1 MONTH

Lately.

Ivy was a good sport and acted like her 4 week birthday was celebrated well... I won't tell her it was actually horrible.

We were supposed to have our truck loaded this morning. Well we got to chase around our bank and work out issues they caused. Then Weston got to drive around with our moving truck to hunt down a car hauling trailer bc of issues Penske caused. Basically he got home at 6pm with the truck. We know some awesome guys though who came and loaded the truck with him of everything we'd packed so far! By we I mean my mom and Weston! I pretty much felt like I walked in circles not knowing where to begin! I feel bad because I haven't been able to give Ivy the attention I want the past few days. I know she's okay and it's purely selfish but I've missed being able to just hold her all day long!

She is really starting to chunk up! Maybe too fast thanks to formula! I haven't been the greatest at making as much food as she needs so we've had to use formula. Once she went from starving to formula she has gained weight so quickly! It's very reassuring, because her jaundice finally dissipated and no more weight checks either! She's such a sweet natured baby! I'm so lucky and SO happy to have her! I can't kiss and hold her enough!

We had our last visit at Valley OB yesterday. We are sad to never go there for care again! We only had good expereoences. Dr. Drewes was the best doctor and Denise was the sweetest nurse. They are like family to us. We've been working with them for 3.5 years for some things and everyone we ran into or needed help from there was just as sweet as the next. We were excited to bring Ivy back. As this picture shows she was a little crabby at first. A loaded diaper will do that! But it was so fun going and showing her to the different nurses and staff we've worked with for so long.

Smiley

Weston is very smiley.

Obviously our girl got that from him!

Seriously, it's the cutest thing. The bottom pictures she was awake & laughing. The other two are from when she was sleeping. Not kidding, this girl LAUGHS in her sleep. Often.

3 weeks old

Seriously where has time gone?

Don't try to contest it. She's perfect and obviously very beautiful!

She can do all sorts of tricks!

Baby: 1

Me: 0

Ivy's birth

**Disclaimer: There is one graphic picture from the surgery**

Well, it was an exciting week! We were due for a scheduled c-section on Saturday the 23rd.

On Thursday I had a second NST (non-stress test) for the week scheduled. My mom treated me to a manicure & pedicure. It felt amaaaaazing.  Then we ran speedy quick to Zupa's. Yum.

I had really really not been feeling well. I was super swollen & felt totally lousy from the high blood pressure. The nurse had told me to go to L&D if my BP was 140/100. My blood pressure had gotten that high the weekend before. I didn't go to L&D, though, because they always just monitor you & send you home. I thought it would be pointless to go in.

That NST was showing to be non-reactive. Ivy's heartrate was not accelerating like it needed to be.

My doctor's nurse, Denise, came in during the NST & gave me the low down for Saturday's c-section.

She told me to go right to L&D if I have flu-like symptoms & some other symptoms. I told her how I had been having those all week.  She ran out of the room & called the doctor. She came back in & informed us that they were doing the c-section that night.

I was so excited.

We ran home & packed.

We hung out at the hospital for a little bit while being monitored.

 The final minutes with the BIG baby bump.

 Mom & I having a fun party.

I was born at the same hospital!

 I started getting really nervous right before the surgery. I thought I was going to pass out.

Everything was going so fast. I was so excited & then when Weston started suiting up I started having an internal freak out.

Everything happened so fast.

We went in for the surgery & it all started.

Dr. Drewes, who has been my doctor now for 3.5 years, was the lead doctor & Dr. Jacob assisted in the surgery.

The anesthesiologist was really nice, but moved super quick.  I feel like I was in there & then holding onto Weston while they did the spinal. I had spinal fusion surgery when I was 13 & have 2 rods in my back & my spine is fused together. I was so relieved when we found out about halfway through the pregnancy that we'd be able to actually do the spinal block. Otherwise it would have been general anesthesia. I was really sad over that thought.  But so he dug a little with the needle trying to get through "so much scar tissue."

It was pretty fun. But really, it wasn't a horrible experience. I was still trying not to pass out at this point.

Then next thing I know, I'm laying down, the drape is up & Dr. Drewes says "Rachel, are you ready for me to start?" "YES, SIR!" "Good, because I already have."

That was weird.

The surgery went well & it took about 5 minutes to get Ivy out. Like I said...it was fast.

No wonder she hadn't been moving as much.  Every time the doctor asked me if she was moving I'd tell him she's moving, but not nearly as much as she used to. But her heart-rate was always fine, so we didn't stress over it. I sometimes would get a little worried, because the entire first 36 or so weeks every ultrasound tech & even the doctor would laugh over how active she was. Then on the NSTs she didn't show much activity. 

The cord was wrapped around Ivy's neck 4 times. The doctors said that was a record for the most times they've ever seen.

It was right then I realized that she wasn't moving as much because she'd flipped so much & got herself all tied up.

I freaked out a little afterwards when I'd heard that.

Weston told me she was out & ran to be with her.

It was a while before Ivy actually cried.

I wasn't nervous, though.

I was kind of having an out of body experience.

When I heard a cry from the warming/cleaning baby area, I realized... "That is my baby crying."

I cannot describe the feeling, but it was amazing.

 When Weston brought her to me, I totally lost it.

I had never seen a more perfect baby in the world.

It was the weirdest feeling. That baby was just inside of me. That baby I rubbed, sang to, talked to, nurtured for those 10 months was then laying in my arms.
She stopped crying as soon as she was placed on my chest. Then she had to be taken away from me to go to the nursery to be put under the toaster oven lights & get a full bath.
As soon as she was pulled away she started crying again.

Weston is the proudest dad.

After the surgery was done I was brought to the recovery room where I laid for quite a while. Finally Weston brought her in to me.

Again, I'd never seen such a precious little person in my life.

I just held her. I was then wheeled to the Mother/Baby floor where our parents came for a quick little visit. It was about 11:30.

I chose to have her brought to me to nurse throughout the night instead of having them feed her. I did that for the first 2 nights in the hospital. The last 2 nights I had her stay in the nursery & take formula.. ..those nights were amazing. I love sleep.

My csection was completely smooth & uneventful. It was awesome. I swear it was a miracle recovery. I only needed Motrin after the surgery. I have been able to move, bend, laugh, sneeze, cough, move & carry Ivy around everywhere. It has been totally awesome.

Weston is totally in love with Ivy.

He is the sweetest dad. & has done really well with his crash-course to babies.

 I heart sleep.

We moved rooms after our first day into a bigger room.

Hallelujer.

 Ivy loves milk shakes.

 Punky with Ivers.

 Bonding time with Grumps

 I love this baby so much. 

 Snuggle bunny.

 We were surrounded by lots of loved ones during the week! Weston's family was there most of the day every day! It was nice to be able to show our baby to those we love.

 She was legitimately alert & smiling. OH my goodness. She was only 3 days old in this picture.

 Wearing her little outfit from grandma.

The outfit she's laying on top of is the outfit Wes & I bought to bring home from the hospital.

She doesn't quite fit in newborn stuff... Except now that she's almost 2 weeks old her little limbs have grown so long.
Love this baby so much.

 Going home!

 Wes & punky.

Chase came to help us load up the hospital room.
We accumulated quite the collection of goods staying there for 4 days.

My family was in town for Thanksgiving & staying at a hotel in Provo, so we've been staying at a hotel.

It's been relaxing. & really nice to have our bed made & free breakfast.

 She loves being able to stretch out.

 I seriously love this rocking napper my coworkers gave me.

It is amazing.

Cute bum.

 I love that fuzzy head.

I can't believe we didn't get a little bald baby!

I love her hair!

It has been the most incredible experience & cannot believe she is 12 days old already. I have no idea where the time goes. She is such a mellow & content baby. I cannot say that enough. She is an angel & don't ever put her down.  I could hold her in my arms all day every day.

I love our sweet Ivy Jane.

She's here.

Introducing

Ivy Jane Brinkerhoff

11.21.13

7 lbs 8 oz

19 inches long

Pure perfection.

3 Queens from Matt Bieler on Vimeo.

My friend, Shelby, shared this video this morning. I absolutely loved it! Thought I'd share it as well.

Babies are on the brain

38 Weeks!

Good golly that's a big belly.

9.5 months, folks, almost there!

Saturday I did not feel well at all. That was the day we were planning on making all of our food to freeze. So instead, that night we took on Walmart & then Sunday did all the cooking. I have been wanting to do this throughout the pregnancy, but finding the energy was a little challenging. We knew we had to make it happen this weekend & we totally did. I was so proud of us.

Saturday night we went to Walmart & hunted down our goods. 

 Lots of cans of beans & tomatoes, etc.

It was exhausting & completely rewarding.

We got everything laid out & separated that night.

 Weston eating the last drips of soup from the pot.

He looks a little tired. Poor guy. I mostly did all my food prep at the kitchen table. He was our little tazmanian devil doing tons of dishes between stirring this & flipping that to keep the whole process moving.

Total stud.

Our end result was 2  9x13 pans of chicken & rice, 3 9x13 pans of enchiladas, & a ton of bags of stew & bean soups.

Now THAT is a lot of food.

We are thinking of making my sister's Basil Tomato soup this weekend, because we know it freezes really well & it's delicious. You can get the recipe HERE. As well as maybe a couple more casseroles.  It was a really fun process & by Sunday night I felt like I might not wake up for a week after going to bed, but man, we felt so good to have that checked off our pre-baby list. 

I was feeling bad having my mom stay with us & be a cooking & cleaning minion. Don't get me wrong, she is so sweet & so helpful & I'm sure more than happy to do that stuff, but I just want to make sure that her trip is more enjoyable!

Here is my belly right now. No full shots, because I looked like a hot mess, so I hope this is accurate enough for you. I feel really big & pretty much 0 of my shirts fit. 

Finding items that I can wear to work is both a challenge & simple. I wear the same thing every other day. I literally have 2 things (work approved) that I wear that still fit that I trade off & on & that aren't skirts. Hello cankles. Only 2 more weeks left of work. I've so got this one. My back is murdering me, but honestly, the past few weeks have been better than I've felt at all other times in the pregnancy!

It has truly been awesome to feel a little human again with a little more tiredness & back pain.

I had the fun morning (all day??) sickness through week 14, had a couple weeks of feeling AWESOME & then at week 16 or 17 had awesome sciatica start & that went until about 36 weeks. I'm not kidding. walking, sitting, laying, pretty much everything was painful. Nothing helped it, no tylenol, heat, ice, rubbing. Nothing.

 I have been anxiously waiting this girl & the time really has passed quickly.

The time has passed reeeeeally quickly.

I just have to say I'm really proud of myself for sticking it out & working up till the baby is coming.

I'm so grateful for the medical insurance & benefits we've been able to get through my work.

I'm also so happy that I don't have to work after having her.  The timing has been completely amazing!

I love this little girl that's growing in my tummy. Time has flown since we found out I was pregnant.

From that first night when I took the pregnancy test, just knowing it was going to be negative so I could jump-start things so that our New York medical study would work. & finding out that after 2 years of trying that we were actually pregnant.

Wow, I still look back in that time in awe. It was one of the most special moments we've had.

I am not going to share how, but I knew we were having a girl. I knew before we were pregnant that there was a girl waiting to join our family. I know our little girl is a blessing to us & I am so excited to welcome here here with open arms. I'm just warning all those expecting to hold her...you'll probably have to wait 3 months, because I just have been waiting too long to hold this little one & I think I'll have a problem sharing.

I love that while we were watching a movie yesterday she was moving the entire time. Maybe because it was an intense one with loud noises, but she was squirming EVERYWHERE. I love when she pushes her head out the top left side of my torso. I love when she stretches. I love when she kicks my bladder & other lower organs.  I love feeling her move & get snuggled in for bed with me when we lay down for the night. She's like a little puppy on a warm blanket, squirming around until she finds just the perfect comfy spot.  I love her little face from her 26 week 3D ultrasound. 

(The one from 36 weeks still scares me. She looked mad, mad, mad! Hopefully she doesn't come out scowling, too!)

I love our girl so much & we are so lucky to get her & have her in our family. The time is still flying by & we only have 10 days between right now & her birthday. I am ecstatic!