Introducing Madeline Audrey Morse!

Interestingly enough, I went into labor the day AFTER Labor Day, just the day after my last blog post, which was filled with emotion and deep thoughts about #2.  Contractions and spotting started at work around lunch time.  I was able to get through them without a ton of pain, but after arriving home at the end of the day, they really picked up in intensity to the point where I could no longer stand up while they were coming.  This was when the phone call went out to Julie Morse and Julie Day, our helpers for Elaine.  Julie Day dropped everything and came right over, and Julie Morse jumped in her car, got Mike in Lacrosse, and drove straight here as well  (arriving after 2:00am)!

 

Good thing they did because Madeline was born at 9:14pm, via C-section.  It was an uncomplicated birth, and I remember those first baby cries and Eric announcing, she's here, she's here!!  This time he tried to peek past the curtain but the moment she arrived, his eyes were permanently locked on this 6 lb, 10 oz little bundle.  The question I called out over and over was, what color is her hair?  Sure enough, just like I had been visualizing for all those months, was our dark haired beauty, just the same shade as her daddy.  She even has his matching dimples in both cheeks.

Eric went to get food while she had to go under a heat lamp for an hour, and I was wheeled back to recovery for monitoring and to wait for my official room.  During this time, I called Julie Day, who was at our house and had been joined by Leslie Grefe, who brought her dinner and wine.  We had a really fun 45 minute conversation, and I'll never forget the laughter, the excitement, and the joy I had in knowing everyone was safe, happy, and HERE.  I am so grateful to have a Des Moines family of friends, who are willing to do things like this, and who answer the call when the time is here!

 

Some funny trivia -

Elaine was born on a Tuesday.  Maddie was born on a Tuesday.
Elaine weighed 6 lbs, 13 oz.  Maddie weighed 6 lbs, 10 oz.
Elaine was born 15 days early.  Maddie was born 18 days early (3 days, 3 oz - see the connection?)

The next morning, Mike and Julie arrived with Elaine to meet her for the first time.  It was so heart-melting, I can't even put it into words.  Elaine is VERY into her little sister and wants to be a part of every moment - who can blame her?  It's pretty exciting!!

 

 

"MY hold her!"

 

 

And here we are packing up to go HOME on Friday!!

 

Labor Day, labor thoughts!

Well, with this Labor Day I am consumed with deep thoughts about the arrival of our second daughter.  I can't help but feel an overwhelming sense of anticipation, knowing in two weeks, I will be holding this little firecracker in my arms.  I say firecracker because I know she already is.  She is already communicating with her sister from the inside, delivering wildly dramatic kicks and jabs to her mother.  She already has that fire in her to be a little sister, demanding to be noticed but strong enough to keep up with her older sis.  I am emotional today, as Eric and I have an extra day at home to enjoy our Elaine, to give double kisses, to play ring around the rosey (6 times in a row) in the kitchen, and to watch Sesame Street with just her in the middle.  The structure of our family is never going to be the same again.  This idea both overjoys me but has tears streaming down my face. 

I am nervous.  I am intimidated to do the newborn thing again.  I'm anxious to know how Elaine will react to having to share her throne.  I'm sad to know I won't get to witness her every first because I'm watching the other one have one of HER firsts.  I'm scared she'll be lost without us while I'm in the hospital and I'm very nervous about my recovery in such an active time of Elaine's life.  I'm scared Eric and I will never sleep again, for once they are out of diapers, they'll certainly be doing sleepovers and talking to boys on the phone.   They'll live out of each other's closets, they'll fight dirty but love fiercely.  They'll tattle  on each other but keep the biggest secrets of the others lives.  They'll always have a friend on family vacations to walk the beach with and roll their eyes with as their parents belt out tunes from the front seat. 

I know the fears I have will soon be replaced by an overwhelming sense of family, of the same sense of love I had watching Eric hold our firstborn.  Watching someone assume a new role, be it father, mother, sister, grandmother, is such a beautiful thing.  Already Elaine plays mommy, putting all her stuffed animals under blankets telling them it's nap time.  I can only imagine the things she will mimic when the new baby is here and she has a front row seat to it all.

I know I should be so proud of her (and us) for how far we've come in the last year.  Getting her adjusted to a big girl bed, helping her with potty training, watching her take tumbles, scrape knees, seeing her dive effortlessly into a new room at daycare with a whole new curriculum and teachers and kids.  And watching things like her hair grow, her feet, her tiny little hands.  Listening to her personality, watching her squeal with delight and also sometimes in fear.  Watching her command a situation or just relax knowing she's loved.  I am so thankful for 9 months to be able to come to this day of clarity, of mixed emotions, of excitement.  And I know we will all happily make room for one more on our couch, one more in our ring around the rosey, and someday we'll get to be triple kissed.

Until then...   2 more weeks of looking at tiny sonogram pictures dreaming of our firecracker-to-be!