A quick synopsis of Penelope's birth...

We went in at 5:00am - got all checked in and waited for the nurses and residents to talk to my doctor. Because I wanted them to break my water before putting me on pitocin, my doctor decided to wait a few hours until he got off his rotation at another hospital, in the event that things went quickly - he wanted to make sure he would be able to make it to my hospital to deliver.

At about 8:30 am they broke my water and I immediately was at 7 cm and 90%. We waited a bit and my contractions got more intense on their own. At 10 o'clock we were joking with one of the residents telling him that my friend Makaya was only going to be in town until 11 am and wondered if he could speed things up a bit. He laughed at us and said that our chances didn't look good on that one. At 10:16, he checked me again and I was complete! My doctor came in, had me do a test push, and immediately stopped me and told me not to push anymore. Within seconds the whole room was filled with all the appropriate people to have a baby! I couldn't believe how fast it was all happening. At one point, the resident said it was going to be quick and I said "so I won't be pushing for 2 hours like I did with my first baby?" he replied with "um...no...maybe 2 minutes." Obviously, there was a lot going on, but I really didn't believe that it was going to be that fast. I literally pushed 2-3 times (for about 2 minutes total) and she was here! It was unbelievable, crazy, fast and much appreciated (by me!).

One of my favorite photos so far...our first moment together!

Introducing Penelope Helen Jacoby Rapp

Penelope Helen Jacoby Rapp
Born September 24th - 10:36am - 8lbs 2oz - 19 3/4 inches long




She is a super sweet baby (and pretty easy too)! We are loving every minute of loving on her!

Here is a pic of the first time Lucy met Penelope. She had a hard few days while Mommy and Daddy were at the hospital, but she's been great at home. She loves her baby sister "etapee" (Penelope) and is overall really great with her. She's concerned when she cries and loves to tickle her toes.



First night at home...



Eyes wide open on Day Five



In other great news, our brother and sister in-law had their baby three days later, on Tuesday, September 27th! A healthy baby boy named Judah Mark Rapp. He weighed in 8lbs 3 oz. We made a quick trip back to the hospital to meet him on Tuesday but we can't wait for him to come home today.

What a great week! :)

Tomorrow's the day...

Since Lucy decided to make her debut on her own, I have to admit it is a little strange knowing that I will be waking up tomorrow morning and going to the hospital to have a baby. As long as the hospital has a room available when I call at 4am - we will be headed in at 5am for them to break my water. My doctor and I are hopeful I won't have to have pitocin (unless of course I don't start contracting on my own after they break my water) - but considering I've been contracting for the last 5 weeks I sure hope my body can figure it out! :)

Thanks so much for the love and support. It's been a crazy ride for the last few weeks, but it will all be worth it in the end! Prayers for a safe delivery and healthy baby are much appreciated!

With love,
Meghan

3 days or less!

Another quick update:

There hasn't been anything new to report in the last few days, so I went to my doctors appointment thinking I would probably be about the same "progress" wise as when I left the hospital on Saturday morning. Well....she checked me and she told me I am 70% (I was 80% at the hospital - but it must be a difference on who checks you) - and 6-7cm dilated! She was ready to send me to the hospital right then if I wanted to, but after talking about it we decided on waiting a day or so - to see if she will come on her own.

The doctor doesn't seem to think I will make it till Saturday morning - but if I do - I will go in on Saturday morning to have my water broken and hopefully get this show on the road. She (and I) am a bit concerned about how fast this might happen - so she told me if she was going to let me go home tonight, it was with the understanding that if ANYTHING changes or I feel anything different - I am to go straight to the hospital.

No one wants a baby to come on the interstate (including me!)

The baby is still fairly "high" and still has a bit to drop and she said that sometimes bigger babies have a harder time coming down, so I'm hoping by waiting a few days maybe she will come down on her own.

So, please keep us in your prayers over the next few days and pray for a "not too quick" delivery! :)

On another note, my sister-in-law who is due two days before me - is going to be induced on Tuesday of next week, if she doesn't go before then. We can't wait to meet both of these babies! It seems as if the moment our baby girl is leaving the nursery their baby boy will be entering. The nursery is going to be invaded by the Rapps - I hope they are ready!

38 weeks!

Another quick update.

Marcus and I headed to the hospital last night at 1:30am - because I was having semi sizable contractions. When I left home they were about 7 minutes apart - and by the time I got to the hospital they were 2-3 min apart. I have to say there weren't as intense as the contractions I had when I started going into labor with Lucy, but since I progressed so fast with Lucy, my doctors had suggested me not dilly-dallying this time, once contractions started. Well once I got there they checked me and I was - 80% effaced and 4 cm. (which is a slight increase from last week) BUT, after walking for an hour, I was still the same, so they sent me home.

I wasn't too upset about going home, after all, I was super tired, but I was more upset that Marcus wouldn't be able to run in his first 10K, which was at 7:30 this morning. We got home at 3:30 am - but Marcus is a rock star and he got up and did an awesome job! I'm so glad he still was able to do it! His final time for this first race ever was 52:28 minutes - which ended up being at a pace of 8:27 minute miles and #277 out of #793 runners! I'm so proud of him!

So anyway, my doctor is hoping I will just go on my own in the next few days, but if I don't I have an appointment on Wednesday and at that point, we might discuss inducing me next weekend. I'm hoping last night was just a little teaser and this little girl is going to be making her debut soon (and preferably on her own) but we'll just have to keep waiting at this point!

I'll keep you posted.

This week/weekend was also Pumpkinfest here in Morton. Lucy's favorite things were the pumpkin ice cream and Pooh Bear in the Parade. :)

The "Vintage Inspired" Nursery

Once we moved Lucy to her room, we slowly began getting the nursery ready. I've recently become addicted to pintrest.com - and have seen so many vintage inspired nurseries - that I just love on that website. So, I was excited that the bedding I already had purchased, lent itself to a vintage style. I also had a number of items from my childhood, or that were important to me, that I wanted to incorporate in the room.

Here are those items...

Children's rocker - given to me by a family friend when I was young.
Silver Cup - My baby cup with my name inscribed on it.
Blue Baby Dress - A dress of mine when I was a baby that my mom saved.
Clear Glass Bear - Clear glass bear that was in my room growing up.
White bonnet - A bonnet of mine when I was young that my mom saved.
Willowtree Pregnant Angel - given to me by my mom when I was pregnant with Lucy.
Bird House - Was the centerpiece for my Decatur baby shower - when I was pregnant with Lucy.

I tend to pick up random things at garage sales, so almost everything else on the walls - I had in my "stuff" collection and just repurposed for the room. (I recovered one frame with scrapbook paper and designed the "rise and shine" design for the inside, painted a few of the other frames on the wall, etc...) Once we completely decide on the baby's name, it will go on the white canvas above the changing table.

I also got this baby a matching teddy bear, made by the same lady who made Lucy's bedding and bear. I love how it turned out and I hope that it will remind this baby (and me) of what her nursery looked like in years to come.

(click image to enlarge)



P.S. Still having occasional contractions, but nothing much to report as of now. Just waiting for this little girl to make her debut. 3 weeks or less!

Off Bed Rest

Just another quick update.

I'm officially off bed rest now and feeling pretty good. Still a bit uncomfortable and still having a number of Braxton-Hicks contractions, but all in all - normal for 36 weeks. I'm ready to have this little girl arrive, especially after the past two weeks, but I know she will come when she is ready.

In the meantime, I'm enjoying my time with this little girl...and sleeping through the night - oh man am I going to miss that.... :)



(Here she is over Labor Day weekend - sharing her water with her favorite puppy Cooper)