Three Years Ago

I'm gonna go sentimental mommy blogger on you for a bit.  Just hang in there.  I promise it'll be a great post.  If anything it'll make you remember when you had your first baby.  That's always a sweet memory.

Three years ago today my life was FOREVER changed.  Miss Madelynn was born.

I remember finding out I was pregnant.  I was in total denial and humored my husband and took the test.  It was the Tuesday night before Mother's Day.  As soon as I peed on that stick both lines showed up.  I was super excited but at the same time I thought it was a mistake.  While my husband called my sister-in-law Amy to tell her I peed on another stick.  Same thing.  So I told my sister-in-law and then decided I wanted to wait for it to sink in more to tell anyone else.  The next day I made my doctor's appointment and then waited for a week.  In that week I took several more tests.  When the doctor confirmed I was over joyed.  I don't know how women did it before pregnancy tests and such.  Not ever knowing for sure until you felt the baby move would kill me!

The first ultrasound was awesome!  There was a little gummy bear wiggling and moving around.  I cried when I heard her heartbeat.  Seeing the life that is growing in your womb is so amazing!

My pregnancy with her was the easiest pregnancy EVER.  I felt great.  I was never sick.  I loved being pregnant.  I actually thought I might have felt better pregnant than not.

At the second ultrasound Madelynn was totally uncooperative so the tech was only 80% sure she was a girl.  So we scheduled another ultrasound with my doctor.  Between the ultrasounds I found out I had gestational diabetes.  All I had to do was go on a special diet and test my blood sugar.  It was no big deal. 

The next ultrasound we found out that she was for sure a girl.  Casey was alittle disappointed.  He always wanted his first to be a boy.  But he got over it.

20 week ultrasound

The rest of the pregnancy went great! My last 2 appointments my blood pressure was alittle high every time I was in the office.  But when I would go to L&D for the non-stress test everything was fine and my BP was normal.  But since it was high my doctor decided an induction would probably be best before anything did go wrong.  At my appointment on Tuesday, December 30, 2008 he asked me if I wanted to be induced on Thursday, January 1, 2009 if Madelynn didn't decide to come before then.  I said sure.  A New Year baby would be awesome.  Casey also wasn't thrilled about that.  He wanted a tax deduction. lol.  So he had me walk to go into labor before then.  Of course that didn't work. 

So New Year's Eve we went to church for a game night.  Then we went home so I could try to sleep some before the induction.  I was so excited I could barely sleep.  I think I managed to get in 2-3 hours.

On the way to the hospital Casey and I were talking and listening to the radio.  The song Epic came on and Casey decided that was Madelynn's song.

The nurses did all the things they do to check you in and get you ready for an induction.  The started the pitocin.  Everything was going great and I didn't feel any contractions.  The doctor came in and broke my water at 10am.  I started feeling contractions then.  Going in I was SO determined that I wasn't going to get an epidural.  Well I broke.  I was tired and wanted labor to just be over.  I actually told Casey, "I'm done we can go home now." So the meds guy came in and gave me the epidural.  I got to rest for an hour.  Then I started having hard contractions I could really feel again.  I told the nurse the epidural wore off.  She told me it was time to have a baby.

The nurse took apart the bed and set everything up.  The doctor came in.  Less than 5 minutes later I had a baby.  She was so beautiful!  With so much hair!  She was 10lbs 14oz and 22 inches long.  I was so in love instantly.  So was her daddy.  You could tell.  

Newborn in the Hospital

She was such an awesome baby.  She was a good nurser after we got things figured out.  She slept through the night at 6 weeks.  She didn't cry very often after 6 weeks.  She grew so fast.  She started solids at 4 months.  Sat up on her own the day before she was 5 months.  She was army crawling at the same time.  Started standing while holding onto stuff between 6 and 7 months.  Started walking at 9.5 months.  I don't remember exactly when she started talking but it was early and it hasn't ever stopped! But that's ok.  I love talking to her.  

She has such a sweet personality with a hint of attitude.  She's alot of me when I was a little girl.  It's a little bit scary.  I'm so excited to watch her grow and learn.  I can't remember a time without her anymore.  

6 months

 1 year

18 months

 2 years

3 years

Happy Third Birthday my Sweet Madelynn!  I look forward to many more!