.introducing.

Meg Caroline Hoffman

12/27/2012

6lb 1oz

18.5 in

8:54 PM

Thursday began like a normal day and we weren't expecting anything to change that.  I had been really tired the day before and had put off putting Christmas away and instead took a nice long nap with Finn, but Thursday I was determined to get everything down so I wouldn't have to worry about it.  After Christmas was taken down I had arranged to have Finn have his nap at my mom's while I went to my mid-wife appointment that afternoon.  On the way to my parents, the car decided that today was the day to break down.  Roy was called to come and figure out the car issue, while my mom let me take her car to the appointment.

I had had a thought that morning to just throw the bags in the car...you know...just in case, but of course I ended up not doing it.  
When I got to the birth center the mid-wife almost didn't check me, but I just felt better knowing where I stood even if I hadn't progressed at all.  I'm glad I had her check because I had dilated to a 5 and was 80% effaced (no 7 cm and 90% like I was with Finn).  I assumed she would just send me home, and let her cook a little longer, but she decided that with my history she wanted to call the mid-wife that would be on call for the night and talk about breaking my water.  I was surprised to hear that, and started getting anxious.  I was kind of hoping that she would let me go, what with the car breaking down, and hoping I could get a little further along before they broke my water.  But it was decided that with the storm coming in, and the fact that the mid-wife had a 45 min drive in, and that it was a full moon (apparently that causes women to go into labor too) that it was going to happen that night...a perfect storm as it were.  Poor Roy was in the middle of dropping the car off at the mechanic when he got the call to head up.  I sat in the waiting area shaking with adrenaline and anticipation trying to get my head in the zone for delivering baby girl that night.  

Roy got there about 45 minutes later with my parents (who totally saved the day with letting us use cars and arranging to take care of Finn), and sister Angie (who took all the great pictures for us), and then we got the show on the road.  

They broke my water at about 5:30, and I was anticipating a quick start just like Finn, but Meg had other plans.  She took her sweet time, and I actually had a harder mental fight thinking it was going to be a long night.

Just after they broke my water waiting for the action to start

Since Meg was still laying on her side we did a lot of ball kneeling at the beginning to see if we could help her get in the right position...it didn't work.  She stayed on her side until the last minute.

Roy texting everyone, and my mom timing contractions.

Moved to the bed for a change of position, and to try and rest thinking it could be a long night of nothing.

Still feeling really good apparently, because I'm still smiling.

The mid-wife came to check on my since my contractions weren't feeling all that strong and I was still a 6-7 after an hour and a half, and of course Meg was still being stubborn about lying on her side...I was starting to feel very down about how long it was taking.  The Mid-wife did a pretty aggressive sweep of the membranes, and that seemed to do the trick.  The contractions started coming on strong and long, and it wasn't long before I felt like I needed to get in the water to help cope with the pain.

I had only 2-3 strong contractions in the water before I felt the need to push.  I must have only pushed through 3 contractions because I only pushed for 6 minutes before she was here.  I say that like I just walked through the park, which is absolutely not the case.  I felt like I must have been thrashing around in that water just trying so hard to deal with that urge to push, but according to everyone else they didn't even know I was about to have a baby because I was so calm about it...so not the case in my head.  The actual thought that crossed my mind was "I'm going to die!

I was so relieved when they placed her on me, happy that it was over, happy that she was healthy, just HAPPY!
The birth center was a great experience if you are a natural kind of girl (which I'm still debating if I actually am).  Roy loved that he got to sleep in a bed and that he wasn't a second class citizen like at the hospital.  He also liked that we got to go home early and be in our own place after a brief recovery.

Little Meg is indeed little, but she is also as calm and content as a newborn can be.  She is a great nurser in the sense that she is not lazy like her brother.  It still hurts like the dickens starting out though, which is really my only complaint of pain.  Soo much better then with Finn.  I have only had to take a small amount of Advil more because of nursing soreness.  The idea of taking on 2 by myself is still overwhelming, but I'm ready to take it on.  We are now officially a family of four and we are so happy she is here...we are truly blessed!

.a little Christmas.

It was nearly as perfect as Christmas can get I think.  We had our Christmas Eve storm that blanketed our little part of the world in several inches of fresh snow, and left behind a bright and sunny Christmas day.  For a Utah girl, I don't think I could have planned it any better...a white Christmas is the best way to get me in the mood.  The only thing to dampen my Christmas mood was the lingering cold that I've been fighting for a few days.  Nothing like being 9 months pregnant and being sick I tell ya!
Christmas Eve, the boys and I ventured out to the stores to do some Christmas shopping just for me (Roy's idea, not mine).  We picked out my big gift this year...a bed set, and then made our way back as the storm was hitting.  That night we had all got together for soup and bread before the Sullivan nativity.  There is something so good about warm soup and bread, being inside with family, and watching the snow gently fall outside...just cozy!
The nativity was simple and wonderful.  Finn was supposed to be a Shepard, but didn't want anything to do with it. So instead he occupied himself with cooper the dog.

The cast of Nativity characters 

By far my favorite picture of the night.  Tom as Joseph is one happy papa!

Finn enjoying Cooper the dog far more then anything else.

The candles caught his attention too.

"hot" is what he kept saying

Sully as one happy angel

Christmas morning was spent playing with Finn's train set, that Roy scored for free by the way.  Finn could not be pulled from it, not even for his other gifts.

 He especially loves the magnetic crane!

After a minor fit we did get him distracted with some new bath crayons in the tub (I hope he'll forgive me for posting these pictures later).  I love his skinny little buns!
I have to say the best thing about this Christmas was just having my little family together.  Having Roy home with us and having him do all of the little things just to help out just made the time so enjoyable.  He also picked out some extremely nice gifts as his way of saying thanks for everything I do...what a guy (He's going to hate me for saying that), but it's true.  It was such a simple a relaxing Christmas, that I just wanted to keep it going, but today Christmas is back in it's boxes, and we are preparing ourselves for baby girl.  Our family is about to get a little bit bigger and merrier!

.37.

Like I said, we've been busy enjoying all things that the Holiday brings.  We got out and went sledding, ice skating (done more by Roy and son) in the snow storm last Saturday, and we got out to see the lights at Temple Square last night...along with a bonus train ride.  I'm tired and waddle more then is normal,  but I just want to spend all the time we can while it lasts with just the three of us because it's quickly coming to an end.  At my 36 week appointment I had the mid-wife check me and I was only dilated to 1cm.  I big relief in a sense because I want to get through Christmas first.  Today at 37 week I measured at 3cm and 50% effaced, so some progress but not too much...I can deal with that.  I also lost weight since last week (SURPRISE!)  I didn't know that was possible either, especially around the holidays.  I always gained or stayed the same with Finn's pregnancy, again I can deal with that.  Besides dilating, I feel tired most days (even as I write this I'm debating about doing the sink full of dishes), still have my ankles, and have been getting heartburn after eating way too much chocolate...'tis the season right?  Now we just wait!

.31 + 2.

Life has been slower then normal these last few days, which in some ways has been a blessing since I'm really not feeling myself.  I would try to describe it to you, but it wouldn't make much sense...so I'll just leave it at that.  Tuesday, however, was my 31st birthday so the day was spent in celebration.  Actually the festivities started the night before with a nice dinner with the Wards and Mikey (whom Finn can't get enough of).
Tuesday all my sisters and mom went to lunch for birthdays/baby shower.  My family are so wonderful and caring.  I told them I didn't want to have a second shower, mostly because I feel guilty for asking for more.  But they still brought gifts for baby M.  I love those women!!!

I think after lunch I took a bit of a nap (perfect gift to myself)!
That night Roy took me downtown for a surprise carriage ride and dinner.  It was a perfect evening that was just wintry enough to make the carriage ride cozy, but it wasn't bitter or stormy.  Plus we got to see all the lights without all the crowds...bonus!

 At dinner, they sat us down at the huge group booth.  Maybe they thought the 9 month pregnant women needed some extra room.

It was a great birthday spent with some of my favorite people!

.welcome december.

We have officially welcomed in December this week!  I love this time of year, even though it is full of so much that I barely have time to breath or think for that matter.  I decided that this week it was now or never on getting a tree and all the other decorations up.  My body has been feeling more tired then usual (I guess that's a side effect of changing food into a person), so I mustered up the small amount of motivation and hauled the boys out to pick out our tree.  We chose to place the tree strategically between the two couches as to make it less accessible to curious little boys, but we knew there was really nothing we could do to deter that Finn of ours.  He's already discovered the few ornaments that we left within reach for him, and went head first off the couch into the tree leaving a void in the boughs of the pine for all to see.

To say that he is stoked about the tree is an understatement!
Roy has been fighting a bug of some sort since Thursday, but we felt like we had dodged a bullet by Saturday.  But surprise, he woke up Sunday with a high fever and feeling downright miserable.  So I flew solo at church.  To sum it up...EXHAUSTING!  Wrangling a 22 month old alone, while giantly pregnant, will test your stamina, and not something I want to do again anytime soon.  Thankfully, by Monday morning Roy's fever had burned itself out, just in time for the monthly changing of the sheets!

Despite being tired, I have stepped up my exercise trying to summon all my extra energy my body can spare.  It does seem to have helped out this week, giving my days a little bonus of endorphins to get me through Finn's escapades of milk spitting, ornament breaking, and all around busy-ness.

(he was so proud to pose for this picture documenting his milk spitting...crazy kid)

My nesting is tapering off, but sneaking in under the radar...

little hats for little girl...who am I?

.the case of the missing duck.

Finn's cuddle blanket of choice is a soft yellow duck that looks something like this-

It's his go to for instant comfort and is a never fail for falling asleep.  We started with one, but after a sick episode we realized how valuable a second would be in cases where the original had to be cleaned.  Unfortunately, Finn can distinguish between the original and it's replacement, but we have never had a problem with the first ducky.  That is until this past Thursday.  I was watching our neighbor friend for the day so to say I was more distracted then usual would be an understatement.  Ducky was last seen on the couch and has since been spirited away to some secret corner of our small house.  Roy and I have implemented search after search in hopes of finding where an active toddler would have deposited it, but have come up empty handed.  Every night since, as we fight through the crying of a toddler without his security blanket, I keep thinking, "we live in such a small space, it's got to be around here."  Roy has determined, after a 5:30 wake up call, that today he was making a last ditch effort to find ducky.  For all our sakes I hope he finds him!