Marlie's grand entrance...

Lets just say it was a night and day difference when compared to Madisyn's birth.

Wed. September 15th

• 11am:  I went to my midwife appointment. She checked me and said I was at a 2 and %50 effaced. Pretty much, I was ready to go into labor at any point. She stretched my cervix a bit and stripped my membranes. She told me "don't be surprised if you have some contractions and some spotting. It could get things going."
• 12 pm:  I started having very mild contractions and I just pretty much dismissed them all day until around dinner time.
• 9 pm:  I started to believe this was really it. The contractions were still very mild. I had made dinner and did chores and just carried on as usual.
• 10 pm:  The contractions started to get stronger and I told David to go to sleep now because I'm going to need him once things really kick into high gear.

Thurs. September 16th

• 1 am:  I layed on the couch and tried to stay awake for the movie I had rented. I was actually able to go in and out of sleep until about 3 am. I'm so glad I got a little rest. *With Madisyn I was awake from 7pm on Sat until 12:31 on Monday when she was born. Yikes!
• 3:30 am: I was still able to lye down, but I was no longer able to sleep through my contractions. I decided to start timing them. I timed them for an hour and they were 5 minutes apart and lasted at least a minute each. According to the internet I was in active labor between 4-7cm dilated. I didn't count on being that far along because with Madisyn I was having intense contractions for 30 hours and was only at a 3.
• 4:30 am: I called the hospital and let them know that I was in labor and I'd be coming in a couple of hours. David and Madi were sleeping and my pain was totally manageable on my own. It really wasn't that bad at all. I just had to stop what I was doing for each contraction and breath through it, but it was not very painful. This is all compared to my labor with Madi.
• 5:30 am: David woke up and I told him this is it. You're not going to work today. We called grandma and asked her to come get Madi.
• 6:30 am: Contractions were getting stronger, but they were still manageable. I was talking and smiling in between them. When grandma got here she said "you're definitely not at a 6 or anything. You're way too happy for that." I totally agreed with her. I figured if I was at a 3 or 4 I would be happy.
• 7 am: David and I left for the hospital.

We checked in and waited to go into triage.

• 8 am: I was all hooked up to the baby monitors. After all the questions were asked and I had breathed through some more contractions the nurse said ok lets check you to see how far along you are. She looked at me and said "you're pretty far along." I was surprised and said "like how far?" She said she wanted to check me while I was having a contraction so she could be sure. We waited for the next contraction and she checked. "You're at a good solid 7." I think my jaw dropped to the floor. "REALLY?!?!" I said that out loud. She said "you're doing so great." I just couldn't stop saying I'm at a 7? REALLY?! I almost didn't believe her. I just looked at David dumfounded and I was SO HAPPY. With Madisyn I was 35 hours into intense labor and I was at a 6 before I finally said give me an epidural! Yet, this time I was at a 7 and hadn't experienced that kind of pain? The body is an amazing thing.

• 9am:  I was admitted and brought to my room. I had David take a few pictures to document how happy I was. I still can't believe how personable and happy I was. I called my family and closest friends to share the good news. I just put the phone down while having a contraction and then went right back to my conversation like I was sitting at home just chillin or something. It was all pretty surreal.
• 10am:  It was a little after 10 and out of nowhere my contractions got really strong and were right on top of each other. I was drenched in sweat and I was not smiling anymore. Oh my goodness. I was not ready for that at all. I told the nurse "I want an epidural!" She informed me that my midwife was going to be there at any moment to check me. Just then, my midwife came in and had me get up on the bed. I was shaking and I felt totally out of control. I could not seem to catch my breath. She checked me and said I was at a 9 and I had 2 choices. She could break my water and I would have a baby very soon after that, or I could get the epidural I was pleading for. I opted for the epidural because I couldn't imagine being in that much pain for a minute longer. As soon as I said those words, my water broke. About 2 seconds after my water broke.... 
• 10:28 am:  ...I felt the strongest urge I've ever felt in my life. It was so strange. I HAD to push. My midwife said "give me 2 good pushes and you'll have a baby." I heard her say that, but I was too busy hyperventilating and thinking I was going to die to really listen to her. I felt like I was going to pass out because I was panting so hard and not breathing through my nose at all. They gave me oxygen. She told me "you need to breath. If you pass out it's not going to be good for you or the baby." So I mustered up all the willpower I had in me and breathed and pushed. She said "that was great. Give me one more like that and she's out."
• 10:35 am:  I gave it all I had and out she popped. I had pushed for 7 minutes and my baby was out! 10 hours of labor that was almost all totally bearable and she was here! (Madi was 41 hours of labor and 3 hours of pushing.) I did not know it at the time, but the umbilical cord was wrapped once around her neck and as the midwife was pulling her out, she went to lift the cord over Marlie's head and the cord snapped in half. David told me all of this later that afternoon. I guess it was quite the spectacle. It sprayed blood everywhere and they ran Marlie straight over to the little newborn bed. David didn't cut the cord until later because it cut itself. Crazy! Anyways it was almost an out of body experience this time around. It was kind of loud and chaotic for the last 20 minutes there. I'm glad no one was taping it and it was just David and I in the room.

In case you're wondering that's not a diaper. It's an ice pack. This was right after Marlie was born.




The respiratory specialists came right in because she had pooped while she was still inside me and they had to make sure there was no meconium in her lungs and such. This was all going on about 3 feet away from me while I was getting all stitched up. It was only a minor tear this time, but boy does it not feel very good to be stitched up when you don't have an epidural. We'll just leave it at that.



Here she is... 9lbs 6 oz 20.25 inches of pure sweetness.







The rest of the hospital stay is soon to come :)

Marlie Jeanne

Meet Marlie Jeanne Greenwood

Born Sept 16th 2010 at 10:35 am

She came in a hurry...after only 10 hours of labor and 7 minutes of pushing (Compared to Madi's birth, that is amazing. Delivery details to come.)

9lbs 6 oz

20 1/4 in long

I am so in love.


Just wanted to share a few of the precious moments I've experienced since this angel's birth.


I think my heart grew 10 times the second I held both of my girls in my arms for the first time together. I never knew I could love this much.



This moment is one I'll never forget. He is an amazing daddy. He adores his girls and they know it.



My girls. I have the most beautiful daughters. I am in heaven.



My heart is so full.

I have never been more content.

I love this.

ps. all of the details of these past few days to come. check out more pics here.

0 Days To Go

See that little countdown on the right side of my blog?

It says 0 days to go. Today is due day.

With Madisyn I went 10 days past my due date. Because of that, I wasn't expecting to be early or even on time with this pregnancy. I have been pretty laid back about nesting and getting ready besides the whole moving to a new home. That's keeping me busy enough.

With Madi I had braxton hicks, but until I was really in labor I never had 1 painful contraction.

Well, yesterday I started having contractions around 11 am and they were uncomfortable, but totally bearable. I was able to just distract myself with housework and conversation and I was just fine. Every now and then I would get one that was sharp, but nothing was really hospital worthy. That's how everything started out with Madi too, but within a few hours I was serious and focused. 35 hours later, after hard labor the entire time and 3 hours of pushing she was here.

This time around, the contractions never got intense. They just stayed pretty much the same all day and then tapered off almost completely last night. I slept and was only awakened a few times by a sharp one here and there. This morning, they were almost non existent. My first reaction was frustration. I wanted them to get hard and close together and get this baby out. That feeling was shortly replaced by gratitude.

Gratitude that I finally get the hint that whether she comes today, or 10 days from now, she's coming and I need to be ready.

Since yesterday I've....

- registered online at the hospital

- got some bill paying done

- got all the laundry caught up

- unpacked and sorted through boxes

- made and printed my birth plan

- packed my hospital bag

- packed madi's "overnight at grandma's" bag

- charged all the camera batteries

- did a bunch of cleaning and organizing

- and just pretty much got all my ducks in a row (so to speak)

There's always something to be done and it feels so good to know that at least these things can get checked off of my list. I know I won't have the energy for awhile after this baby comes. Heavenly father is giving me a nice little push in the right direction and for that I am grateful.

I also really get the feeling that my body is really getting ready for this baby. I have been having contractions on and off for a week or 2 now. At my appointment last week, I had my midwife check me and I was at a 2. I am hoping that all these pre-labor contractions mean that my "real labor" won't be as long. It took me 30 hours of pretty intense labor to get to a 3 with Madi. Since yesterday I can feel that my body has not stopped "getting ready". I don't go more than 30 minutes without a contraction or 2 and I know they are getting me ready. I hope to be at a 3 or 4 when the more intense "I need to really focus" labor starts. That would be so wonderful!

I have an appointment this Wednesday. So, if there's no baby by then, I will get to see if all these contractions have progressed me any further.

Anyways, there you have it. My due date is today and I'm in the very beginning stages of labor. It could last a few days, or get really intense really fast. Who knows? All I know is, I'm having a baby soon and I couldn't be more excited!

Now if only we could decide on a name for this princess....

Lovin Summer!

I need to get all caught up before we move and before baby gets here! By the way I think this little girl has a name, but it's not 100% yet. So, I'll wait to share until we know for sure.

Since the last post a lot has happened.

I for one, got bigger (of course).

She's still growing and kicking and loving it in there. I'm getting to the point where I'm ready to have my body to myself again.

Let's back up though. I have some catch up to do.

Madi and I made the flight to Cali to spend the week with my family. The flight went great. Madi got her own apple juice with a lid AND a straw and she thought it was fantastic.

We spent lots of time with grandma, papa, uncle james, and aunt kayla. It was wonderful!

That weekend, David joined us and we celebrated his 26th birthday!! A lasagna dedicated to him :)

Make a wish and give me some of that grasshopper pie would ya!

The next morning we all loaded in the car and made the 7 hour trip to southern california for our annual family reunion camping trip at the beach.

We camped in a tent. Madi loved it.

Talk about an awesome family!!

The Greenwoods.

We did our annual doughnut run with the whole gang.

We played at the beach ALOT!

I couldn't boogie board this year, but Kayla took my spot for me :)

Madi got to play with her buddy Wesley pretty much every day. They're so cute together.

We spent 16 hours in the most magical place on earth. DISNEYLAND!

3 of those hours were spent in Fairytale princess land. This girl's dreams all came true. I almost had a tear in my eye watching the joy on Madisyn's face. Wow! It was magical.

Here's her "rella" (cinderella) kisses to prove it!

We sent daddy home to WA on the airplane and Madi and I drove back to northern california in the motor home, to spend a few more days with my family before flying home.

This is one thing I won't forget about our trip. What you see is what you get when you get burnt and then 24 hours later you walk for 16 hours around disneyland on a hot day WHILE you're 34 wks pregnant.

Not so fun! Glad to say, my feet are back to normal and all that's left is a tan.

That about wraps up that trip.

In more recent news....

Madi got her first tattoo. She got it from the doctor. It makes her "feel better". haha

This week has been in the 90s and I think I'm going to melt.

Since it's been so hot, we decided to spend the day at Jetti Island on saturday and it was great!

Love these two together.

Love this girl!

I think that about sums it up!

Oh and I shot my first wedding last saturday! It was wonderful. Check it out.

Chelsi Greenwood Photography Blog

Now, the count downs really start.

1 week: move into our own place.

2 weeks: send david's youngest brother off to Mexico for a 2 year mission.

4 weeks: welcome a new little princess into our family

A little too much excitement all at once, but we'll enjoy every minute of it!

Bare Belly

(No I didn't photoshop this in any way. That's really my belly.)

I figured now's a good a time as any to take some belly pictures showing a little skin. I'm 31 weeks along and it's just about that time that I'm REALLY showing and there's no sign of stretch marks (yet).

I don't know how good I'll be at posting in the next couple of weeks. I am leaving for girls camp tomorrow, but I'll be back the next day. Which gives me just enough time to do laundry and get everything packed for our 2 week California trip. Monday will be taken over by doctor's appointments for Madi and 1 (baby check up for me, and a follow up appointment to check that Madi's all healed up.)

I just realized that I never mentioned on my blog that Madi ended up having a pretty nasty ear infection, along with a perforated ear drum to top it all off. Poor girl! She's doing much better now. She sleeps through the night and smiles during the day. YAY!

Anyways, after the doc appointments we'll eat lunch, Madi will take a nap, and I'll scramble to get everything together for our trip the next morning. Very early morning!

I get to spend a week with my parents and then it's off to So Cal for the annual Greenwood Family Beach Trip. David will join us for that week. Can't wait to soak up some sun!

So, if you're wondering why I'm MIA for a few weeks, don't worry. My big belly and I can be found on the beaches of California.

To add to the business of it all, a week or so after we get back, David Madi and I are moving into our own place! That gives me a few weeks to get everything set up and ready. Then, our little princess #2 will be here.

Wow.

Wish me luck!

Next time I post, I'll probably be swollen and HUGE. So, just remember me when I was cute and prego like this ok?

Thanks!