Pregnancy & Labor

I decided I should post something about my pregnancy and labor so I can look back and remember everything...

Although being pregnant was not "fun" for me, I actually had it very easy. I was never sick or anything...just kept getting bigger. Here are some things I learned while I was pregnant:
1. It seems to take FOREVER, but then when the time comes, it feels like it flew by.
2. Feeling her kick and move around was the best part about being pregnant.
3. EVERYONE talks to you when you are pregnant.
4. Ignorance is bliss! Brian and I never took the child birth class and I am glad we didn't.
5. Just when you think you've made it without stretch marks, it will happen with only 2 weeks to go.

Labor - if you don't want to know all the details...stop reading now. :)

On September 19th (day before my due date) I was in the shower getting ready for work and I felt like something "happened." I called the doctor and they told me that I was probably fine, so I went to work. Finally around 3:30pm I just felt weird so I called the doctor and they had me go to the hospital (which I was not expecting at all!). So, I got off the phone, walked over to Brian (good thing we worked together) and we headed to Northside. We got to the hospital and checked in. The nurse came to check me and decided that nothing was happening. She said that I could stay and walk around to see if that would start something, but I opted to go home. We got home around 6pm and at 7:30 my doctor called to check on me. I was feeling "crampy" at this point, but didn't think it was contractions. My doctor told me that if anything happened to call her...Christine was really, really low and had been for about 3 weeks so my doctor was worried that she would come very quickly. Anyway, at 8:15pm I had to start pacing our house because I was in some pain. Finally, I called the doctor at 9pm because my contractions were 5 minutes apart. She told me to go to the hospital and if for some reason I wasn't in labor, they would start the process in the morning.

10pm - Brian and I arrived at the hospital (again) luckily, we didn't have to fill out all the paperwork again and we were checked in quickly. The nurse came in and checked me and I was still only 3cm so she told Brian and I to go to sleep and we would start things in the morning.
11pm - I am in pain and can't sleep - the nurse came in and asked why I wasn't sleeping. I told her I was in pain and she asked if I wanted sleeping pills. I refused them.
11:30/12am - I called the nurse and told her to bring the sleeping pills because I was still in too much pain to sleep.
12/12:30 - the nurse gave me the pills and then checked me. My water broke. She then said something under her breath and walked out of the room.
(From this point on I have NO idea what time everything happened)
The nurse came back in and said "you are 6cm, I didn't want to tell you because I didn't want you to worry." My panic response - "does that mean I don't get an epidural!!!" The nurse - "don't worry, he's on his way - he'll be here in 10 minutes." Those were VERY long ten minutes because my contractions kept getting stronger. Finally, my HERO showed up. :) The epidural was the one thing I was really scared of, but believe me when you are having contractions the epidural is nothing!
The last thing I really remember is my doctor coming in. She arrived and I was 9cm and she explained to me how to push. From that point on Brian and my doctor kept having to wake me to tell me that I needed to push. I would push and then fall asleep! Brian said that at one point I asked him for ice chips and by the time he put an ice chip on the spoon, I was out. So, I slept through everything!! Stupid sleeping pills!
Luckily, Brian was awesome and saw Christine being born so he could tell me all about it. Although, I don't remember anything, at least I have a story to tell. :)

Christine arrived on September 20th at 6:07am!!

Changes

Everyone keeps asking me if I would start a blog...so we'll see how this goes. I titled the first blog "Changes" because Brian and I have been through MANY changes in the past year. We moved to Atlanta, bought a new house, started a new office, started working in the same office, and decided to start a family. It's been a busy year!!

We moved to Atlanta because Brian was asked to be a part of opening the new dunnhumby office. It has been a great opportunity for him. Once we moved to Atlanta I decided that I was ready to get out of the hotel world. I applied many places, but then I found out that my previous boss from D.C. now worked at the Hilton Atlanta Airport. We met and had breakfast and he offered me a sales position. I accepted the position because I enjoyed working with him, but I had to wait 3 weeks to start working. During that 3 weeks Brian found out that dunnhumby was looking for an office manager for the Atlanta office. He sent my resume in and I had an interview with them the day before I began at the Hilton. I started working for the Hilton and 3 weeks later put in my notice to leave the Hilton to work for dunnhumby. I felt a little guilty, but it was definitely the best decision . So, now Brian and I work together. I thought it would be a little weird and it was at first, but now it just feels normal. I feel very fortunate to work for such a great company. The Atlanta office has turned into our 2nd family...especially being so far from our family and friends. They have been a huge support this past year...especially during my pregancy. It's also been great to see and understand what Brian does. :)

Then around Christmas we decided we were ready for the biggest change ever! We were on our way to my parent's for Christmas and we were talking about all our friends having babies. (Jason and Alia had just told us they were pregnant.) And so we decided that if "it happens, it happens." Then 3 weeks later I found out I was pregnant. I guess God thought it was the right time as well!