And baby makes three!

Okay, so in my defense, things have been busy here around the Hebert house, and I promise, I'll be better about blogging. I wrote this blog two months ago, got distracted, and never came back to it. So, here it is, two months late, but better late than never, right?

Our sweet baby girl is finally here, and what an entrance she made! The morning of the July 27^th, Dustin and I woke up around 6 am to start getting ready for the big day. Knowing I would be changing into an absolutely flattering hospital gown once we arrived, I went ahead and threw on a tank top and yoga pants before heading out. Although I wasn’t allowed to have anything to eat or drink before my c-section, we still stopped at Snowflake Donuts, one of our favorite breakfast stops, on the way so that Dustin could get something in his stomach before the long day that awaited us began. 

While we were there, Dustin’s grandpa Quimby called to check on us and wish us luck. We talked to him for a few minutes while Dustin ate, and then we were off. Before long, we were pulling into the parking garage of the hospital and being admitted. There was no turning back now!

Once I got settled in my room, our parents showed up and kept us company while we waited anxiously for my 11:00 surgery.  With about 20 minutes until showtime, Dr. Kocay came in and informed us that we were still waiting on blood they were having sent in to be typed and crossed for me and that it was likely the surgery would be pushed back to about 1:00. I was disappointed and relieved at the same time. I was worried they would push it back again, and I wouldn’t get to hold my baby girl until late in the night. My anxiety was short-lived however, because about a half hour later, the doctor came back to tell us that the blood had arrived, and we were ready to start prepping for surgery. 

 Anxious grandpas waiting!

Goofing around...

Its showtime! Wheeling me back for surgery...

Both Leigh and my mom’s eyes widened as we all realized this was the moment we’d been waiting for. As family shuffled out of the room and the nurse brought a wheelchair in to take me to the operating room, I got extremely quiet. It hadn’t dawned on me yet that not only was I about to be a mother for the first time, I was going into surgery for the first time ever as well.

They wheeled me back and had Dustin get dressed in his gown, gloves and mask while they prepped me. I shook like a leaf while they administered my epidural. I don’t know if it was because I was so scared, or because they kept the OR below freezing…likely a combination of both. It amazed me how casually the nurses and doctors chatted as they prepped me. “Umm, HELLLLOOO… You’re about to cut me open! Let’s focus!!” However, once the epidural kicked in, I was just as chatty as the rest of them, and actually joked around a bit. 

Once Dustin came back, the surgery began and Addelyn Mae Hebert made her entrance into the world at 12:29pm. She was 6 lbs and 18 ¾ inches long… absolutely gorgeous. I was amazed by how pink she was as soon as she came out, and didn’t expect her to have as much hair as she did. That beautiful head of hair, along with her wide open eyes are by far my favorite features of hers. Dustin and I both cried as the doctor held her up for us to see and placed her in Dustin’s arms. 

 VERY proud parents!

The nurses cleaned her off and weighed her while the Dr. Kocay stitched me back up. Within about 20 minutes, they handed me the baby and wheeled me back to recovery, where Dustin and I enjoyed a few private moments alone with our precious baby girl before the family came in to see her. We couldn’t believe she was finally here… it was such a surreal time. 

As our parents came in to see her, tears filled their eyes and they each took turns holding her as Brittany and I took pictures. Everyone agreed… She was absolutely perfect! Once it was time to take Addelyn to the nursery for a bath and her newborn screening, the rest of the family and I went to my post-partum room and talked as we waited for them to bring her back.

The next couple of days flew by and we were back home with miss priss before we knew it. I had so much anxiety about my first night taking care of her alone, but it went well, with a few hiccups. I hadn’t anticipated not being able to get up into our bed after surgery, so Dustin got up at 3am to set up our guest bed in the game room, which we converted into a makeshift nursery for the two weeks following, until I was able to get back into our tall bed on my own again.  

It’s been a month ago today that our darling little lady came into this world, and oh, how time is flying! She is slowly gaining weight, and her expressions seem to mature a little every day. The nights are slowly getting easier as I’m not worrying as much as I was in the beginning. For the first two weeks, I would stay up for hours, just staring at her, making sure she was still breathing. It’s funny how you can go your entire life without someone, and then the moment they come into the world, you don’t know what you’d ever do without them. 

 One month old!

Being a mother is much different than I expected, and better than I could have ever imagined. Yesterday, she smiled at me bigger than I’d ever seen her smile, and I realized I was smiling back bigger than I’d ever smiled too. It’s amazing what such a small person can do to you. She has my heart. Dustin and I talk all the time about what we think she will be like as she gets older, and the “firsts” that we can’t wait to experience with her... She’s got him wrapped so tight around that teeny little finger already. I can’t wait to see what a beautiful young lady she’ll grow into. Let’s not jump ahead though…  I’m enjoying every minute with my sweet baby girl, as little and precious as she is right now! Happy “one month birthday”, little lady!