Brynn's First Month

Brynn turned a month old almost 2 weeks ago. I'm such a slacker for just now posting about it. Here is our girl at 1 month old

Ever since we brought Brynn home from the hospital she has been a great sleeper. She sleeps about 4 hour stretches and sometimes we get lucky with a 6 hour stretch. Of course she has her off days where she does 2 but those just make me grateful that it's not our normal.

We are in big trouble once we get to the teenage years because Brynn seems to give men the biggest smiles. Her daddy and dude have gotten the cutest ones but luckily she will give them to mom too. 

She loves tummy time as long as someone is down there with her and playing with toys. She loves to show us just how strong her head and neck muscles are. I'm pretty sure she thinks she's bigger than what she really is. haha.

She LOVES to be held. Which is perfectly okay with me because I love holding that sweet girl and luckily we have lots of family and friends that enjoy it too. 

Brynn is a very easy going baby so far. She cries when she's hungry or wet but other than that she is so content. We've had about 3 bad gas days but luckily gripe water always does the trick.

The girl LOVES the water. She always gives us the biggest smiles during bath time and loves getting her hair washed. We took her to the pool for the first time and she was in heaven, thankfully I see many pool and beach days in our future.

We can't believe it's already been a month. It's so bittersweet for me, but it's a good thing I know each age just gets better and better. We are so thankful to have Brynn in our lives and it's hard to imagine our family without her in it. 

A New Light

The other day I was talking to my cousin on the phone. She was asking me all about my labor and delivery and the topic of how Brad handled it came up.

I knew that Brad would be a champ during labor. He is in the medical field so I knew he would be fascinated by it all and that I wouldn't have to worry about him passing out. I however, was not prepared for how the whole process would strengthen and bring a new light to our relationship.

During my pregnancy I was always so worried about how I would be in labor. Like I have mentioned many times on the blog, I have serious white coat syndrome. I had many women tell me their labor horror stories, many stating that it was the closest a person comes to death. So to say I was terrified would be an understatement. I was worried I would do one (if not all) of the following: yell, say bad words, pass out, throw up, bleed to death...(luckily none of those happened). I had both my Dad and Brad give me multiple priesthood blessings as time got closer.

Anyways, I'm getting off topic. During my contractions and labor Brad kept telling me "you can squeeze my hand to help take the pain away." I never had the urge to squeeze his hand. I knew that the more I let my body relax the quicker my labor would go. During the transition stage of labor I was surprised on how I handled the pain. I didn't want to squeeze Brad's hand but I wanted him as close to me as he could get. At one point he was bent over the bed rails with his head in the curve of my neck. I wish I could've captured those moments in a picture to keep forever, but since I didn't I hope that those intimate moments we shared in that delivery room will always stay in my memory.

I feel like that was the most beautiful part of my labor process (until our Brynn came into the world, of course) and that it says a lot about how much Brad means to me. His presence alone got me through. Words will never be able to express how much those moments meant to me. It reaffirmed that ever since I met Brad, I never had to face anything alone. He was with me every.single.step of the way. I literally wouldn't have been able to do it with Brad. My epidural was more effective on my left side so I was completely numb. Brad acted as the strength of my left side and literally helped me with every single push. He stuck with me every single second of those two hours of pushing. I'm sure he was super sore because I know I felt like I had just ran a marathon.

It was a beautiful thing to see him get emotional as we brought our baby girl into this world together. He is such an incredible husband and father and I pray each night that one day Brynn will find a man who is just like her daddy, who will be with her through all of the ups and downs that life throws her way.

Introducing

Brynn Arrington Schmidt 

Born Sunday April 17th 2016

at 2:20 in the afternoon

weighing in at 6lbs 7oz and 19.25in long 

We have been in absolute heaven the past week with her in our home. I thought I would share her birth story before I forgot it. No worries I won't make it graphic, haha.

On Saturday the 16th (my due date) I started having contractions about 7 min apart at 4 pm. This wasn't anything out of the blue as I had been having contractions for the past week or so. By 5 pm they were 5 min apart so we called the doctor and she told me to labor as long as I could at home. By 7 pm they were coming every 3 min and were getting more intense.

Everyone always tells you to eat before you go to the hospital because once you are there you can't. So we stopped for Chickfila and I got a kids meal. I couldn't even finish it because I was in so much pain. So we headed into the hospital.

Anyone who knows me knows I have some serious white coat syndrome which makes my blood pressure soar. Well apparently with that and eating combined my contractions had slowed down back to 7 min apart. Because my blood pressure was high and we had an induction date set for Wednesday they decided they would just go ahead and admit me. So by 10pm I was admitted and they got me started on my IV and pitocin. 

I continued to have contractions throughout the night but nothing I couldn't handle. By 8am on Sunday the doctor came in and broke my water, I was at a 5 when she did that. It is the weirdest feeling ever. Once she did that I labored for another hour and a half before asking for the epidural. Goodness gracious was that epidural heavenly. I will never forget how the anesthesiologist looked, he had the biggest and pointiest ears I've ever seen and was so tall. 

I was comfortable until I started to transition but I went from a 7-10  within a hour. By 12 it was time to push. My epidural was messing with my contraction consistency so they turned it off right as I began pushing. After 2 hours of pushing Brynn finally made her appearance at 2:20pm. She came out with her hand right by her head which didn't make pushing easy, but she was here and healthy! Which is all we cared about. 

I honestly had the best nurses and doctors for each part of my labor and delivery. I had nurses that were very cut and dry when I didn't want them to sugar coat things and during my delivery I had the most encouraging nurse and doctor. I'm so thankful that Brad was there for me every step of the way. I honestly couldn't have done any of it without him.

We spent the next hour just loving our baby girl and spending time as a new family of three. That hour is one I will always remember and treasure. We are so blessed to have such an incredible girl and are looking forward to all the adventures we are going to have!  

Midnight Thoughts

The other night I woke up around 2:50 am. That seems to be a magical hour for little Brynn and I. She likes to wake up and stretch her legs, which always leads to me having to get up and use the restroom  or readjust how I'm sleeping so I can breathe. I really don't mind it and usually fall back asleep as soon as I get back in bed or get comfortable.

That night it took me a little longer to fall back asleep though. Which meant my mind was wondering with all kinds of thoughts. On this night specifically I thought about how soon it will no longer be just Brad and I and I got all kinds of emotional as he laid there asleep next to me.

This year Brad and I will celebrate 4 years together. It went by so fast that I can't even believe it. And while we are so grateful for the time we had just the two of us, we know how much better our little girl is going to make our lives. I got so emotional because I was looking at it from the perspective of the ending of an era but really we are about to enter the best years of our lives!

We are like little kids on Christmas Eve waiting for Santa to come as each day that passes we wonder if it will finally be the day we become a family of three. We are so ready to be able to bring our girl home and to love on her as much as we can.

a shower for our little southern belle

This past weekend we hit 37 weeks which is considered "full term". I use quotations because ideally babies need to make it to the full 40 weeks, if she is anything like me we will make it past that! haha. We got to celebrate though because it was baby shower weekend!

My friend, Katie did such a beautiful job putting on the perfect shower for baby Brynn and I! The theme was southern belle and it couldn't have been more perfect. The food was delicious, the decorations were adorable, and I was thrilled to have both family and friends in attendance! Baby girl is SO loved and got so spoiled!

Let's go back to the food because she served everything a southern girl loves from the cucumber sandwiches, tomato pies, to the incredible banana pudding and strawberry shortcakes. There were lots of other yummy foods to eat but those were definitely my favorites!

Katie had asked me what colors I was using in the nursery and based the shower color scheme off of that. I love that I will be able to use all of the adorable prints she made in the nursery once we move!

Baby girl received the cutest clothes and we finally have diapers and wipes so we have all the necessities ready for her to make her appearance when she is good and ready. I have another doctors appointment tomorrow and I'm so excited to see if I've progressed any further. This may be TMI (stop reading here if you don't want to know details) but last week I was already 2 cm dilated and 50% effaced. It blows my mind that in 2-3 weeks we could be a family of three!

A little catch up on life as of late

Sorry I've been slacking once again on the blogging front! No worries though, I'm here to catch you all up on what's been going on here in the Schmidt Household.

31 weeks with Baby Girl (I am now 33 weeks so this is an oldie but the most recent bump picture I've taken)

Brad has been busy busy busy with school. Last year February and March were crazy packed with tests so I expected nothing less out of this semester. He has been studying so hard and it's been paying off. I couldn't be more proud of him! However, I can't wait till this semester is over because then he will be in the clinics and I will have my husband back! Yahoo!

My last day of work was Thursday. It was such a bittersweet day for me. Anyone who knows me, knows I loved Ella as if she were my own child. However, I know that being home with our baby girl and giving her my 110% will be SO worth it. I could probably write a whole post on how much that sweet Ella means to me and how she was so much more than a job to me. I have shed many many tears over it and I feel as though I have a hole in my heart at that moment. It will probably be really hard for me until our little girl arrives and fills that gap that my heart has right now.

Last Day with Ella, I could resist being twinners and putting her hair in piggy tails! 

It was a blessing to stop working when I did because now I get to rest and nest before baby girl gets here (which could be sooner rather than later). I am now scheduled to go to the doctor on a weekly basis. Baby girl has consistently measured about a week and half behind where she should be and is only in the 4th percentile for weight (she currently is predicted to weigh 3lbs, 10oz). So my doctor is taking extra precautions and making sure we don't run into any complications. Personally I just think we are going to have small little babies since neither of us were big babies.

Because baby girl is measuring small we've gotten a couple of extra ultrasounds which is always so fun to see our little girl. I'm glad Brad was able to make it to this one since the last one he couldn't make. The tech has been so sweet and given us 3D images the past two times. I love seeing her cute little face. I'm obsessed with her little lips and can't wait to kiss all over that sweet face of hers. She is either getting more active in there, or I'm finally just feeling it more frequently because she's getting bigger.

We had our hospital tour the same night as my appointment. During the tour I was freaking out (you guys hospitals just freak me out in general). However, I think it was just nerves because the past few days I've been talking to Brad about things I really like about the hospital we are going to deliver at. I'm still so nervous about the delivery process but I'm so grateful that Brad will be there with me every step of the way. He is so patient with me when I get anxiety when I know I just want to slap myself and say "get a grip woman, you aren't going to die" haha.

I have been dreaming more about the moment baby girl is finally in my arms and I just can't wait to have that happen in real life. It just seems so magical.  I can't wait to see Brad be able to snuggle with her. He talks about it all the time and I know how much it will mean to him to finally be able to hold and love on her.

Anyways, that is what we have been up to over in our neck of the woods. I hope everyone enjoyed their month of love! I can't believe how fast time is flying! Only 7 more weeks until my due date! Crazy to think that soon we will be a family of three!

Dear Baby Girl

Dear Baby Girl,

It's been awhile since I've written you a letter. That isn't because I haven't been thinking about you because that couldn't be further from the truth. You consume my thoughts day and night and I wouldn't want it to be any other way.

Your room is the only room in the house that I get cell service so I find myself in there quite frequently. As I sit in the glider I dream about the days and nights I will spend sitting in that exact spot but with you in my hands rather than my cell phone. You will always be so much better than that silly thing. I can't wait to snuggle you, to gently rub your face as you drift to sleep, to try anything to get you to grin. It makes my heart skip a beat knowing that in approximately 9 weeks our home and hearts will be filled with you and your cute coos and cries.

This past weekend I did 4 loads of tiny laundry. FOUR. I may have to reorganize the other closets in the apartment  to make room for all the clothes you have, because your dresser is already filled to the brim. One thing is certain your Honey loves to shop for you! You will always be well dressed. Honey even saved outfits that I wore as a baby that I can't wait to see you in them.

Baby girl you are my dream come true. I've wanted to be a mom for as long as I can remember and it feels surreal that it is getting closer and closer! I can't wait to see the relationship you have with your daddy. He is so in love with you already and I know you will have him wrapped around your little fingers. He loves telling his classmates about you and how you are growing and moving a lot these days. We may be fighting over whose turn it is to hold and love on you for a long time.

It's crazy to think that come Saturday we will be in single digit weeks until we meet you! I'm hoping you are like your daddy and come right on time! ;) for now you just keep on growing sweet girl! I love you to the moon and back!

Love Always,
Your Momma