Hannah Grace Finch

Hannah Grace Finch was born at 1:17pm on Sunday May 22, 2011.  She was 7lb 4oz, 20 inches long and absolutely perfect! 

Looking back 3 days after her birth what seemed like a day that was so far away happened in a flash.  The last few weeks of my pregnancy seemed to drag on and I was beginning to be in so much pain.  I was scheduled to be induced on Monday May 23rd and I was counting down the days.  After my last OB appt the Thursday before I got a call from my OB wanting to reschedule my induction for a day earlier!  Ummm...YES please!  I was so excited to meet my baby girl and finally be pain free.  Then the anxiety hit.  Yes, it was only one day ahead of schedule but it became real.  It was really going to happen and soon!  Haylea and I spend the weekend with MawMaw and Pop while daddy stayed home and made sure the house was clean and ready for Hannah (with the help of Gram and Gramps of course).  Saturday night we all met for dinner at the Cheesecake Factory for mommy's last guilt-free pregnancy craving!  That night Haylea went to stay with Gram and Gramps while we were going to be in the hospital.  I cried when I had to let her go.  It would be the longest I would ever be away from my baby.  I knew she would come visit but I couldn't be there for her like I always had been.  When Brian and I got home to an empty house (even the dog went to stay with MawMaw and Pop) I thought we would have time to just relax for the last evening being parents of just one child.  I was wrong...Brian felt sick and wanted to get checked out so off he went for a strep test.  Positive.  Nice...here we were about to have a new baby and daddy was sick.  I was afraid of passing anything on to the baby but also wanted Brian to be able to enjoy the day and was worried he would be miserable.  He ended up wearing a mask in the hospital for 24 hours until he felt better just to be safe.  Looking back we may laugh but at the time it was pitiful!  Luckily, he didnt feel too bad...at least he didn't let on that he did.

Sunday morning we arrived at the hospital at 6am ready to go.  I had been up since about 3:30am but slept pretty well before that (with the help of ambien!).  Once we got settled in my OB came in and broke my water which almost immediately caused some contractions.  I was already 3cm dilated when we started the process.  Soon after that the nurse started pitocin and we were on our way!  Family started arriving and I was ready.  I got to see Haylea and I was ready to meet my new little girl!!  I remember with each contraction wishing they would get stronger.  When they started getting to where I couldn't talk during them I asked for an epidural.  Remembering how fast I dilated once I got going with Haylea, I wasn't about to risk missing my opportunity for the epidural!  Once the epi was in I think the contractions slowed down some.  Everyone left us to rest for a while and Brian and I both got a little nap in.  Once I woke up I remember feeling a little pressure with each contraction and I started getting excited!  I was 4cm around 10am.  Around noon the pressure was getting a little more intense so I had the nurse check me again.  7-8cm.  The nurse called my OB and we thought we had a little more time.  I turned to my other side and immediately the pressure intensified just like what happened with Haylea.  Just one or two contractions later and I felt the urge to push.  The next contraction I felt her head move down significantly and knew it was time.  I had the nurse check me again even though I had no doubt she was RIGHT there and her face said it all.  She just said "ok" and left to call my OB again!  When she called her she said "I am in the car what more do you want!" LOL  I had to wait ten minutes...not nearly as bad as the 30 I had to wait for her when I had Haylea!  I remember laughing between contractions and everyone getting so excited.  My sister, for one, was as giddy as a school girl and totally cracking me up.  I did have to tell them all to be quiet during contractions though and I think they all got a good laugh at my faces during them.  Once my OB came in the room the mood intensified.  I remember just feeling so at peace until I remembered what it felt like to push.  I got scared and for a moment thought I couldn't do it.  My epidural again only really worked on my left side.  My right was a little tingly but never got numb.  It was ok though...the worst was the pressure anyway not nessesarily the pain.  Although, the ring of fire is intense!  I remembered it with Haylea and I knew the better I pushed the quicker it would be over.  The first push contraction came and I asked for the mirror.  I knew that if I could see the progress it would motivate me.  With my first push I heard my OB say "oh she has lots of hair!"  OMG I was in shock...Haylea had NO hair!  The next push I saw her hair and was amazed.  The second contraction came and she moved down significantly.  With the third contraction the pressure was crazy and I was determined not to have to wait for another one to get her out.  I pushed one last time and this time remembered to keep my eyes open!  When she first came out I could only see her in the mirror and immediately said "she looks just like her sister!"  Brian cut the cord and they layed her on my chest.  She was perfect.  I was drying her off and turned her to face her daddy.  She didn't cry much just like her sister.  Here this whole time we thought she was going to come out like a ball of fire but she has proven to be as mellow as her sister...at least for now!  Time will tell.  When the nurse took her to the warmer Haylea was brought in to meet her sister.  I was immediately brought to tears seeing both of my girls together.  Haylea was interested but not quite sure what was going on.  Once I got to hold them both in my arms together she began to smile and even gave Hannah kisses.  Instant love.

Hannah's actual birth was a lot like Haylea's.  Fast and relatively easy.  The first few days with Haylea were difficult as we both had to learn how to breastfeed which wasn't easy when my milk didn't come in for 4 days.  Hannah on the other hand was immediately latched on within an hour of birth and nursed like a champ!  A combination of a mommy who knew what to do and milk coming in sooner has made for a much different nursing experience this time.

Today is day 3 and Hannah is still very mellow.  I have had to wake her up every 2-3 hours to nurse and she eats then usually goes right back to sleep!  I am completely in love.  Not only with my new baby girl but with my new family.  I feel like we are more complete of a family.  I love how Haylea is doing being a big sister.  She is very interested and hasn't shown any jealousy (yet!).  She will give Hannah kisses and hugs and loves to look at her and touch her little hands.  I look at them in amazement that they are mine and I get to watch them grow up together as sisters.  I am so in love with my new family.

 Last Belly Shot...on our way to the hospital!

 I was so glad to see Haylea before Hannah was born.  Once she was there I was ready to go!

 Oh the pressure!

 Hi baby girl!!

 7 Pounds 4 Ounces

 Daddy having the "talk".

 Haylea meeting her new sister!

 First family picture.

 Introducing my two girls.

 First skin to skin moment.

Haylea loves Hannah!

Day 2

 Haylea got a new bracelet from mommy and daddy for being such a good big sister!

 Going home!

 Big sister, Little sister.

Physical Therapy and Eviction...I mean Induction date!

Today was Haylea's first physical therapy appointment and it went really well!  Her therapist was super sweet and Haylea took to her right away.  She didn't do a whole lot this first session according to her but I think she did quite a bit!  First we sat down and talked about or goals and the things we want to work on while Haylea played.  While we talked the therapist (Nicole) was observing Haylea move around the room to get an idea of where she was physically.  After our talk (and after Haylea heard me talk about Baby Signing Time, her favorite video) we put the video in and Nicole sat Haylea on an exercise ball and basically bounced her for about 20 min.  Haylea loved it and had no idea she was actually doing toddler sit ups the whole time.  She just watched her show and giggled now and then.  By doing this we were working on improving her core body strength because a strong core will help support the rest of her body...and we will work our way down.  Nicole said she does think her muscles are a little low tone from not using them due to being unstable because of the flexibility.  I think when the orthopedist was adamant that it wasn't low tone, he meant her main problem wasn't low tone but was flexibility.  The low tone comes secondary to the flexibility.  I understand all of that and I am no longer worried about some sort of underlying condition causing her issues.  Basically once we get her walking and running and get those muscles stronger as well as tightening up her joints to feel more stable she will be on her way and never look back.  Nicole was very encouraging and thought Haylea was well on her way already because her desire is there, she participated in every exercise and because some of the things she had in mind to work on Haylea already does or tries to do.  Our homework for the week is more bouncing on the exercise ball (holding on to her thighs and not her upper body so that Haylea has to use her muscles to keep her balance), alternating steps walking up stairs, and work on a verbal cue to encourage her not to W sit.  Sitting like that is easy for her because of the flexibility but we want to tighten up her joints not keep them stretched so we want to discourage sitting like that.  Overall, I was impressed with our first session.  Nicole said sometimes it takes up to three sessions to get a kid to warm up to her and let her bounce them on a ball and Haylea did it right away and let her do it for quite some time.  I am very proud of my baby girl!

The next exciting thing is that we now have an eviction date...I mean an induction date for miss Hannah!  Unless she has other plans, Hannah will be in my arms on May 23rd!  Just 3 weeks away!  I am excited, nervous, anxious...but most of all READY!  I am ready to meet her and ready to not feel like a whale!  I do have my days where I am miserable but really I can't complain.  This pregnancy has been exhausting but that is to be expected.  I am uncomfortable, more when I am tired and cranky, but overall not too bad.  Ask me again after I work 12 hours tomorrow and I might tell you a different story though!  Even though I am not even through this pregnancy I think I am already forgetting all the bad stuff.  I remember thinking the first trimester would last forever but I am already forgetting exactly how awful I felt.  This pregnancy seemed to fly by faster than Haylea's did.  Probably because I didn't sit on the couch every day watching A Baby Story and obsessing about every little thing.  I didn't have time!  Now that we are so close and I can see light at the end of the tunnel it is very surreal but at the same time the anxiousness is starting to get the better of me and it is still seeming like 3 weeks is a long time away!  I am trying my best to relax, take one day at a time, and prepare myself for the unknown of what is to come.