Della Stephanie Goodman

I went to bed with no contractions.

I had given up at that point.

Kissed the hubby goodnight, wiggled around until I found a semi comfortable spot and 

closed my eyes to hopefully get a restless nights sleep.

Literally minutes after closing my eyes I felt some cramping.

The kind of cramping you know will not go away.

It was go time. 

FINALLY I was starting labor.

I looked at poor Casey who was already in a deep REM 3 sleep. 

I decided I would give him a solid hour nap before telling him he gets

to switch to a super comfy plastic couch:)

I text my mom to give her the heads up to come over to be with the kids

and around midnight we were all checked into the hospital!

We decided to have it be just the 2 of us, along with the nurses and Dr. Huish

for this delivery.

Things were going text book.

I was at a 6 in triage and fully effaced.
The nurse asked me what my birthing plan was.
Birthing plan??
I looked at her and said epidural, please.
I wasn't sure if that was what she meant, but
she nodded and got right on that!

I laid with the peanut ball thing on my side for an hour.
As I was shaking uncontrollably (I hate that part about labor!)  I looked over to see
that at least somebody was getting a good nap in!

The ball helped but I was still at an 8.
Dr. Huish came in to break my water then left.
The nurse was going to let me continue with the ball but the second she
left I started to feel immense pressure.

Sure enough I was ready to push!
It didn't take long, I pretty much just waited for the doc to get suited up.
5 minutes later our precious girl was here and in my arms!

Sadly, I can't remember the exact time she was born:/
I know it was around 5am, because Casey's phone alarm for work went off right before
I started pushing.

She weighed 8lbs, 2 oz and was 19.5 inches long.

It felt like she was a 9 pounder while in me, but she seemed smaller than 8

pounds when they were weighing her.

She dropped down to 7 something the next day.

My labor nurse wishes she would have re-weighed her,

she thinks the other nurse did it wrong.

I don't know why, but during my whole pregnancy, I felt like

I couldn't connect with this sweet girl.

I would try so hard.

Maybe it was because I was so darn miserable??

It was amazing how the second she was born and in my arms I had

an undeniable bond with her.

I loved her more than life itself. 

All of the pain, sleepless nights, heart burn, Charlie horses, sore back, swollen

cankles were worth it.

She was perfect in every way and mine, ALL MINE!

I love this picture of us getting acquainted with each other.

The great Dr. Huish!

#20,569 baby he has brought into the world.

Just kidding, I have no idea how many babies he has birthed.

I am sure it is a whole lot more than that!

We waited an hour before sending out the text to the families that she had arrived!

I loved having the alone time with just the 3 of us before visitors came.

It was hard to believe this was our 4th time doing this!

It never gets old.

I personally love being in the hospital soaking in all the newborn yumminess

with Casey. He is always so supportive and helpful.

My most amazing sister came bright and early with flowers,

a banner and a plate of homemade cookies!!!

Who is that organized?!

Lets also not forget how she did the most amazing photo shoot

capturing Miss Della perfectly.

I had no idea she was going to do this, but I am most grateful for these

pictures of her fresh from heaven.

These 2 resemble each other in a big way!

We hear comments everyday of how the look exactly like each other.

I have to agree.

I also see some Rusty in her.

Personality wise, her and Rusty are pretty similar as well.

I cannot take a serious photo for some reason!

I am queen of sticking out the tongue.

Her name does have a story!

We could not think of ANYTHING!

I had a few I liked but knew that wasn't what it was supposed to be.

We were at a birthday brunch with my sis in laws and were talking names.

(I had 4 sis in laws pregnant at the same time as me)

They were shouting out family names when somebody mentioned Della.

I had no idea who Della was!

It was Casey's grandma.

How did I not know her name was Della?!

I always thought it was Lou.

I guess her first name was Della but she went by Lou.

I didn't necessarily want her to have a family name, but it was sticking for some reason.

I did know that I wanted her middle name to be Stephanie, after my twin. 

And also Casey's sister is Stephanie who I love dearly.

I went home and told Casey that I liked it and he said he liked it, too!

So DELLA STEPHANIE GOODMAN it was.

And I think it is absolutely darling on her.

She is nothing but a Della Rella, Della girl:)

With her name sake

Getting acquainted with all of her family members

baby burrito

Our favorite pediatrician, Dr. Leavitt!

We only stayed a quick 24 hours at the hospital then hurried home to start life

with our new addition.

All ready to leave.

 I must say how wonderful my mother was.

For a month I felt like she would take my kids and let them all spend the night at her

house. Take them to church, pick them up for school and what not.

It was the best present she could have given me!

Della is such an easy baby, but something about adding an extra human to the mix 

makes you all batty and not yourself .

It was so nice to have

some quiet time rocking my baby and not having to feed or entertain anybody else!

Plus, they think she is pretty fun and loved every second of Grandma Sharon time.

A picture of one of their many sleepovers.

They don't look happy at all, wink.

October Break and more waiting for baby

Where to start, where to start....

My parents booked a beach house for our family vacation in October this year.

At first it was game on!

Then I realized my due date was the week after October break.

I am a beach fanatic so I was dead determined to make it on that vacation even if

it meant having a baby in the car on the drive there!

Ok, maybe not that determined but I WAS going to make it possible in every way I could

to get to CA.

It was getting closer and closer and I was certain I would have this baby early!

She felt so low and I was having contractions off and on for a good month.

Her head was measuring 2 weeks larger and I knew the big man up stairs

was aware of how much I wanted/needed a good, relaxing beach trip.

So He was going to make it happen for me, lol!

At my 36 week appointment I was dilated to a 2 and 50% effaced.

A good early start.

Next week appointment, dilated to a 3, 70% effaced.

I was practically packing mine and the babies bag!

38 week appointment, dilated to a 4, 80% effaced!!

Oh, plus he was striping my membranes each time.

I went to bed each night thinking tonight is surely the night I would go into labor.

NOPE!

I was crushed. There was no way I could go being that far along.

If my water broke it would be game over.

Having a baby in Gila Bend wasn't sounding too pleasant.

Luckily I have the most amazing family ever and they offered to take the boys

for the whole week.

I felt really, REALLY bad making them do that.

But I knew they would drive me bonkers being at home for a whole week with

nothing to do. So off they went.

Rusty got to ride with Austin, Marcie and Scarlett.

Lane was riding with my parents and Craig.

They even drove over to our house to steal Lindi for the week but there was no way

I would let them do that!

Not going to lie, after they drove off I walked inside and cried like a baby.

Mostly feeling sorry for myself.

I was done, so so done being pregnant.

But what can you do!

Here is Lane enjoying life:)

He loves hanging around Craig.

They left on a Saturday.

When Casey got home from work we took our only child for the week

to Cheesecake Factory for dinner.

I must say she was enjoying her one on one time.

A whole cheesecake all to herself!:)

You forget how easy it is to have just 1 kid!

Sunday we went to our nephews baby blessing.

Sunni took this picture, they look like they could be twins.

And the family after their church meetings.

We figured we would get all the baby things out and set up.

Lindi pretended that the baby was in there the whole night.

I guess she was pretending to be the baby in the car seat.

I loved getting texts from my mom and sisters all week.

And they only stung for a quick second (wink)

Because our hours upon hours of TV watching were WAY more fun:)

I still can't get over how disgustingly fat my feet got.

Cankles to the max.

With added carpet marks, 2 thumbs up!

I was also sad I didn't get to stay in the ridiculously awesome beach house.

I guess it had 7 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms, and 3 kitchens!

Bottoms up for rootbeer and donut breaks!

My moms cute toesies while watching the kids play.

Of course they enjoyed Harbor fish and chips for Monday night dinner,

its a long standing tradition.

Followed by ice cream.

I needed out of the house by Wednesday.

It was still bloody hot outside so we took Lily and Ryder to Mesquite pool to swim!

I somehow stuffed my extra large belly into a swim suit.

But I didn't realize how bad it was until you get the pity stares.
You could just hear their thoughts... oh that poor woman, she looks miserable.

Then you get the questions of:

When are you due?

Me: anyday, I mean any second.

Them: Oh ya hun, you sure look like you are due any second!

Me: Thanks, I'll just continue sitting here like a beached whale.

Speaking of whales... Sea World was on the agenda this year!

I truly love Sea World.

Maybe it's because you sit and eat a lot with no line waiting.

I have been craving their chocolate pudding with whipped cream piled on a mile high.
That sure would have hit the pregnancy cravings spot!

Another perk to having Grandma as your guardian... she buys you souvenirs!

And not the cheap junk, stuffed animals!!

I am not that nice of a parent, but obviously I must have been neglecting my children

from something they must really like.

Look at them all cuddled up with their whale and polar bear.

Thank goodness for Grammy and Papa.

They invited us for dinner and pumpkin carving!

That was our only festive Fall activity we did this year!

The week had come and gone.

Last pictures of the ocean with our boys representing the family.

I thought this was cute of Jefferson

And no baby while they were gone.

This was at the beginning of the week before the baby blessing, 38 week

bump picture.