Faith Elizabeth: Welcome

We welcomed you to our family on November 22nd, 2013 at 7:09am. I went to the doctor the night before and she stripped my membranes in attempt to start labor. After the appointment I went deer hunting. I felt some pressure and occasional cramping but I was determined to get a deer. Well no deer but did start contractions at about 7ish that night. I wasn't really sure if that's what I was experiencing because they were pretty inconsistent at first. I tried going to bed around 10ish. I slept for about 30 minutes. They were getting more consistent and intense. However, I knew it wasn't intense enough to go to the hospital yet so I got up and went into the living room to watch TV while working through them. I knew I'd need daddy in the end so I wanted him to get his rest. At about 3:30 they were about 4 minutes apart. I called the hospital to see if they thought I should come in. They told me to wait about another half hour or so. It seemed like as soon as I got off the phone they began being 2 minutes apart. Daddy called Uncle TJ so that he could stay with big sis as we went to the hospital. By the time daddy got dressed, Uncle TJ got here, daddy had his early breakfast we were on the road by 4:15/4:30ish. Aunt Lacey called me on the way to the hospital, because she was in Texas. I really wish I could have had her here. But your daddy was the most amazing support. We got into the hospital room at 5am. I was dilated 5. I told them I wanted to try to go all natural. Well about an hour later the contractions were very intense. I was fearing that I was going to be experiencing this pain for many more hours. So I asked them for the drug that's not an epidural but helps alleviate some pain. They checked me and I believe I was dilated to an 8. Therefore, they said it's to late to get that drug. I then said I wanted an epidural. I was in so much pain, I just wanted it to stop. I didn't care anymore at that point what my original plans were. They said we also didn't have time for that. They were also having a hard time getting a hold of my doctor. They finally got a hold of her and they said we had to wait till she got there because I was a VBAC patient. She just barely got there in time. I started feeling lots of pressure and they said it was time to push. Your dad said I pushed four times and you were here. It felt like an eternity to me. ;-) You came out with dark hair and a lot more then sister had. My doctor guessed you to be 8 pounds. She was just a shy of it, you were born 7lbs. 15oz. and 20.25 inches long. Your daddy was such an amazing support. Through every contraction he let me squeeze his hand. (which he told me later it didn't hurt at all) Every time I wanted to throw in the towel and get medicine to help the pain he kept telling me how strong I was and that I could do it. I couldn't have done it without your daddy. :-D We all were really exhausted after it all but there was no rest. The visitors started rolling in all day. Grandma Even, Aunt Tammy, Pa, Ma, Aunt Jamie, Grandma Suthoff, Uncle William, Zach and Addie all came to see you. It was a very busy day. The next day we all came home and the fun began.
When we went to your two week check up you had already gained an inch in your height. Woo weee you're going to be a tall girl. You also weighed in at 8lbs. We're afraid you're going to surpass sister. It does seem though in the last month your sister has shot up in her height. The week before we discovered you had reflux just like big sis. We knew all the signs this time to look for. At your two week appointment your doctor noticed you have soften cartilage in your throat area. She said you'll grow out of it eventually but you will sound horrible when your sick or when you're feeding. You do sound scary when you eat sometimes but the doctor reassured me that you're ok.
Sleep: The first night home we put you in your crib in the room you and your sister share. I really don't believe in having babies sleep in their parents room. I feel that it creates a bad sleeping habit. Well that night we went against everything we believed. We also don't believe in co-sleeping. You and your sister feed off each other that night. If one cried the other cried. If one woke the other woke. We finally brought you into our room. However, Aunt Jaimee and Uncle Josh had borrowed our pack n play to use at grandma's. So against our wishes the only other option was to put you in bed with us. It was rather cold otherwise we would have made you a bed on the floor. About two weeks later we put you back in your room. You weren't sleeping through the night yet but you were waking up all kinds of weird hours which I blame on you sleeping in our room. So we started the transition on the weekend because I knew it was going to wake sister until she got used to it. It took you guys about a week to get used to each other sleeping together. A week or so later we put you on your belly to sleep. We did this with Sophie and it made her sleep better. You eventually dropped to one feeding at about 3ish. in the middle of the night and then wake up anywhere from 5-6:30ish for your morning feeding. Eventually that feeding just became a snack feeding because you would only nurse for about ten minutes. Even though it sucked for a while but we had to just put your paci in when you fussed at that time. Normally when we'd put the paci in you'd doze for another half hour or so. At about 4.5/5 weeks you were sleeping through the night minus the occasional need for the paci or a quick diaper change. I have figured out that if your cry is a long wail (which really is actually short but it's longer then your short cry for a paci) that means your diaper is dirty and you aren't happy.
Some other things we've noticed about you:
You hate hiccups. They make you mad and you actually get them quite often. If we give you your paci that calms you with the hiccups. Also sometimes before you burp you start to whimper some and then a wet burp usually happens. You're a very gassy kid. ;-) You also have a very strong sucking reflex. After each feeding you will talk for a little bit but it's not long and you are wanting that paci bad. I've tried not giving you the paci right when you cry but you quickly busy yourself with trying to get a finger in your mouth to suck. I have a feeling you might be a hard one to get the paci from. In all you are a very good baby. You even handle sister well when she's in your face and loud. We are very proud to have you as our newest member of the family.