The Pettitt Page

Going Home

Friday, August 29, 2014 we got to take Rebecca home!!!

Emma's helping get her baby ready to go home.

So many people love you, baby!

Her first cloth diaper. 3 days old.

First Visitors

So many people to meet! Here are a few of Rebecca's first visitors at the hospital:

Grandma Deb (before she had to head back home :( )

Aunt Emily and Uncle Ben (with Tate, too!). Practicing before baby Hayden joined their family.

I think Corbin was excited!

And Calvin, Uncle Dan and Aunt Tiff, too!!!

Snuggles with Aunt Tiff and Grandma Pam.

First Bath

The big sisters got to help Rebecca get her first bath at the hospital. They were all pretty proud of their new baby!!!

Holding their new, clean baby sister.

Miss Rebecca Brianne joined our family August 27, 2014 at 11:49AM weighing 8lbs 6.9oz and 20 1/4 inches long. Her due date was August 23, so she kept everyone waiting a little extra. Grandma Deb was scheduled to take an early afternoon flight home, but luckily she was able to change it to a super early flight on the 28th.

The labor and delivery story. Our day started as usual. Get kids up and ready for school, except that Hannah had thrown up the night before, so she stayed home. So really, just Allison was getting ready for school. Right before I took Allison (8:30ish) I noticed a little bit of "bloody show" which I thought was strange because I hadn't felt any contractions, but in all of my pregnancies this had been a sure sign that baby was coming. I mentioned it to my mom as I headed out the door to take Allison to school, but about all the info I had was "I think I'll have a baby today, but I haven't had any contractions yet." Super convincing, I know! Don't worry, contractions started soon enough! Shortly after I got back home, I felt what I thought was probably a contraction. A zillion braxton hicks contractions throughout pregnancy always had me second guessing myself though! I got out my phone and my contraction timing app and waited for another one. Just a few minutes later there was another. 8:53AM was that first recorded contraction and they kept coming a steady 5-8 minutes apart. So we started the whole hospital prep routine. Nate came home from work and we called the hospital (Methodist West) to let them know we were coming...and they were all ready for me, so nice! We got to the hospital around 10:30. Check in takes forever when you aren't super comfy! It was a little after 11 by the time the nurse checked to see how dilated I was....only a 5...I was hoping for a little more progress. Dr. Amy McEntaffer came in around 11:20 and chatted. She kept asking Nate "Is she always this happy during labor?" Apparently I don't look uncomfortable enough! We decided to break my water and see if labor picked up a bit. So a few minutes later my water was broken (say 11:25) and I was preparing myself for things to pick up quickly because that's what has happened with my others. At first nothing really changed and then I sat up and asked for a workout ball to sit on. As more fluid leaked, we'll just say contractions picked up, A LOT! Between the time my water was broken and the "I need to push stage" I think I had only 3 contractions. Convincing the nurse that I needed the Dr. back ASAP was a little more tricky :) By the fourth contraction after my water being broken, there was no stopping baby. Rebecca was crowing while the Dr. was still getting her gloves on. She told me to stop and wait for the next contraction, which is craziness, but I tried! Afterwards she told me, "I can't believe you did that without an epidural," referring to stopping in the middle of pushing and I told her, "Well, it HURT!" I'm not sure that I really made it longer than another 30 seconds before Rebecca was born, but I at least gave the Dr. long enough to be mostly ready. The Dr. told us that is my water ever breaks at home to just plan on having the baby there! Luckily, that hasn't happened yet!

She's perfect!!!!

Grandma Deb brought the girls up to the hospital right after Allison got home from school.

The Waiting Game

So when you've had babies a little early before, there's always that hope that MAYBE you won't end up pregnant past your due date. This little one must have been comfy in there. My mom and Tom came out to help and then we ended up just waiting. While waiting we went to the Science Center.

Then the next day, August 23, also my due date, we headed to the Waukee Fest parade with the Briggs cousins. I might look grumpy and that's probably because I was :P I figured it was worth a shot though since the day Emma was born I also went to a parade in some lovely hot weather. This time it didn't work!

Still waiting! Even walking the girls to school every morning wasn't helping!

Neighbors

In our little cul de sac we had some big changes this summer and the girls had friends move out and new friends move in...meaning the 2 other families with young kids both moved, but luckily new young families moved in! Here the girls are saying goodbye to the Kay girls with their new friends the Tierneys.

Zoo Trip With My Baby

August 16, 2014

I was lucky enough to have some time with JUST Emma before the new baby came. We went to the zoo and enjoyed some quiet time and the animals. It was great to have some special time with my baby before she became a big sister!