Emma Jane McCulloch

Well I am a mother! I just noticed that I went into labor just hours after posting my last blog..

Emma Jane was born May 22nd at 7:20 pm. She was 6 pounds 4 ounces and 19 1/2 inches of cuteness. Wow.. what a whirlwind of emotions! Our lives are changed forever and I am so grateful! She is two weeks old today and she already seems like she is growing and changing.

I couldn't have asked for much more throughout my labor and delivery (okay I could. .. It really hurt and was pretty terrible! ) But we really feel blessed and that everything went okay. I woke up about 5:00 Thursday morning with contractions in my back. John and I went on a walk and then came home and laid down to see if they would go away, but they just got worse so we knew we were going to have a baby! We were in and out of triage at the hospital while I was in early labor. We spent two hours walking at a park and then three hours at home (actually cleaning!) until I drank some rasberry tea and took a warm shower which put me into active labor. ..my contractions were suddenly a lot more intense and evey 2-3 minutes apart (not to mention still in my lower back!) Here's us at the park.. you can tell that I am not in too much pain .. yet..

So we get back to the hospital and soon after my water breaks and there is meconium in it. I was worried about it but the doctors seemed to be okay with it. At this point I am really hurting.. all still in my back. Once we were in the delivery room I pretty much hung out on the bed leaning over my big exercise ball. I was trying to get the pressure off my back. John would push and rub really hard on it which did help most of the time...It all seems like a whirlwind now. .. I'm not sure how long we were in the delivery room.. but I started pushing around 6:30 and about 45 minutes later she was born. I did it all with out any pain medications.. It was really hard but I'm glad I did it. It was the most amazing day. So exhausting but the best thing ever! John and I just sobbed right after she was born. It was incredible. It is amazing how you can love someone so much!

She is healthy and beautiful and such a joy. They did say it looked like she had the meconium for a while, so it's a good thing she came 10 days early. We feel so blessed. .. with all my blood pressure stuff and preeclamsia worries I did great. Literally as soon as she came out my blood pressure went back to normal. So no worries there. John's mom, Nancy came to help out with the labor and delivery (really to be our doula) and I am so glad she was there. She was awesome. I know if her and John were not there I would have had that epidural (and probably 10 extra hours of labor). I really feel like I have a great sence of accomplishment after that.

Doesn't he look like a brand-new father? I love this picture. He is so good with her and loves her so much. I'm so grateful for him.

In this picture we are both feeling happy that labor and delivery is over! :

She was a little jaundice so I would put her in the sun for a little bit every day. She is doing a lot better now. It's amazing how protective I am over her and how much there is to worry about her already! Thank goodness breastfeeding has been getting better everyday...

I love this picture.. Emma likes to have here hands by her face when she sleeps. It's adorable. She sleeps a LOT! Even a lot a night.. which is great but I wake up on my own worrying that she needs to eat..

She is just amazing and so much fun. She has all this soft brown hair and blue eyes and the cutest little mouth! She also has John's feet! (Sorry Emma) She smiles in her sleep and it just melts my heart. I am seriously in love with her. :)

Thank you everyone for all your visits and calls and dinners and gifts and support! We love you!