Due Date

Hello February 25th! This day was a day I was looking foward to for a long time...RaeLynn's due date. Going through my pregnancy I never thought we'd have already had our little girl for almost 3 weeks at this point. I can honestly say that becoming a mama has been the best experience of my life. I love that little girl more than I ever thought was possible. I was blessed with a relatively easy pregnancy (minus the pre-eclampsia at the end) and then what I think was a very easy labor and delivery. I mean I know it sounds crazy, but I can't wait for the day to come when we can try for another little one. I loved being pregnant and experiencing the miracle of bringing a child into the world. For now though, I'm loving every second I have to spend with RaeLynn. She's definately the center of our world!

 

 

Dear RaeLynn: 2 weeks

 

 

 

2 weeks since you entered the world

 

2 weeks of learning,

growing,

diaper changes,

feedings,

sleepless nights,

cuddling,

and loving.

 

I'm not sure how these 2 weeks have gone by so quickly, but I know I'll never forget them. I'll never forget how amazing it is to feel this love I have for you little girl. I'll never forget how unsure of myself I was when we first brought you home. I'll never forget watching your Daddy fall in love with you more and more every day. I'm so excited to watch you grow and change but at the same time wish time would slow down because I know all of that growing and changing is going to happen way too fast for my liking. It's true when people tell you that there's nothing like the love you'll have for your child. You are a gift from God and your Daddy and I are so so lucky to have been blessed with you.  

 

                 Love, Mama

 

 

 

 

Firsts

1st Bath

 

1st Valentines Day

Eviction notice served

Monday February 4, 2013 I walked into Premier Womens Care for what would be my last appointment of my first pregnancy. I had a pretty good idea of what to expect and my suspicions were right on target. The nurse took my blood pressure and it was the highest it had ever been. As soon as Dr. Drake came in the room she began to explain the need for inducing labor. I thought I'd be an emotional wreck, but I had complete peace about the whole situation. In my mind I knew that I trust my doctors, I knew that I could do this, and I knew that the Lord above would have his hand on the whole situation. So they told me to report to the 6th floor of Greenville Memorial Hospital at 8 pm to start the induction process. My sweet mom took me to Greenville to get a few last minute items and Justin left work to get everything ready to leave. Once I got home we finished packing, took care of all the animals, and left our house for the last time before becoming parents. The nice part about the induction was it was planned. There weren't any suprises and we had plenty of time to get all our ducks in a row. We even had enough time to have a nice dinner together before going to the hospital.

 

Once we got to the hospital and we were in a room, I got to change into a lovely gown and get poked and prodded a bit before they started me on a medication to prepare me for labor. I had contractions most of the night and barely slept. I'm not sure it was the contractions that kept me up or just the anticipation of what was going to happen the next day. To make a long story short, I was started on petocin at 7:30 am, Dr. Hogan broke my water between 8:30 and 9 am and things moved very quickly from there. By a little after lunchtime I was realizing that our baby was coming and she was coming soon! They had to call in another one of my doctor's from the office because Dr. Hogan was with another patient. I've never been so happy to see a doctor in my life when Dr. Fredrick walked in the room. RaeLynn Mackenzie came into the world shortly after. She was born at 2:23 pm weighing 6 lbs even and measuring 18 3/4 inches long. I don't know how to really describe the way I felt the minute I saw her little face. It was for sure love at first sight though.

 

I feel so lucky. I have an amazing husband who has taken such good care of me throughout this pregnancy. He has been wonderful to me and RaeLynn both since coming home. I can't explain how much he means to me. RaeLynn is such a blessing. Although being a first time mama is exhausting, the rewards outway any amount of sleep I may be missing. I love that little girl more every day and can't wait to watch her grow.