The Little Arrives...Finally!

Well Hello World! The Little Has Arrived!

Welcome to the world! 7 lbs, 7 oz, 20 inches, born Sunday June 9,  2013 at 1:14 in the morning. The moment she came out I burst into tears and was instantly in love. It was an amazing moment and by far the best moment that I’ve been blessed to experience in my life. I kept saying to Nate, “We did it, I did it!”

We went in for our induction on Friday. Silly me, thinking you’d be here in like a day…ha! We went in on Friday at 2 pm (I was scared as hell, but had the kindest nurses to help keep me somewhat sane) and the Little didn’t arrive until Sunday at 1:14 pm…I’m really all about the whole marathon birthing…highly recommended…

The birth its self was actually the easiest part…I’ll regret this thought later I’m sure, but literally she came out and I thought, “Sure, I could TOTALLY do this again!” The worst part was the waiting, we tried a variety of things to induce, and each one took its sweet time to make minimal progress. It was an emotional ride, filled with anticipation and nonsensical self-doubt. I woke up Sunday morning, only to burst into tears with one of our fabulous nurses and just wanted to give up, not from the pain because I wasn’t really in pain much, but from the frustration of “What’s wrong with me/my body, why isn’t this working!?” Finally, they broke my water and whalah, LABOR!

I got the epidural…always get the epidural! I naively said before, “Oh, I want to do natural, that’s the way to go,” (yes this was BEFORE I was pregnant), well what a load of crap that was! Epidural = <3 in my heart forever! I’m already starting my, “I will never…when I’m a parent” list…it’s growing quite long and she’s only been here a few days, how is that possible ;)

She came out and she was perfect!

Already In Love! 

Nathan was the most amazing support person ever! I am so excited that he is the man that I get to raise my children with. He is one of the best fathers that I have ever seen and my Mini and Little are the luckiest children in the world to have him for a father. He and the Little instantly bonded, it was a moment that I will never forget.

She's already got him wrapped around her finger! <3

Big Brother was the first of the family to get to see the Little. He was SO EXCITED. Mini doesn’t usually show excitement, he’s pretty reserved, but the smile on his face and the giggles he let out when he saw her…he was one proud big brother! Ever since we’ve been home he’s been uber concerned about her! During our first outing to the doctor, he used his hands to shield her face from the sun while in the car…again, a lucky Little to have such a great big brother.

So Proud!

We were finally “released” (I imagine that prison releases must feel like this…waiting, clock ticking, dying to escape but having to wait) on Tuesday…again, Marathon Birthing, Friday to Tuesday agggghhh! Nathan literally RAN out of the room he was so done with Kaiser. We decided it was a Kaiser policy to come into your room 10 minutes after you fell asleep, or after the baby fell asleep. They like to poke the baby, wake the baby, test the momma, ask unnecessary questions. There must be cameras in the room and once you fall asleep or stop moving a buzzer goes off to tell someone to come wake you up! Needless to say we were tired! (Despite that, Kaiser did an AMAZING job and I was nothing but pleased with the whole experience).

We have been home now for three days and it’s going really well. This new role as MOMMY is the most amazing. I can’t wait to see what the days ahead bring. 

Here Comes The Little

How amazing is it that we finally get to meet you today (or tomorrow, depending on when you finally come on out). Six hours from now I'll be walking into the hospital, preparing to have you, and I am in awe.

Everyone is terribly excited to meet the Little, for a while I had tremendous guilt because I wanted to keep her inside, I wasn't ready to meet her, I was scared, but this morning I woke up with a sense of calm and a twinge of anticipation and instead of crying when I think about today (in fear of course), I find myself smiling and the thought that in what is overall a few short hours I will get to meet my daughter, and what an amazing feeling that is.

Dad and the Mini went on a morning doughnut run (screw you gestational diabetes, I ate my doughnut and it was friggin' fantastic!), and are now off to get coffee to keep Dad up for the occasion. I am spending the last few hours alone, quiet, I am told that once you are here this thing of "quite" that I so enjoy doesn't happen often...so I'm relishing in it right now. I hear the sound of the keys typing and the hum of the fan spinning, I'm peaceful and calm.

I marvel at how many people are really invested in this birth, it's rather amazing. I selfishly think of my own feelings and forget to step aside and take the perspective of others. You have a myriad of grandparents (both biological and chosen) that can not wait for your arrival, they are excited with nerves and anticipation, and what a gift for you that will be as you grow older. Friends, relatives, and family all know you're coming (some know the date, others just know you're scheduled to arrive in the next few weeks) and they are all excited, what a blessing.

Even before you've arrived, we've already begun the betting, your birth is coupled with gambling and alcohol winnings! I hear though the grapevine that it's 10 dollars a half hour to place a bet, and winner is awarded some bottles of alcohol from one of your dad's friends who works at one of the frequented bar (yea Mom's 9 months sober...still never got my t-shirt). We'll tell you this story when you're older, but it's pretty funny and the person behind it always makes me smile, quite the character.

In all my ramblings, the general theme is that your dad, your brother, and I can not wait to meet you, what an incredible day this is going to be.

With love,
Mom

The Mini, The Little, and Us

Mini Little Moments is about our family and our children, 

it's a way to share with those who live close and far away. 

The Mini:

Baseball Season - Flying Squirrels Spring 2013

Giant's Baseball Game September 2012

I met the Mini in 2010, and as you can see, the Mini isn't really that mini. He will be 9 in September and is almost as tall as I am...we can even share shoes! He's going into the 3rd grade next year, and baseball is one of his most favorite things right now. Summer 2013 holds in store a new sibling, summer camp, and hopefully a trip to the ocean (to visit my family). He's kind, caring, thoughtful, tries to be funny (we're working on the whole telling a joke thing...ha), and really just a wonderful "Mini" kiddo. A handful of people refer to him as "the Mini," but pretty much I'm the only one that calls him that these days. 

The Little:

The Little December 2012

This is "the Little," or Little Miss, or BonQueQue...depending on the day. She was originally scheduled to arrive June 14, 2013, but we're pushing up the date a week early and count down is now at four days away (yikes!). We're saving her name until she's born (people that do that are SO annoying!), so BonQueQue is the name you'll get if you ask. We're terribly excited for her to arrive, I personally can't wait to see who she looks like, discover her personality, and finally determine if there really is enough hair there to attach a bow to, as the doctors have said.  

"Mom, aka: Toni" & Dad:

The Night It All Began - NYE 2010 :) 

Giant's Game - May 2012

Nathan and I met on New Year's Eve 2010, and he hasn't been able to get rid of me sense! We recently decided to just jump into all major life events and take it all on in just one year. We recently purchased our first home, became engaged, and are having our first Little one this June. I am so lucky to have such a wonderful, caring, loving man in my life to raise our children and grow old with...I <3 him very much!