the beach, mommy, the beach

Dora had her first trip to the Outer Banks a few weeks ago. Carrie's mom and dad started going to the Outer Banks in the early 60s, so this is a long tradition in her family. We were really excited about taking Dora there, but packing for travel with a baby is pretty complicated! We weren't entirely sure what we would need, and of course we took some things that we were lucky to have and others that we didn't use. Overall, Dora was very good in the car, although the trip there was a little trying because we did it all in one very long day.

Dora got to spend some more time with her Papa (Grandpa Runser) and family friend Mary Kay, and got to meet her Uncle Casey and Aunt Sharon. Uncle Casey was instantly in love with cute little Dora and spent a lot of time with her. Everyone got to see some of Dora's first smiles, and we also got to see her stick her toes in the ocean for the first time. She didn't like that very much, but hopefully next year she will. She spent a lot of time on the beach sleeping while we read, worked cross word puzzles, built a huge sand castle, and played bocce ball and horseshoes.

We went out to dinner at a fairly nice restaurant - when calling to make the reservation, the host asked me if it would be 6 adults. I explained that yes, it was six adults, plus an infant. He said, "well, if she needs to go for a walk, you'll have to go out on the patio or upstairs, because we wouldn't want to have a disturbance". We got a few rude stares when we got there, but Dora was great - she slept the whole time. Everyone passed her around and got to hold her, although she was a terror later that night...

Will post pictures of the beach trip very soon. Maybe next time we're there (or in a couple of years) Dora will say, "the beach, mommy, the beach" like her friend Isaac does.

other firsts

Dora has been busy experiencing lots of new things, so we haven't had much of a chance to update her page. The Friday before last she had her first real public appearance. We met some of my coworkers at the Pub - Dora's first trip to a bar:) She was wonderfully sweet and cute the entire time - saving her energy for late night crying, of course. Then the three of us went to Wasabi - Dora's first sushi! She slept almost the whole time, even though the place was packed and very noisy. It was great to have sushi again after avoiding it for my entire pregnancy. The waitresses thought Dora was very cute.

Dora has also been to All Soul's with her mom and to see her dad play piano at Etowah United Methodist. She was wonderful for both services - nursed at the beginning and slept the rest of the time. Everyone is so happy to meet her and it was nice to be back at church after missing a few weeks. Dora wore one of the cute pink dresses her Grandma Turner got her, so she was looking extra special.

Dora has also been to the farmer's market a few times, where she gets lots of attention. She also had her two week pediatrician's appointment, where we learned that she has gained 7 ounces over her birth weight. She is above average in her weight gain and doing very well. I should know - she is eating a LOT!! She also went with us to Sunny Point for brunch last week. We have some pictures from that, but I dropped the camera and it is now being repaired, so the pictures will be posted later.

Dora is about to take her first trip to the ocean! It will be challenging getting her ready to go and remembering everything we need, but it will be fun sticking her toes in the water (at least for us)!

More updates and photos soon...

first rain

Today, Isadora and I stood outside at the start of a rain storm. She was fussy and crying in the afternoon heat. It is so hot here and there was finally a strong, cool breeze outside. So we stood on the porch and watched the trees across the street blowing around. Dora had her tiny little toes sticking out into the wind - she'd pull them back when the wind gusted really strong. The wind and thunder got her attention right away and calmed her. When the rain started, we stepped off the porch so she could feel her first rain drops - a couple on her legs, one on her fat cheek. Taking care of a newborn is such hard work, but then you have a little moment like that, when a tiny human being feels her first rain drops, and it doesn't seem so tough after all.

Happy Birthday Isadora!

One day old and holding Daddy's hand

Baby burrito

7 pounds, 6 ounces and screaming mad!

In Daddy's arms

Guess what, Grandpa?

Happy Family

It's a girl!

Keep me cool, please.

Time to leave for the hospital - I had a contraction on the way to the car.

In labor - Brian is smiling, but I'm concentrating!

The big day finally arrived! On August 4, Brian and I welcomed our daughter into the world. She arrived a few days past her due date, so we were starting to get a little anxious - mostly because our doctor wanted us to consider induction, even though we didn't want that. Luckily, and with some help from some eggplant parmesan, things got started on their own. My water broke at 3:00 a.m. on Saturday morning and by 6:30 I was having good contractions. I got out of bed - we had tried unsuccessfully to go back to sleep and just spent the time talking about how nauseated with anticipation we both were, and laughing about how sensitive both of our stomachs are - and started walking around the house and packing for the hospital.

I had planned to bake a chocolate cake for the baby while in early labor (just one of many awesome ideas in Birthing From Within) but I didn't. I was too busy timing contractions, trying to stay calm, and packing. At 8:30 we called our wonderful doula, Jo, who came over and helped me relax and focus. Between her, Brian, and yoga breathing, I stayed pretty calm, shed a few tears, and agreed that we should go to the hospital around 11. When we arrived I was already at 5 cm, and I knew then that I could get through the labor without drugs as we had planned.

The next few hours are kind of a blur of various positions, drinking lots of Gatorade, crying out a few times in pain, and mostly trying to maintain my inner focus and breathing. When I was able to stay focused and breathe carefully, the contractions were very manageable. Other times they were not so manageable, but then Jo and Brian would talk me down from the ledge and we'd get through it. I got pretty nauseated and threw up a lot, which wasn't very nice. At one point I had to be put on oxygen and have IV fluids, which was very uncomfortable, but otherwise the intervention was minimal.

The nurses and doctor were so supportive and wonderful, though. No one ever asked me if I wanted drugs, which was great. After just 5 hours at the hospital, I started pushing. At 4:51, our daughter was born! We were so thrilled when we learned we have a little girl - what an exciting moment. I will never forget it as long as I live. Looking at Brian and sharing that moment with him was so perfect - everything I had hoped for. We named her Isadora Marie. Isadora was Brian's idea - we liked the name and it is also a nod to family names Isobel and Dorothy. Marie as a middle name is a long tradition on my side of the family. The name fits her perfectly, because she isadorable:)

Now we're just trying to catch our breath and learn about each other. We feel so blessed to have a healthy baby and to have had the birth experience we wanted. Never again will I let someone tell me that I can't do something, because I proved to myself that you really can do anything you set your mind to with the right preparation and support. I had great support from my wonderful husband and the doula, and that made a huge difference.

Welcome Baby Isadora! We've been waiting for you:)

pregnant!

this is the night before Dora was born - my belly is so big we're using it as a table


just a few weeks before Dora's birth


the belly at 8 months at Casey & Sharon's wedding

the belly at Bent Creek

just starting to show

Brian and I found out we were pregnant a few weeks before Thanksgiving. We took three pregnancy tests before we believed it! The night we took the first test we had dinner at La Caterina Trattoria - which I promptly threw up after we got home. Actually, I had stomach flu, but not long after that real morning sickness set in and stayed with me for the first 3 and a half months.

We told our families at Christmas about our big news, and then shared the news with friends and coworkers in late January. The pregnancy progressed really well and we couldn't believe how active our baby was. We could sit and watch my stomach jump around in the evenings - the alien stomach we called it. Towards the end of pregnancy, we made a belly cast so we could always remember how round I was. I loved being pregnant, but by the end I was ready for the baby to arrive. Brian was really supportive all throughout and didn't mind at all when I ate loads of macaroni and cheese at the beginning, and numerous vanilla milkshakes towards the end!