MEET GABRIELLA ROSE!
At 11:25pm on February 29, 2016 the contractions began. After a few episodes of Braxton Hicks, somehow I knew this was really it– BABY TIME!!!! By midnight we were on our way to the hospital. With a 45 minute drive ahead of us, I was trying to just stay calm & breathe through the contractions– which started out pretty intense from the beginning. We brought Giovanni with us & Tom & I were both a little apprehensive about how things would go, but it definitely didn’t lessen the excitement of Gabriella’s arrival! Our baby girl was finally coming!!!
We got to the hospital & stupid, stubborn me refused a wheelchair at the entrance, lol. Luckily it wasn’t a far walk, I could tell things were going way faster than they were with Gio. & even though I knew fooooor suuuuure I was in labor (& ready for an epidural anytime!) the nurses still had to do their thing & make sure I really was. I just laid on the bed motionless, not making any sounds & focused on staying calm during each contraction.
Tom strolled Giovanni up & down the halls trying to get him to sleep, & came in to check on me frequently. I wasn’t sure how I was going to handle laboring alone, but it actually helped me stay focused. I was relieved, though, when Gio finally fell asleep & Tom could be next to me, asking if I needed anything, telling jokes to the nurses & replacing the wet cloth on my forehead <3
Things were progressing really fast & at 6 cm dilated, they gave me some nitrous oxide to take the edge off during contractions until it was my turn for an epidural. I can’t say it helped a ton or that I liked the way it made me feel, I just focused on the sound it made when I inhaled to distract me from the contraction. I’ll never forget the sound of that machine!
Then at 3:10am I heard the words I’d been waiting to hear. “I’m Craig, I’m here to administer your epidural.” After what seemed like 1,000 questions, the epidural was finally in & I was feeling so much better. I could relax, laugh & take that glorious sip of Dr. Pepper Tom had been offering me all night :) I chewed some ice, had a cherry popsicle & just rested while we waited for time to pass.
& now here’s a super unflattering photo I pulled from Snapchat (@thelovenotes) haha. Just keepin’ it real, guys.
–Btdubs, the rest of these photos are either from Snapchat or my iPhone–
A little over an hour later, the doctor said, “Well, you’re 10 cm… we can pop your bag & deliver her if you’re ready?”
“Yep. Let’s do it!”
I pushed a few times & then he asked me to take a break so he could “get ready”… lol. Well, she was coming, ready or not! I pulled a “Kourtney Kardashian” & helped deliver her, lol. It was 5:03am on March 1st. We heard her first, tiny cry, & I put her on my chest. I enjoyed the next hour of skin-on-skin before I nursed her for the first time. She had wide eyes & wild hair. Our little flower :)
Tom took Gio home so they could sleep in their own beds & let us rest. Even though I was tired, I couldn’t sleep. I was in heaven :)
The sun was coming up & all I could do was stare at this angel.
Tom & Gio came back around noon to visit & bring me some lunch. Gio & Tom both held Gabi for the first time & I wish I got a video! But I just got caught up in the moment, it was so sweet.
We had our first family photo (that I didn’t get a chance to “get ready” for, haha) shortly after.
After getting lots of cuddles in, Tom & Giovanni headed home for the night while I stayed at the hospital.
The next day they discharged us, I couldn’t WAIT to get home! I’m not a fan of hospitals, (I guess no one really is…) I don’t know how people sleep when staff is constantly coming in. I’m grateful it was a quick hospital stay & we could get home & relax!
Our hearts are bursting! We’re so excited for the first chapter in our new book :)
A big thank you goes out to everyone for the sweet words & congrats. Love you guys!
Stay tuned for a “first days home with Gabi” post coming soon… Hopefully it takes me less time to write & post than this one, haha! Thanks for stopping by!
