Stop picking!!

Today we met with Gretchen our nurse practitioner for the second time since Isla's birth. She is 8 lbs 14 oz today. This is about the 70% for weight. But she is tall (89% percentile) and has a big head (90th%). Everything else looked good on her exam and her belly button is about to fall off! It's kind of gross.
Speaking of gross things, I find myself picking on Isla while I'm feeding her. I've heard other mom's say they do this too but it is kind of annoying. It doesn't annoy Isla but it annoys me that I can't stop doing it. Her skin was peeling this week a little and it was impossible for me to not pick on her!! I even bit her little fingernail for her once (or twice!)
Isla is a little more alert every day. Today she looked and "played" with my sister for almost an hour. Her eyes are so wide and she will look at you and make cute little baby noises. It's so darn cute!
Laura brought both of our baptismal gowns home from Moorhead for me to look at. We are going to have her baptised at Mark's church in Apple Valley on July 3rd. Both of our gowns were hand knit by Leonore Sillers. They are beautiful and I'm excited for Isla to wear one of them for her baptism.
Isla is still up at night a lot. She is hungry about every 90 minutes to 2 hours. And today the nurse said that I should still feed her on demand as she could stand to gain a little more weight. So no rest for the weary. It's tough but at least I am able to take a couple of naps during the day while she is sleeping.
Mark's mom and dad have been helping out which makes it easier. Barb made lasagna last night and made an extra pan to freeze for after they leave.

12 days old

In Isla's second week of life she made a few trips out of the house! We made a visit to the lactation consultant and while at the hospital we stopped by the surgical floor. All of the nurses were gowned and ready to hold her!

Mark and I had Monday and Tuesday just the three of us. Mark had taken those days off of work so that was really nice. We just slept and helped Isla with her eating and her diapers! We had her first doctor's appointment which was really just a weight check. She was 8 lbs 9oz so already almost back up to birth weight! I guess the eating is going fine.

Wednesday was my first day alone and it went just fine. I think I only cried twice that day! Thursday Mark's parents arrived from Minnesota. They have been so helpful and it nice to pass off Isla in the morning to get some extra z's while they watch her!

Yesterday was my friend Robin's baby shower. I dressed Isla in the cutest handmade purple sweater and matching booties made by my friend Rebecca.

Today we took Isla to the Old Port Festival in her cute yellow and green outfit. It was fun but a little bit busy with the stroller. She did great though...slept through the whole thing!

Grandma Ollie

Grandma Ollie passed away last week on June 3rd. Isla will never meet her great-gma Ollie but I have already told her all about what a wonderful person she was. I was very sad to not be able to go back for the funeral as Isla is too little to fly. I wrote something for the visitation that my sister read for me. I wanted to contribute something so that I felt that if I couldn't be there people could hear how much she meant to me. Below is what I wrote...

Last fall I found out I was pregnant and so of course one of the first people I had to call was my Grandma Ollie. She was so excited for me and told me about the joys of motherhood. That conversation was probably one of the last good conversations I had with grandma before she became ill. It was so important for me to hear her words of wisdom since she had raised three wonderful children of her own.
Last week Isla Marie was born. I cannot describe how incredible it is to witness the miracle of birth and the start of a new life. Not until you have your own child can you truly understand it. One week later Grandma Ollie passed away. In the span of a week I watched the beginning of an earthly life for Isla as well as the beginning of a heavenly life for Grandma with Jesus.
Although I am sad that I cannot be with my family today I know that Grandma and Grandpa are smiling down from heaven on me and Isla. I love all of you and will never forget Grandma’s words of wisdom and the example she provided for me as an amazing mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

6 days old

Isla Marie is 6 days new today. Today was a little bit of a sad day for me. My grandma is dying. She hasn't been eating or drinking anything. I am sad because Isla will never meet her sweet great-grandma Ollie. I am also sad because I can't go home for the funeral. Isla can't fly until she is 14 days old. So my dad told me I should write something for them to read for me at the family service. I think I will write about experiencing the miracle of life through Isla's birth and how it makes me happy that grandma will have eternal life in heaven.
I'm really emotional anyways. I've been crying at the drop of a hat. Probably most of it is that I am very tired. Isla was up all night eating every 90 min to 2 hours. Apparently the day or two after your milk comes in the baby feels the need to make up for it by eating constantly. So that was tough. But Mark takes her after I feed her and tries to get her to sleep. But she mostly likes to sleep during the day!
We had a visiting nurse come out today. Lynn was very helpful in reassuring me that my emotions are normal and are not post-partum depression. She weighed Isla and she is back up to 8lbs 6 oz already. I guess she is eating enough to start gaining weight back. She answered all of our questions and will check back with us in a couple of weeks. This is a free service provided to all Portland residents. I found the visit very helpful and I feel much better after hearing that Isla's feeding frenzies will start to space out.
It has been very nice to have some time with just Mark, me and Isla. We are bonding as a family and it is a feeling of love and bonding I have never felt before. Mark has tomorrow off too so looking forward to another day of family time!

Isla Marie Stapleton- 8lbs 11oz

Well, it was my last night pregnant last Monday and she did surprise us! At 5:15am on Tuesday, May 26th I started having contractions. They started about 5 minutes apart and starting coming on quickly! After exactly one hour we called the doctor and she told us to come on in. My mom and dad drove us to the hospital which was nice because I was having a lot of back pain and I needed Mark with me. They got us in a birthing room right away. The next several hours are a little bit of a blur. I was having back labor and the only thing that helped to some extent was having Mark push on my back. I did get in the jacuzzi briefly which was helpful too. At 9am I got my epidural which was a life saver. Hypnobirthing went right out the window! I progressed very quickly and by noon or so I was fully dilated and ready to push. I pushed for three hours and that was hard work! I kept asking, "how many more pushes??!!" At 3:51pm she was delivered. They told me reach down and grab my baby. I put her right onto my chest and Mark cut the cord. I tried breastfeeding within the first half hour of her life!

I'll write more about the hospital experience next time but everyone was WONDERFUL! I had such amazing care.
She is four days old today. I am overwhelmed by how sweet and beautiful she is. Mark is doing a wonderful job and has changed almost every diaper. He got pooped all over last night too!

Also, I'm going to make a picasa web album soon so people can view all of the pics!

More soon!

Last night pregnant?

Happy Memorial Day! We had a nice, relaxing day with my parents. Mom and I took a walk around the Back Cove while Dad took a run. Then down to Portsmouth for a Memorial Day BBQ with Laura, Jon and Emitt!
I had one big contraction last night but of course it didn't progress. So unless she surprises us tonight we are on for induction tomorrow morning at 8:30! I am feeling anxious but very excited! I have been getting lots of texts and messages from friends and family. It's nice to feel all of the support around us.
Well, tomorrow we will finally meet our daughter! I just can't wait to hold and touch her.

4 days from due date!

Mark and I had brunch with Laura and Jon on Saturday. Laura is getting excited to be an aunt! She took some belly pics which may be some of my last.

I had my doctor's appointment today. I was 2cm and still 75% effaced. She said my cervix was more anterior and the baby was lower. She stripped my membranes again and said she even tried to break my membranes! It didn't work. I told her that I was anxious because Friday was my last day of work and my parents are coming on Sat. She brought up induction which may be an option next week after my due date. She was actually willing to induce me this week but I kind of panicked about that. A little too early for me.

So I am being patient (not really) and trying to relax. (Impossible at this point.)

Maybe she'll come tonight. (I say this to myself every day!)

Visit from Natasha

Last weekend Natasha, my friend from med school, came to visit. We gave her the Maine tour showing her Twin Lights and the Portland Head Light. Then lunch at the Lobster Shack and dinner at Local 188. We had a great time and it was so good to see her. It made me really miss all of our friends back in the cities. Only one more year to go and we will be back close to our old friends and family!

No news on the baby this weekend. My Dad's guess for the baby's arrival was yesterday, May 16th. That date came and went. I did have a lot of irregular contractions yesterday so maybe things are moving along. I'm having a lot of mixed emotions this weekend...happy, nervous, anxious, frustrated. But my goal is to stay positive this week. Mark compared the pregnancy to a game at this point. We know she is coming but it's a surprise as to when. Although this game is fun sometimes I find myself frustrated that everything is ready but no baby! At least I'm still able to work so that preoccupies me during the week. I'm also nervous because my parents have their plane tickets booked for next Sat the 23rd. What if she isn't here yet?

The other fun project we have finished this week is setting up our Skype account. We have had a fun time chatting via video online with both sets of to-be grandparents. Mark especially likes it because I think he thinks he's on TV when he uses it! It will be great when the baby comes though to communicate and show the baby to those back in MN.

7 pounds 4 oz???

7 pounds 4 oz is Dr. Vaughn's guess as to how much the baby weighs right now. That would be so nice! Especially since Mark and his siblings were all greater than 10 pounds when they were born! I had my weekly check today. My blood pressure was down...so no bed rest for me! YEAH! The first thing I asked of course was whether it would be ok for me to be in the OR again. She said that I could do some shorter cases which made me feel better. It is hard to pretend to be an intern again and just do floor work.
She also said I was a little more dilated. 1-2 cm now and still 75% effaced. She stripped my membranes again...ouch. But I practiced my breathing techniques so that was good. She said with pretty good confidence that there would be a baby this week!! YEAH!! I hope I'm not getting my hopes up. My parents are scheduled to come out a week from this Saturday so I guess there is a lot of time before they come.
I am so excited but I'm trying to really relax and not anticipate things too much. I feel like there is nothing left to do to get ready. Except mop my kitchen floor which I keep putting off. Maybe my mom will do it when she comes!
Every night we have been reading to her. She loves Mark's voice. He loves to read her this Dr. Suess book that is specifically to be read in utero. Then he always finishes with the book "Daddy loves me." How cute is he? I can't wait to see him holding and kissing her.
OK....maybe the next entry will be post-partum!!!!

37 weeks and counting....

16 days until my due date...and I'm counting the days. I had a real contraction last night which was exciting but then nothing happened. I laid in bed at 2 in the morning just waiting for the next one. Which didn't come. Mark thinks it will happen tonight. He also thought it would happen last weekend. My friend Mary is convinced I will go into labor on Mother's Day, this Sunday. My bags are packed and ready to go!
Well, the most recent check showed my cervix was still 1cm and 80% effaced. But she thought the baby was lower and I did lose my mucous plug today. That was kind of gross. I will spare the details.
So we are waiting. Not very patiently. This week it has become very difficult to bend over and pick things up. I've also been more swollen and can't wear my wedding band which bothers me. My OB told me to "take it easy" at work because my blood pressure was trending up. Now interpreting what that exactly means has been difficult. Mark's definition is to be done working. Mine to is to not do 5 hour cases and cover shorter 2-3 hour cases. But seriously, it has been very difficult for me to be physically forced to slow down. But it is probably good for me to experience what it is like not to be working at 110% all the time. I think maternity leave it going to be a very interesting experience for me as well.
All I can say now is that I am so excited to meet our daughter. I want to know what she looks and smells like. I want to hear her crying and making cute baby noises. I want to watch her sleep. So I'll wait....impatiently.