 week appointment, there wasnt much change. Now about 4+ cm and still 80% effected. The doctor we saw told us, just like the doctor the week before, that he wouldn't be surprised if the baby came within the next few days. My body was ready.
He then gave us something to think about: he was on call the next Tuesday. He said if I came into the hospital, he wouldn't send me home but he would induce us so we could have her.
As much as I wanted Lena (still nameless at this point) to come ASAP, Lewis and I decided to wait and see if I'd go into labor naturally.
May 22 - 38 weeks
Still no baby.
Now we were 5 cm dilated and 95% effaced. And the doctor this week said the same thing everyone else had said: baby is coming in the next few days.
I was starting not to believe them. This baby was staying put for a long time.
May 29 - 39 weeks
3:20 - doctor appointment. Once again, still 5 cm but now fully effaced. The doctor we saw decided to strip my membranes to induce more active labor. I'd been having Braxton hicks contractions every so often for a few weeks. Around weeks 38 and 39 they had become more regular but still not painful so I didn't ever think I needed to go to the hospital.
7:00 - the cramps started. They just felt like menstrual cramps - not painful so again, I didnt really do anything about it. Made dinner, helped Lewis get to class, made some baby bows and headbands.
7:30 - mom invited us over for dinner the next night. I told her we'd be there unless we were in the hospital since cramps were starting.
7:45 - Lewis came home and I started timing the contractions. About 4 and a half to 6 minutes apart but still not painful.
8:00 - home teachers came over. Lewis was getting anxious and made sure I was still timing every contraction.
9:00 - mom came over to drop off some hospital goodies. The contractions still weren't painful so I didn't think anything would happen for a while. I thought if I laid down and relaxed, they'd get farther apart.
9:30 - felt a contraction in my lower back that actually hurt
9:30-11:00 - Lewis and I cleaned the house, got ready for the next day, took a walk to check the mail
11:00 - Lewis and I laid down on the couch. Still timing the contractions. I kept telling Lewis to go to sleep because he had work the next day and I didn't want him to be tired. He was trying to convince me to go to the hospital. Had been since 9:30 when back labor started. I was being stubborn and told Lewis I'd wake him if I needed to. He didn't believe me.
11:30 - I had two contractions. One 7 and a half minutes apart. The next one was 8 minutes apart. Was starting to feel better that the contractions were slowing down now that I was relaxed. The next contraction came 4 and a half minutes later and it was the most painful thing I'd ever felt. Lewis jumped off the couch, ran to the bedroom and started packing the things he would need for his evening stay at the hospital.
For my so-called 12 hour labor.
May 30
Midnight: show up at labor and delivery to check in
12:15 - am shown to my room and told to put the gown on so they can check me. Contractions are every 2 minutes. I'm walking around the hospital room because it helps the contractions to not feel as severe.
12:20 - nurse comes in. I ask if she's going to send me home. She said she'd see how far dilated I was and then decide. I told her as of 7 hours ago I was a 5. She said if I wasn't more than a 5, she'd probably send me home. When she checked, I was a 6 so I got to stay! Contractions were hard and strong and coming about every minute and a half to two minutes.
12:30-1:00 - everyone was in the room trying to get me ready and everything set up all at the same time. The anesthesiologist was busy with other people and wasn't able to come in to see me. When the contractions came, the nurse would push up on my knees and Lewis would massage my back for the back labor pains. We saw the doctor who was on call and would be delivering the baby.
1:00 - anesthesiologist finally makes it to my room. The whole epidural thing is kind of a blur. Everyone was talking and rushing, trying to get everything ready. I was told to curl up in a ball while he did the epidural thing. So painful to lay in a ball during the contractions. Lewis was being an angel rubbing my back during the contractions and the nurse kept pushing on my knees.
1:15 - could still feel the contractions on my lower left side, but they were not even close to as painful as they were before. The doctor came in and started setting things up.
1:30 - Nurse checked me again. Told me I was a 10 and I could start pushing. Then I asked a stupid question: "are you sure?" Of course she was sure.
Then the pushing commenced.
2:23 - little Lena was born. And I don't feel like I even had a labor. Only a delivery.
But we are happy to have her here! We love the little addition to our family.
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Friday, June 1, 2012
Introducing
Lena Annalise Goodrum
May 30, 2012
2:23 a.m.
7 pounds 14 ounces
20 inches long
Absolutely perfect
May 30, 2012
2:23 a.m.
7 pounds 14 ounces
20 inches long
Absolutely perfect
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| My Lena |
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