Welcome to the World Miss Briley

For those of you who don't know, I had Briley almost a week ago today on 12/12. I was just about three weeks early and she was an ity bity 5 lbs 15 oz. She had been trying to come for awhile, when I was 35 weeks I started having pre-term labor and they kept me overnight in the hospital trying different medications to stop the contractions. We were finally able to stop them and they sent me home on moderate bed rest. I stopped working and was good for about a week before I got sick of laying around and started being active again (jogging aside but lets be honest I never jog anyway:)). When I got to 37 weeks I started getting anxious and bored cause I felt like I was just waiting around... we had gotten Christmas shopping done early and everything was in place. I started to worry she might even be late. Went for a family drive up Carr Canyon and hiked around a bit up there last Saturday. I'll admit, I was trying to jump start labor but nothing happened so I went about my day and finally decided she could come whenever she wanted, I wouldn't be impatient anymore. That night around 8 or so I started having contractions but nothing painful. Around 8:30 they were very consistent and even though they weren't too painful yet decided to go to the hospital since my dr said this one could go fast. We dropped off Crew with my friend Jess and by the time we got admitted they were super painful and only a minute or two apart. I was only 3 cm and even though I told them I would probably go fast they made me walk around for a half hour to progress before they would check me again and put me in my own room. It was the longest half hour of my life, it was so painful and I just wanted my epidural. I was 5 cm next time they checked me and by the time they got me my epidural I was already at 8 and kinda panicking that I wouldn't get it in time. Less than a half hour after I got my epidural (by this time the contractions were less painful but still hurt) it was time to push. She came out in 4 contractions (about 15 min or less) and even though I could feel most of it and it hurt pretty bad, I was just so glad for it to be over! It was more painful and intense than Crew's 12 hour birth but I was grateful it only took 4 hours and I didn't need any stitches this time either.

We got home Monday morning and Brian stayed home all week. We have been enjoying our little family so much! We have gotten awesome meals all week from our ward family and this week we are getting more from the mom's club I am in. I have been just feeling so grateful to all our friends here for their support and love. I am feeling great this time around and am amazed at how much energy I have. Briley is an angel baby, she sleeps a lot and is eating well (although I wish I could get her to eat for longer periods of time- dr said not to worry) and has longer and longer periods of alert time where she just looks around in wonder. I am up 2-3 times a night to feed her but she goes right back down after. I feel so blessed to have two wonderful children. Crew is adjusting well to sharing his parents, and seems to like the baby more and more. The real test will be when Brian goes back to work on Monday.

I love having a girl! The bows, flowers and frills are just too much fun. I can already see how everyone says girls are more expensive. But she is totally worth it! I am loving this Christmas season more and more now that I get to share it with both my children, plus I love not being pregnant although lets be honest, I don't totally look "not pregnant" yet;). All in good time! I am planning on taking another two or three months off then going back to work very part time. I am going to keep two of my kids from before and work either one or two days a week probably for an hour and a half each kid. I love the flexibility of my job, and the rewarding sense of accomplishment when I help them progress in life. Its the same feeling I have every day being a mom. So great! Haven't felt any baby blues yet, am hoping they won't sneak in down the road.

A horrible thing happened this week. An agent from Brian's station was shot and killed while on duty. Brian didn't know him well but its a tragedy and makes you realize the frailty of life and appreciate what you have. I can only pray for Brian's and everyone's safety every day and know that there is a reason for all things. I am just so thankful Brian and I are sealed together in the temple and get to be an eternal family no matter what.

I will end this post with a funny story. I have started pumping a little every day to have a storage of milk in the freezer. Yesterday Crew took out one of the little storage bottles from my bag where I keep everything and held it up to his bare chest and looked at me with a proud little smile. It totally cracked me up, kids pay a lot more attention to us then we give them credit for! I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season!