A picture journey to a new life!

It started out a pretty normal day.

We were taking a few shots of the belly to show the latest growth.

This is the belly at 40 weeks and 4 days.


While taking photos contractions hit...
nothing too intense, but enough to breath through.




Happy to have a break! : )

Little did we know that although these had been going on for the better part of two days, off and on, about 5 minutes apart for a few hours at a time.. and then stopping and starting and so on... that this time it was the real deal!

The hubby had gone up to take a bath and I was fiddling around on the computer, when I started to feel like maybe these contractions were not only still five minutes apart... but also getting a little too strong to be "practice" ones anymore. I didn't go up and tell Al until they had been going on for almost an hour... because the truth is we were all tired of false calls, but around 11:30 pm, I went up to let him know he might want to come and time them again. After about 4 more contractions I was in full toning mode, on hands and knees leaning into my ball to get through them and telling him to call in to the birth center.

We had planned on having the whole family at the birth, but the fact that it was almost midnight by the time we were headed out the door, I decided at the last minute to leave the little kids at home with Emily and just go with Al.

This is a shot of us in between contractions at about 2 in the morning.

Seconds after being born.

Seconds after being born.

Me staring in amazement just moments after giving birth to my newest little bundle of love:

Alora Dorthea Fey

April 6, 2010

4:36 AM

8 pounds 3 ounces, 19.5 inches

Daddy getting in his first hugs

Getting ready to go home and introduce little Alora to the rest of her family...

feeling a little goofy with the endorphins and endlessly amused by the monkey butt! : )

The kids meeting their new sister.

Roscoe fascinated by his new sister.

Emily holding her new sister.

Alora with the hint of a smile, swaddled and content! : )

Sophia finally gets to hold Alora!

Roscoe gets to hold his new sister, too!

A picture of us the next day.

I hope that you all can forgive the extra days to let you know that she finally arrived. Of course, now that she has, things have been hectic and amazing and busy and new... there has been a lot of love and only a little sleep!

The kids are all doing well, but there is adjusting going on.

I am feeling incredible... but the sleep deprivation wall is looming ahead in my near future, for sure! I haven't gotten more than 2 hours sleep at a time since the night before she was born, I have a hard time winding down and by the time I am ready, she is up and ready to eat all night long! I can not describe to you the joy and amazement and love I feel for her already. I already can not remember what it was like to not have her in our lives. Isn't it crazy how fast your entire world can change? : )

I hope that you all are doing well and thank you for all the positive energy and love sent our way! I hope to be able to sit down and write about her birth... it was intense and amazing and different from all the others, but for now I just wanted to share some photos and the news of her arrival!

Today I am thankful to have a beautiful new daughter to love and cherish and learn from!

A good weekend, even sans Baby Fey!

Just a quick note to let everyone know we are still waiting for Baby Fey.
We had a really great Easter. The bunny visited our house and got the kids some cool garden tools and fun stuff. We went out to brunch with my sister and her family. The food was good, the company was better, and the kids were reasonably well behaved (Roscoe IS two, so I'll take what I can get!).

We came home and I spent about an hour in a squatting position(good for getting that baby to drop down) while weeding the herb section of the garden. I am happy to say that we have returning Thyme, Lemon Thyme, Summer Savory, Oregano, and possibly Rosemary. Funny enough the Rosemary is usually the hardiest of those herbs, but the winter was hard and I may or may not of cut it back far enough... the jury is out on that one still.

After that, I got to take an hour and a half nap before being awakened by strong contractions. I had contractions every 4-5 minutes for over two and a half hours... but deep down I knew it wasn't time yet. I was 15 minutes away from calling in to the midwives when they stopped for about an hour. I am super glad I waited because it was Easter and I had really not wanted to call wolf during some one's celebrations. They started up again two more times (4-5 minutes apart) last night for about an hour each time. I am doing my best to remember that this is the way that my babies come... slowly... tortuously even... but that my labors usually go very well, and I think it is because my body does much of the getting ready process long before(real labor) actually starts.

I am feeling pretty well, even though I am not getting much rest. I continued to have strong contractions, but without much pattern throughout the night. If I was a betting woman I would say I still have about a week... but I also am HOPING that I don't... because the truth is these things are uncomfortable and often painful, and when I don't get a baby at the end of them... they don't seem as useful... although I know they are in the whole picture kind of way.

I think the thing that is the most frustrating about the waiting is that although deep down I think it will be next week... every time the contractions start I can't help but think... well maybe this IS it. It makes it hard to do much other than obsess over when Baby Fey will get here. The contractions are fairly constant at this point.

The hubby and I are doing pretty well, it is hard on everyone to wait... but I think that having re-established some connection has helped us. We continue to meditate/spend time/talk/regroup together on a daily basis and burn a candle with positive thoughts, hopes, and dreams every night. I am sure that doing this nightly is helping us to feel more and more connected and ready for this little one's arrival. There have been a moment or two of frustration between us over the last week... but not much and never explosive or really intense. I think that we are doing great, especially since we added in a major holiday and group family time into the mix! : )

I'm not sure how often I will come on before the baby gets here... there's not much new going on right now... same stuff everyday... contractions, questions, and some level of disappointment when things slow down again and then start again... and stop again... you get the point.

I hope that every one has had a nice weekend and that this beautiful weather we are having has reached your corner of the world! We had a bursting of Spring at our house with all the daffodils and 5 or 6 hyacinths coming up and blooming over the last week! I LOVE Spring so much and can't help but feel hopeful and renewed with the earth during this time of year!! : )

Today I am thankful for a beautiful weekend.
I am grateful that seriously my time as a pregnant woman is ticking down (no matter how slowly it might seem)!
I am grateful that the flowers have sprung and are scenting the air around our front porch with the most delicious scent of Spring!! : )