While Nora Sleeps...
I can't believe it's been almost a whole year since my last post. It seems like I'm posting once every year, these days! So I guess it's time for my first post about our beautiful babe... Nora Marie.
She was born November 3, 2016. I was admitted November 1st to get induced. I started having contractions and every few hours I'd dilate just a little more, but Nora wanted to wait until the 3rd to come out... I'm assuming since she didn't want to share a birthday with Tita Babes.
After 22 hours of labor, 2 hours actively pushing (ended up using a vacuum) and 3rd degree lacerations later - she came out at 2:53am, all 8lbs 4oz, 20" length, perfectly healthy with 10 toes and 10 fingers. As soon as she came out, they put her in my arms for Kangaroo Care. I couldn't even open my eyes because I was so overwhelmed with exhaustion, hunger, and gratitude. The moment Don and I had waited since we first found out we were pregnant with LB in 2015. The past 9 months felt like a blur, but was filled with anxiety in hopes that we would get to this day we could meet the baby God intended for us to care for.
It took us a few hours to decide on her name, but we ended up with Nora Marie... it just felt right when I held her in my arms. The name came to me a couple months before she was actually born, so I put it on the list. It means "honor" and "light" which I thought was so fitting. After we lost LB and then later found out we were pregnant again, I felt like we were in this dark tunnel trying to make it to the end where the light would be, to our baby. She was the light at the end of a very dark tunnel for me and Don.
Now she's 2.5 months young and I'm sitting here typing as I watch her nap on the baby monitor. I'm learning so many things every day about what it means to be a Mom and how the challenges, exhaustion, and trials are always overcome by the love and gratitude I have for our beautiful babe.
I'm excited to witness the person she will become, but I'm trying to take it day by day and cherish each moment for what it's worth.
As I reflect on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day today, I am thankful that Nora will grow up in a country that tries not to judge people based on income, ethnicity, gender, sexual preference, etc. That she will be able to grow up and reach her potential without having to feel stopped by too many adversities (at least that's my hope she grows up).
She was born November 3, 2016. I was admitted November 1st to get induced. I started having contractions and every few hours I'd dilate just a little more, but Nora wanted to wait until the 3rd to come out... I'm assuming since she didn't want to share a birthday with Tita Babes.
After 22 hours of labor, 2 hours actively pushing (ended up using a vacuum) and 3rd degree lacerations later - she came out at 2:53am, all 8lbs 4oz, 20" length, perfectly healthy with 10 toes and 10 fingers. As soon as she came out, they put her in my arms for Kangaroo Care. I couldn't even open my eyes because I was so overwhelmed with exhaustion, hunger, and gratitude. The moment Don and I had waited since we first found out we were pregnant with LB in 2015. The past 9 months felt like a blur, but was filled with anxiety in hopes that we would get to this day we could meet the baby God intended for us to care for.
It took us a few hours to decide on her name, but we ended up with Nora Marie... it just felt right when I held her in my arms. The name came to me a couple months before she was actually born, so I put it on the list. It means "honor" and "light" which I thought was so fitting. After we lost LB and then later found out we were pregnant again, I felt like we were in this dark tunnel trying to make it to the end where the light would be, to our baby. She was the light at the end of a very dark tunnel for me and Don.
Now she's 2.5 months young and I'm sitting here typing as I watch her nap on the baby monitor. I'm learning so many things every day about what it means to be a Mom and how the challenges, exhaustion, and trials are always overcome by the love and gratitude I have for our beautiful babe.
I'm excited to witness the person she will become, but I'm trying to take it day by day and cherish each moment for what it's worth.
As I reflect on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day today, I am thankful that Nora will grow up in a country that tries not to judge people based on income, ethnicity, gender, sexual preference, etc. That she will be able to grow up and reach her potential without having to feel stopped by too many adversities (at least that's my hope she grows up).