Esme already has a new cousin!

Congrats to my brother Judd and his wife Johnessa who had their baby boy Hunter today! Mommy, baby and daddy are all doing fine in Waimea, HI. Can't wait for the cousins to meet!

Visitors to Esme

Never did I imagine...

...that yesterday would have ended like it did! I had my first painless Braxton hicks contractions on Monday night and went to bed with no problems. Then I woke up early cause I was having these painful lower abdominal cramps. I figured I'd have the midwife check me out that day since I had my 39wk appt at 10am. She said I was 2cm, 100%effaced and 1+ station so I was most likely feeling all those sudden changes. The pain continued until I went home and took a bath and then it was very sporadic however around 3pm it started getting intense again but only in the lower abdomen. Allen started timing them and they were already 5 minutes apart and lasting over a minute but I still held out to call the office until my water broke which happened shortly after. And on the 30 minute car ride to the hospital the contractions went from 5 to 4 to 3 to 2 minutes apart. I got rolled in to the admitting area and they took one look at me and realized I was already pushing on my own so there was no time for introductions, admission paperwork, iv's, meds or anything. Our little Esme Lindsey Shih ( means loved one or beloved in French) was born about 30 minutes later. It all happened so fast that it was sort of surreal when it was over. Allen and I didn't even have a camera on us cause everything was still in the car. Thank goodness for camera phones! She latched on right away and was there for almost an hour so we didn't get stats right away. She weighed 7# 2oz, 20.5 in long. The midwife said I beat out all her other laboring moms that were on the floor last night. And in hindsight the reason I was having those lower abdominal cramps was most likely the superspeed dilating I had going on and because our little girl dropped so fast. I warned the midwife that I have a family history of fast labors but no one was expecting this :)

The on-call pediatrician should be by to check Esme out this morning and we may actually stay another night. I couldn't sleep at all last night but Allen is out! He was awesome the whole time so I figure at least one of us should try and rest right now. Maybe I'll have better luck today or tonight, even if it is just a nap.

A couple more

Trying again

The pictures

Whirlwind day ends with baby girl

So we thought it was gonna be a nice easy day. We planned to go Gnomio and Juliet after a nice lunch. Zoe thought she was having Braxton hicks contractions, but they started getting longer only a couple minutes apart. However, she was adamant that baby would be on schedule. Around 330, contractions started getting worse. I hurried and packed everything while Zoe was between contractions. As I was putting stuff in the car, Zoe's water broke 5pm. We rushed to the hospital, Zoe in pain while I was hoping that I didn't have to deliver in the car. We got there at 545, and I double parked as we rushed her in. As she was pushing, a head full of black hair peaked out. I was getting excited while Zoe felt the ring of fire! Then we got the greatest gift... A new baby girl... Esme Lindsey Shih. Pictures to follow

38 1/2 week ultrasound results

Phew, all is well again! I had another ultrasound today to measure the baby's growth since my belly was measuring small at my 36 and 37 week visits but no concerns now. The baby is in the 63rd percentile for weight which is equal to 7# 11oz, exactly my birth weight. Due date is still set for February 21st. I only got 2 pictures and they're a blur even to me cause the baby is so cramped right now so I won't confuse you guys with them also :) Next visit with the midwives is this coming Tuesday for my 39 week check...

13 days to go!

Baby and I had another weekly visit with the midwives today and all is well. Baby's heart rate was in the 130's to 140's, head is down and in position, and the baby is back to growing on target. My belly was measuring small the past 2 weeks but this week it had increased appropriately. They still want me to have a last ultrasound this Friday just to make sure though. I'll add those pics once I get them.

Allen and I made a last minute trip down to Portland this past weekend to visit with my family and do some last minute baby shopping. As far as the necessities go, we think we're set but I'm sure there'll be more later :)

I'm still working and plan to keep going till February 18th, right before the due date. I've been feeling fine so hopefully it continues that way.

The kicking baby

And another one: