So I have decided to write a blog. This way I can track things and remember dates etc. I find that since I was pregnant I've been just blank. It's terrible really. I had wanted to start this when she was first born but attempting to find the time to even shower has been a constant effort. Let's just say a lot was put on the back burne
r.
In advance, I would like to apologize for how much this post jumps around.
I guess that it is only appropriate that I start with her birth story. I've more or less just copied and pasted this from my mommyhood post on facebook. It was posted a few days after she was born:
http://apps.facebook.com/mommyhood/groups/topic/9784/olivia-jean-karen-schmaltz-102510
My husband Jake and I are very happy to announce the birth of our daughter Olivia Jean Karen Schmaltz. She was welcomed into the world on October 25th, 2010 at 7:26am weighing 8lbs 12.5oz. She was 20.5 inches long. Here is our story.I was due October 22nd. When that day came and went I started to get impatient. The 23rd I started to cramp up every so often but they weren't really super intense. Sunday morning around 3ish the cramping became stronger. As the morning progressed they became stronger and stronger but the consistency wasn't there (they were really strong I was even throwing up!!!) . I asked Jake to go for a walk with me and to go get a bite to eat with me. We ended up hitting up Walmart (don't ask I don't know- we had to pick up something lol) and went and ate some Mcdonald's breakfast... we will call that a craving . They just kept getting more intense so I decided that I was gonna head to L&D.Well they checked me and I was only 1 cm dilated when I got in there and not softening at all. An hour later I was at 2 and softer. They offered me morphine, I turned it down because the cramps felt like the cramps were kinda sorta going away and they put me on an induction list as I was having blood pressure problems. They also told me that I could possibly be in this sort of labor for 3 days!!!I went home, took gravol (for being nauseated) and tylenol for the pain. I tried to sleep but them BAM the contractions came again full force... as they progressed I couldn't tell where one ended and another started. The pain just lingered. Jake brought me back to the hospital and they checked me again... still only at 2. They gave me morphine and the option for an induction then and there to which I replied, " I really just want this baby out of me." I don't think DH was super excited for my statement as I had made it clear before I didn't want to be induced. I progressed really fast after they broke my water and gave me pitocin and within no time I was at 5 cm. When I finally got the epidural the anesthesiologist had to poke my back 3 times. Let's just say I don't really think it worked all that well as I was still able to walk around with it in. I'm glad I took the gas as well!After my mom got there I was checked and was at 9cm. I freaked out looked at my mom and cried that I couldn't do it. lol Kinda late there dontcha think?I pushed for an hour and a half, screamed like hell and threw up a couple of times.I have to say though even though it did hurt BAD I would do it all over again. The overwhelming feeling of happiness and love that fills a room when a baby is born is worth it! I love my little girl with all my heart and Jake is an amazing daddy!!! I'm really looking forward to the years to come, but am enjoying every single moment with her!!! There were tons of tears shed that day. Some of pain, but tons of them were tears of happiness. I don't know how we ever lived with out her!I read through that post, and I can tell how tired I must have been writing that! It was rough for the first few nights I must say. The first night she was here while still in the hospital I told her to wake me up if she needed anything. She did that night and pretty much has continued to do so. I don't mind all that much, as long as I can pull in a power nap during the day.
The moment she was born wasn't like any other moment I ever expected. She came out and they put her on my chest. It was all in slow motion for me really. Kinda like a scene from a movie when I think back on it. There could have been sirens going off in the room and I don't think that I would have heard them. It was our moment. I was crying cause I was just so happy. I wanted to hear her scream. She didn't really, I must say that she was rather calm. They were quick to wipe her face off and I kissed her on the forehead.
Jake held her for the first time and I must say I was so attracted to him at that point. I felt amazing. Trust me there is nothing better in the whole entire world then seeing the man that you love with all of your heart holding the baby that you love more than anything (and I mean anything!) or anyone for that matter.
I remember sitting in the hospital on my bed looking at her. Jake had to run a errand for work (or he had gone home for the night I don't quite remember) and my mom was also gone. I was trying to remember every detail of her face just as she was at that moment, so peaceful. I must say this was really one of the first times being left alone with her if not the first time. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. I was a mom. This was MY baby and I loved her more than anything in the whole entire world. At that moment it was decided that I would do anything to protect her and I would endlessly strive to make her happy. I was going to be the very best parent I could be, even if that meant putting myself dead last. Tears welled up in my eyes and started to roll down my cheeks. This was a huge bonding moment for me. Of course, as fate would have it the nurse came in to ruin it by taking my blood pressure... figures! :)
The night we went home we stopped off first at my mom's place where she got to meet her aunties and uncle on my side. Uncle Daniel then made a promise to play his upcoming hockey game for Olivia and ended up shutting the other team out 5-0!!!
Fast forward 6 days
to Halloween. She was dressed up as a ladybug in an adorable costume! We started off the night at my grandpa's house where she got to meet her great grandparents on my side for the first time. (she had already met one set of Jake's.) We then went to Mandy's house to spend time with her newborn son. And then headed off to Jessica's where she met some of my friends.
The first time daddy watched her I came home to find Jake in the kitchen warming a bottle. I had given her a bath a little earlier and her empty tub was left on the counter. Miss Olivia was laying in the bath tub waiting patiently and daddy had a receiving blanket tied around his neck like a backward cape. He looked at me and the only thing he said was, "Oh, I didn't expect you to be home so soon." It was super cute! I still giggle over it!
She started to smile around one month old. Like really smile, not just when she was gassy. It melted my heart the instant I saw it. She is so beautiful.
Fast forward to her first Christmastime. There were no tears from this little girl when she saw Santa. I am so proud of her. We spent Christmas eve at my Grandpa's place and she met the rest of my mom's side of the family that she had yet to meet.
Christmas morning (today) I woke up more excited about Christmas than I had been in
years. Not only is today Christmas but today she is 2 months old. I can not believe it. I ran across some of her hospital things (hat, tape measure etc.) today and started to tear up. I am so happy to have her in my life and she is growing so very fast. It feels like just yesterday that I got to hold her in my arms for the very first time.
We went over to my mom's place to do the Christmas morning thing. She got very spoiled. To make a long story short we then took her out of town for the very first time to Jake's parents place. I half expected the 3 hour drive to be hard, but she slept the entire way. She got very spoiled again and got to meet her cousin and other aunts and uncles.
In the last 2 months I have realized that I am a very lucky woman. Not only do I have a wonderful, loving husband; I now have a beautiful, amazing daughter who I can not imagine my life with out. Olivia I love you with everything in me. You have really made my life so much better. I look forward to seeing you smile daily!
Well that's it for now. I will be sure to update more as soon as other things happen.
xoxo -Momma Nicole
. In March we had our first ultrasound. (seems like just yesterday) In September we celebrated Jake's 24th birthday on the 20th and I was thrown a wonderful baby shower that month also. On October 25th, we welcomed Olivia into our lives. Since then she has hit milestones. She smiles, giggles, hold
s her head up, coos and is starting to have a routine. I love her so much!!! In December we celebrated our first holiday season together. Olivia had her first Christmas, and all 3 of us celebrated our first Christmas as a family. Our first year married, with our baby and in our new home together. It was a wonderful Christmas.
