Proud Uncle Will

Will had this pic taken at Kanakuk Kamps in honor of Naomi. So sweet...

Aaaaand We're Back!

After a two-week blogging sabbatical, here we are. Not that we weren't busy or anything. We have had a baby, spent lots of time soaking all that goodness in, and have driven across a couple of states to have an "extended vacation" at my parents in Kansas for a few weeks. Scroll down to start at Naomi's birth and catch up on our first weeks of being parents! We couldn't be happier...

Time with Daddy

Naomi looooves her daddy. She has had many naps on his chest already and he is so good with her.

Yesterday, they had their first outing together without me. Flowery diaper bag and all - he's such a pro!

INTRODUCING: Naomi Suzanne!

This is Naomi. She is thinking about all of the wonderful people she has met in the last/first two weeks of her life. :)

Mimi and Poppy

Grant's mom - grandma name yet to be determined :)

Grandpa and Grandma Yeamans

Aunt Lindsay, Cousins - David & Annie

Cousins - Hanna & Aly

Aunt Alyssa (My best friend from college)

Zeeb Family (Alexa, JD, Kristin - Our wonderful hosts

during the weeks before Naomi's birth)

Jenny Thomas

Aunt Whit :) - friend from work

Megan and Michael

The babies from childbirth class...

Muncie Alliance Church Interns

We have had so much fun introducing our sweet girl to our friends and family. These pictures are only a few of the dozens of people she's met already - such a fun time...

TWO Beautiful Babies!

On our second full day here in Kansas City, Grant and I had the privilege of meeting our niece, Lillian Kate. She is beautiful and we had been waiting for this moment since she was born four days before Naomi. We are so excited and rejoicing every day over her life, and how well she is doing in the NICU. She is awesome!

On the same day, my brother and sister-in-law came over to meet Naomi, Lillian's cousin. We cannot wait for them to get to meet face to face and watch their little friendship bloom!

The Adventure Begins!

My hospital stay was one of the most intensely bittersweet few days I have had in a long time. Here I am, holding my brand new baby girl, trying to comprehend how deeply blessed I am to have her in my life. At the same time, every time a nurse/midwife/staff member walked into my room, I was having to say good-bye. I cannot explain how greatly I love the hospital I have worked at for the last two years. I have made friends for life, had so many incredible experiences, and all the while, established the early foundation of my practice as a labor and delivery nurse and future midwife. It was so sad and emotional for me to have to bid this place farewell, as we anticipate a move to Kentucky.

(Me with my midwife Ginny, and fellow nurses, Nikia, Jessica, Val, and Whitney.)

One fun thing to keep my mind off of saying dozens of good-byes was watching Grant become an instantly incredible dad. :) Here he is, changing his first meconium diaper!

Success!

Below is a picture Grant thinks should be in a medical textbook. Ha. The nurse pictured is Lisa, my labor nurse. If anyone should be in a textbook, it is her! She was fabulous and I felt bonded to her ten times more than I had before - and I really liked her before! I am so grateful she was with me. The baby did have a bilirubin level that was on the line, so we decided to have her spend a few hours under phototherapy lights since we were getting ready to travel to Kansas the next week. We didn't want to let it get out of hand.

Once her levels were down, we headed on out. After many tears saying good-bye - poor Grant, dealing with his hormones-plummeting-already-emotional-postpartum wife - we left the hospital. Look at that precious thing in her car seat for the first time! So sweet!

The Day Naomi Joined the World...

On the morning of July 27th, we headed to the hospital to welcome our daughter into our lives. At least, that's what we were hoping. I was a little unsure of our decision to head in, based on the fact that I was not feeling regular contractions, and what contractions I was having, I had absolutely no pain with them. Over a number of days however, I had dilated to 7cm! This is nothing like what I was expecting to happen, so I was confused as to when we should go to the hospital. I prayed on Monday night, July 26th, that the Lord would give me some kind of symptom that was different so that I would know when to notify my midwives. After a night full of nausea, which I had not had before, I decided to have a nurse friend come check my progress. Monday, I had been 6cm, Thursday morning, I was 7-8. We sat chuckling together, that I was that far along and happy as could be. Being 30 minutes away from the hospital, we decided I should go in.

(walking the halls at 8-9cm)

I couldn't be more grateful at how the birth progressed throughout the day. Things really got going after I took 50mcg of Cytotec, a cervical ripening agent. I felt my first true contraction at 9cm and had about three hours of hard work after that before Naomi showed her face (despite the fact that I was so far dilated, she was still pretty high up and had a bit of work to do to descend). We had a wonderful waterbirth, which was one thing I really wanted. Waterbirths have been shown to provide nearly equal pain relief as epidurals and also a gentle birthing experience for the baby.

(Grant, being my fabulous coach. Me, biting my washcloth.

Lol. Hey, you do what you have to!)

At 7:45pm, our lives changed forever. Our beautiful little girl was born and we have not looked back since. She is perfect in every way. She did get stuck at her shoulders during pushing, and bless her heart, fractured her right collarbone in the process. :( I apologized to her later. She is really starting to move that shoulder a lot more, as it was a bit lazy for the last couple of weeks.

(Our sweet, chunky baby.)

(A family of three.)

I will never forget the day Naomi was born. Her name means "beautiful and pleasant" - a true description of her labor and delivery (especially the first 9cm!). We are so incredibly blessed with this healthy little girl and have been in a constant state of grateful prayer since she joined our family. What a joy it is for Grant and I to partake in the gift of being new parents together... we praise Jesus for His grace and gift of life to us!