I've Got A DAUGHTER!!!

Hip Hip Hooray!

Miriam was born March 25th, 2008 at 9:25 am. She weighed in at 7 lbs 9 ozs, and was 21 inches long.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rightasrain/2368041398/

After a spurt of contractions Monday afternoon and evening, I woke up at 2 am Tuesday with steady ones five minutes apart. After an hour of those, I woke up my husband, called my mom, and called the Doctor. He recommended laboring at home for as long as I could and heading to the hospital around 7 am, or sooner if the contractions started coming every three minutes or closer.

My mom came out right away, so that we could leave whenever we needed. I labored at home in relative comfort (having my mom there for company was nice, and it also allowed my husband to get more sleep!) and took a shower at about 6 am. By that time, I was having to bend over and breathe through the contractions. My water broke at 6:30 am (after I showered and dressed, of course) and we headed to the hospital, arriving at exactly 7 am. Hope Doc was impressed! :)

I got checked into a room right away, as my water had already broke. The nurse checked me shortly after and I was already dilated to 4 cm! After about 20 minutes of intense back labor, I decided to get an epidural. I'd been through back labor before and decided to cut my losses and go straight for the pain-relief! (I have noticed once you have an epidural, it is hard to forgo one the next time, because you just know how heavenly they are!)

I had to wait awhile for the epidural because my Doc was the only one who could order one and he was with another of his laboring patients. It was about an hour before relief arrived, and I was in tears by then, but about 10 minutes later, all was right in my world once more!

By then I had dilated to over 9, so they decided to let me start pushing. Miriam hadn't dropped all the way yet, so the first bit of pushing was just getting her into position. After trying a different position, she dropped all the way and I started pushing in earnest. She had been face up, but she twisted at the last moment and came so suddenly, the Doc almost didn't make it in time to catch her! I've never seen someone get on booties, scrubs, and gloves that fast in my life!

She was born so fast that the fluid hadn't been squeezed from her lungs fully, so the nurses had to suction her out a few times, poor dear.

But she was beautiful! We are so happy. I'll have to detail our first few weeks later. :)

She's Almost HERE!

I can't believe I am coming up on the last three weeks of this pregnancy! Yay!

Wait - no! I'm not ready!

Ok, I can't wait to meet her, but I am not ready to be a mom of three. I don't know that I ever will be though, and at this point it is inevitable, so I guess I'll just jump in feet first into deep water and acclimate as fast as I can!

After all, lots of other moms have done it - some with kids even closer in age than mine, and some with more than three kids altogether. So if they can do it, so can I!

I think most of my panic is knowing I only have limited time to finish certain things before the insanity begins. Like filing our taxes! Gulp. I really should get on that, huh?

But all that stress and worry and panic fades when I actually think about snuggling up a newborn under my chin again. Aaaaaah, there is nothing else like it on earth and it is such an amazing experience that in the moment, I would easily agree to have 15 children. Newborn baby smell must interfere with rational thought processes. Someone should scientifically prove that, because I am pretty sure it is true. I mean, I fully acknowledge, after having two children, how much work adding a third is going to be, yet all I have to do is think about having her in my arms and I forget. I forget all about temper tantrums, throwing food on the floor, dirty diapers, runny noses, back sassing, shoving siblings, and running late for everything by at least 15 minutes.

Yup, all I have to do is close my eyes and remember the first time I held my firstborn in my arms, and all of a sudden I am bawling with sentimentality and spouting about how amazingly wonderful children are! And you know what? Despite all the not-so-fun part of raising children, each child is still oh-so amazingly wonderful. Thank God for each and every one of them.

Prepping for Fugly's Grand Opening!

I opened a 2nd shop on Etsy back in September. Yeah, I know - like I don't have enough going on!

But, I wanted to streamline my RightAsRainCreations shop into just my fabulous Bath & Body products.

So all that other stuff I just love making had to go somewhere! And so it did - check out my Fugly shop! I am still adding new items. I plan to have a grand opening in just THREE days! Friday February First, in fact! :)

http://fugly.etsy.com

Art, jewelry, knitted goods, paper goods, note cards, and MORE!

Vote for What You'd Like to See Next!

I have been busy this last month or so adding new products to my Bath & Body line!

Now, I need your input! What would you like to see me add to my shop next? Please vote in my poll - choose two or three if you'd like!

Thanks, I really appreciate your input!

And check out my new Body Cream, Lip Balm, Sugar Scrub, and Refresher Mist here!

RightAsRainCreations.etsy.com

My 1 Year Etsyversary!

Wheee! I love a good reason to celebrate - and reaching one full year of selling (and buying) on Etsy is a very good reason! :)

I have LOVED being on Etsy! I am so thankful I found it - thanks to an eBay customer! Because of her, I was able to leave eBay behind and sell successfully on a site that just "fits" me so well!

In my first year on Etsy I have:

Sold 353 items
Bought 90 items
Received 727 hearts
Given 237 hearts

And had so much fun, shared so many laughs, and made lots of friends! :)

Oh, and to celebrate, check out my Etsyversary sale in my shop!