What a busy week!

Sunday: Charlotte got her first bath at home! It was a pleasant experience for everyone, she seems to enjoy the water! I absolutely LOVE the smell of a newly bathed baby!

Monday: Charlotte was one week old, and had a weight check at the pediatrician. She was back to birth weight (already!) so she doesn't have to be woken up at night for feedings. She still wakes up on her own every three hours, but it's nicer than waking up to an alarm.

Tuesday: Bryce went back to work and I played Mommy. A routine is still a long way away, but feedings are going well and I got some thank you cards written.

Wednesday: We enjoyed the sunshine and the nice fall weather.

Thursday: My mom came up to help watch Charlotte while I cleaned house and went to the grocery store. Also, Charlotte lost her umbilical cord stump today!

Friday: Mom and I went to the pediatrician for one last weight check (until her one month appt), she is up to 7 pounds 11 ounces now. I think it is safe to say that she is eating well! We also had our first shopping trip and lunch out so that I could buy a shirt for Charlotte's newborn pictures.

Saturday: The photographer who took my maternity pictures came back for a newborn session. She is so easy to work with, and was so gentle and patient with Charlotte. I was worried at first when an hour went by and Charlotte was still fussy, but we eventually got her settled in and got some really good pictures. I can't wait to see them! Charlotte is now sleeping contently, it was hard work being a model for a day! (www.triggottphotography.com)

Bryce went back to work today :(

After a moment of sheer panic last night (yes, there were tears), I woke up this morning to a relatively calm baby. We had a good day together (I even got to take a shower!) and waited at the door for Bryce to come back. It's an odd sense of loneliness that you feel when you are the sole person responsible for taking care of this new life and Bryce has been such a HUGE help to me over the last week. I am also sad to think about all Bryce will miss while he's at work and that makes me fearful of when my day will come. My mom is coming up to help me later this week, and I am so looking forward to some adult interaction and seeing her love on Charlotte!

Watch me Grow!!

January 17, 2008

16 weeks

Ultrasound at 16 weeks

18 weeks

20 weeks

24 weeks

26 weeks

28 weeks

30 weeks

32 weeks

34 weeks

35 weeks

36 weeks

38 weeks

Birth day! (39 weeks)

1 week old TODAY!!

Life with Charlotte

Is absolutely wonderful. Yes, it's true you don't get much sleep. And it's also true that your baby takes your breath away every time you look at how perfect she is and you thank God for blessing your life in such a miraculous way. Charlotte is eating well, and sleeping well (during the day!), and is a very happy baby. She fits into our family and our hearts so well, it is hard to imagine what life was like before her already! Motherhood is actually very challenging, and we are working hard on learning little habits and personality so we can get a routine down. Bryce has been a great "hands on" Daddy so far, I will be really sad when he has to go back to work this week! Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers, we have so much happening in our lives now!

We've had a visit from the stork!!

Despite what you hear about first pregnancies always running over their due date, I can now attest to the fact that it pays to be prepared! We welcomed Charlotte Lee Fulcher into our family one week early on September 15 at 3:21 pm. She weighed 7 pounds 7 ounces (my lucky number!) and was 20 inches long.

On Sunday night, I was not feeling well when I went to bed but I had no clue I was beginning labor. My stomach and my back hurt, but I really just thought I had done too much over the weekend and needed to rest so I went to bed a little early. I had a very hard time sleeping throughout the night because I could not get comfortable. I finally got up for the fifth and final time around 4:50 and decided to go ahead and start getting ready for work. When our alarm went off at 5:10, Bryce was shocked to find me up before him and immediately wanted to know what was wrong! I really couldn't tell him, I just knew I needed to stay home because my stomach was starting to hurt worse and worse. By the time I called in for a substitute I asked Bryce if he would stay home too, because I was starting to think things were getting serious. It is truly amazing that you can be in such denial about labor. Everyone always told me that it's one of those "you'll just know" moments, but I truly wasn't sure! Even when I went to the bathroom that morning, I couldn't tell if my water broke or if I just really needed to go! I called the nurse line to my doctor's office, where the doctor on call scoffed at my "am I in labor or not" question so early in the morning and told me to come into the office during office hours later that day. (Clearly his thought was if you're not sure if you're in labor then you're NOT!!) Still not convinced of what I needed to do, I called my Mom-who had the exact opposite thing to say! Her response was get in the car and go to the hospital now!! Mom was the one who made up my mind, so I got my stopwatch out and went to take a shower. Bryce called in his lesson plans and started packing the car (thank God those bags were already packed!) and by the time I got out of the shower there was no doubt in my mind that I needed to go to the hospital as fast as I could. I had to stop for a contraction every 2 minutes just to get dressed. The car ride to the hospital is all a blur, I can only remember counting and looking at my watch, trying to remind myself over and over to breathe out the pain. Upon admittance to the hospital, I was already almost 4 cm, and they informed me that I had indeed broken my water and would be delivering a baby soon!

Both of our Moms were called, and Bryce and I were given a labor room where the most fabulous nurse I could have asked for helped me prepare mentally and physically for delivery. My contractions continued to escalate while they pumped fluid into an IV in my hand, and the anesthesiologist was the best sight my eyes have ever seen! (Get the epidural ladies! It is like telling someone that they have to run a marathon, but after about 5 miles they get to be carried!). The epidural was quick and a lot less pain than I had anticipated. The next thing I knew a doctor was telling me I was 9 1/2 cm and would be pushing within an hour, and less than thirty minutes of pushing yielded the sweetest little girl I have ever seen!!

Timeline:
4:50 am Woke up feeling stomach pain
5:30 am Called in for a substitute
5:30-5:45 Spoke with doctor's office and my Mom
6:00-7:00 Spent an hour trying to get ready through contractions
7:00-7:45 Car ride to hospital
8:00 Checked (4 cm) and admitted
8:00-10:45 brought to L&D, pumped full of fluid, waited and waited for epidural
10:45-10:47 Heaven! Epidural administered
11:00-1:00 Blissful hours spent pain free and laughing
1:00 Checked (9 1/2cm)
2:00 Prepped for delivery
2:45 Started pushing
3:21 a new baby girl is in the world!!


P.S. I need to thank my Mom and Dad for the stork in our yard, it was such a wonderful and touching surprise!!

It's nice to love your job.....

It's even nicer to love who you work with! Bryce and I both have fabulous colleagues who went out of their way to help us prepare and welcome baby Fulcher. We both had showers thrown for us at work this past week....lots of well wishes and good cake!

PSA: how to talk to a pregnant woman

Since I am spending my last days as a pregnant woman, I decided it was time for a public service announcement. Here is a list of questions we answer ALL day EVERY day throughout the pregnancy. So, if you like to be the creative type you should find some variation other than the list below. These questions are ok to ask, just keep it down to a minimum and don't expect a fully enthusiastic answer every time!

1. When are you due?
2. Is it a boy or a girl?
3. Is this your first?
4. How do you feel?
5. Have you been really sick?
6. How much longer do you have? (Or how far along are you?)
7. Have you picked out a name?
8. What cravings have you had?
9. Can I touch your belly?
10. Are you going to nurse?
11. Are you excited?
12. Where did you register?
13. How long are you taking off work?

I would also like to point out that there are several questions you should NOT ask a pregnant woman (no matter how close of a friend you think she is). Either it is none of your business or it is inappropriate to ask. A good rule of thumb: if you wouldn't say it to a woman if she wasn't pregnant, DON'T SAY IT TO HER NOW EITHER! All she will do is rant and rave to everyone about the jerk who asked her these:

1. So, were you trying to get pregnant?
2. How long were you trying?
3. How much weight have you gained?
4. Are you sure you're ready for this?
5. Are you having twins? (or any variation of multiples)
6. Haven't you had that baby yet?
7. Must be getting close, huh? (unless you know her due date is within one month, this is offensive!)
8. Was your husband excited?
9. So, when will you have another one?
10. You're eating that?! (or, are you allowed to eat that?)
11. Whoa, getting out there aren't you?
12. Do you feel ok today? You don't look so good....
13. You are exercising right? You know you want to watch your weight....
14. Have you started to dilate?

Other words you should clear from your vocabulary when in a conversation with a pregnant woman: pudgy, plump, pop (as in you're about to pop-I HATE that one!), round, BIG, large, swollen, chubby, load (as in drop that load-I HATE HATE HATE that one!), watermelon, and basketball....these are all variations of fat. No matter how cute you try to make it sound, no woman wants to be told how "BIG" she is!

I have actually been fortunate in the treatment I have received over the last nine months, there have been very few instances of someone being outright rude. Most of these came from conversations with friends who had to deal with these questions so I wanted to spread the word while I am still a part of the "pregnant woman club". Truthfully, one of the things I will miss the most about being pregnant is how NICE everyone has been to me!

Ready as we'll ever be!

Possibly my favorite question is "So, Are you ready yet?"

Is anyone ever "ready" for the change and challenge a new baby brings?! The nursery is ready, the car seat is ready, the friends and family are ready....but I'm not sure that any parent is ever ready for the surprises, challenges, and love a new baby will bring.

Bryce and I had a whirlwind week....we have purchased the last of the items we wanted for the nursery (diaper pail, changing pad, ear thermometer, etc.), installed the car seat, wrote thank you cards, and attended a newborn care class. So, now my response when anyone asks "So, are you ready yet?"......"Ready as we'll ever be!".

Is it really September already?

When I think back to the excitement that January brought, and how far away September felt, I cannot believe this month is here. It has definitely been a journey; spiritually, mentally, and physically. While I am incredibly nervous and anxious to see what this whole motherhood thing is really all about, and still not entirely sure I'll be that good at it, I know that I have used the past 37 weeks to really prepare myself. I have always heard "God works in mysterious ways", but it truly is amazing how everything always works itself out in the end. I cannot wait to meet this little girl, to see what (and who!) she looks like, and most of all to see her smile. It is still a little awe inspiring to realize that Bryce and I created this whole new life together, and now we get to finally see it!

Here are some of my thoughts throughout this past nine months:

January: I'm pregnant!! Am I really pregnant?!
February: I'm still pregnant!!! I can't keep it a secret much longer!!
March: Morning sickness sucks, but I'm still pregnant, and it is worth it! Let's tell everyone!
April: I need new clothes! Fast!
May: It's a girl?! Are you sure?! There haven't been any girls born to the Fulcher family in over 7 generations...can you check again?
June: Ok, it's a girl!! I saw it for myself!
July: I love being pregnant, everyone is so nice to you!
August: Must finish nursery! Must pack for the hospital! Must buy baby stuff! Must buy more baby stuff! Must make to do lists!
September: Must sleep! Baby coming soon!