3:16

Maleigha is HERE! After being 13 days late...she came at 1:49am on March 16th...3:16. ;) I like to think that has a special meaning...it does to me. She was a whopping 5lbs. 14oz at birth and 18inches long. When we left the hospital she was 5lbs. 9oz. I was like...what the hell...why is she so damn small??!?!?!?!? She was nearly 2 weeks late and even my doctor thought she was gonna be about 7 pounds...uhhhhhhh no!

So...here's my story. I had an appointment at my doctor's on Monday afternoon at 1:30pm. I used the bathroom before I went in and then went to the room. Of course I was going to be examined and I sat there for a good 20 mins waiting...I guess my doc was busy. Anyway...I look and Jerid and I'm like...I gotta PEE! So I get dressed and go to the bathroom again...and when I was finished I stood up and BAM!...my water broke! I was like...oh dear...what do I do?! I went back to the room...got undressed... and waited for my doctor. He walked in a couple mins later I tell him...I'm pretty sure my water broke. Sure enough...he was like GIRL...go on over to the hospital. I was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited! I knew for a fact that no matter what...I was going to be coming home...with my baby. No more failed attempts...it was actually happening.

The hospital is right next door to my doctor's office so I just walked on over. We got there at 2:30pm...got checked in, got my IV, started me on a low dose of pitocin...and we were on our way. I was still only dilated to a 2 at this point so I wasn't expecting it to happen anytime soon...especially being a first time mom. I wanted to be strong and try to make it to 4cm before asking for an epidural...mmmmmmm.....them bad boy contractions started to REALLY kick in about 4:30/5:00pm. I asked for my epidural at 6:00pm and the anesthesiologist got there at 6:15pm. It was a BIG relief! They got me all set up and I was good to go. It was amazing!

About 10/11:00pm I started to feel discomfort from the catheter and found out her head was pressing against it and she was getting ready to come on out! They had me do a couple practice pushes and after like 2 pushes they told me to stop because she was right there! I was so excited! They called my doctor and told him to come on up there about 12:00am...he got there about 1:00am...I pushed for about 40 mins...and at 1:49am...my sweet sweet sweet baby was born. Without a doubt it was the most emotional experience of my life...and at the same time the best. Jerid DID cut the cord and didn't pass out...pretty sure his adrenaline kicked in. Automatically I could tell she had my mouth from the way she cried...I was in love.



The nurses cleaned her up...my doctor cleaned me up...and she got to stay with us for about 2 hours. It was very surreal. Me...I...I have a baby...and she is perfect.

It really is an overwhelming love you feel for your child the first time you see them...I always heard and now I understand. She's my best friend now...and I better enjoy it while I can...because at 2 weeks old...she is already growing so fast. I am so blessed and soooo tired...but she is here...finally.

On a different note...Jerid got a job! Thank the Lord! :) I am going back to work in a little over a week and I'm not ready to leave her yet. I'm not completely recovered myself, but gotta make that money! :)