The Arrival

I started my maternity leave early and stoppped working when I was 38 weeks pregnant. I sat around the house every day just waiting for some sign of labor. Some days I went shopping and others just cleaning. Daddy had got you nursery all ready with lots of hard work and he repainted the most of the house. We were sooooo ready for you to come home.

Once the house was all ready is was just a matter of waiting. My due date came and went and the doctor scheduled me to be induced on December 29th. I was glad that you would be born before the new year, but I was still so worried that you would be born on Christmas. On Christmas Eve Mommy got all dressed and ready for church. I was not feeling good all night, it was almost as if I had no more room for you in my belly. Church was nice but I was so uncomfortable the entire time. Afterwards we went to Ria's like always and I was miserable. I wanted nothing to do with anyone and I could not wait to get home.

Once at home and sound asleep, I awoke at 4 am to use the bathroom and started with contractions right away. I was not sure at first that it was really contraction because they just felt like cramps. But I knew for sure when 4 minutes later the exact same pain came back and it lasted for about 30 seconds. This pattern continued and just got more frequent and more painful. I tried to ride out the pain but it was too hard, and on top of everything...it was Christmas morning. I was worried about waking the doctors and it was still dark out....I was so excited but so sad at the same time. Daddy and I came downstairs around 6 and opened our presents to each other but it was so hard because I was having contractions every 4 minutes that lasted 60 seconds each. We finally called the doctor around 7, Mommy took a shower, and we headed to Mommom and Poppop's house with Jack and Toby.

Everyone thought I was joking when I said that we were headed to the hospital but the pain on my face gave it away. They all wished us luck and we headed off to celebrate Christmas at Abington Hospital.

While in the elevator my water broke and were able to admitted right away. I was so happy that you were finally going to arrive! When we got there Mommy was only 1 cm dialated so I was not allowed any pain medicine. Dr. Carapalotti came in and told me he would be back later to deliver you and to try and stay comfy. Daddy put "A Christmas Story" marathon on tv and we just waited. Finally around 10:30 I couldnt take the pain and asked for medicine. I was already 3 cm and they gave me the epidural. After that it was smooth sailing! I did not feel a thing. It was great!! Arounf 3 o'clock they checked me again and I was 6 cm. They started me on pitocin so that you would be born sooner and the next thing I knew I was 9 cm and they told me to get ready to push. At 5:20 I started to push and was surprised at how much I did NOT feel. I pushed with the help off Daddy and the nurse Linda who was awesome! The doctor came in to check on us and said that I was doing great and told Daddy and I that he could see your hair. That was the moment when everything changed. For the first time in 9 months I was able to picture you...or something about you. I can never replace the way I felt at that very moment. You were real. You were not just in my belly, but a real little person. It was the most amazing and surreal sentance I had ever heard..."I can see some hair". Now I was so eager to get you out. I pushed and pushed, and at 6:59 pm on Friday December 25, 2009 Dr. Carapalotti pulled you out and placed you in my arms and said.."It's a, it's a, it's a GIRL!" I could not believe that you were a girl and that you were here. I remember you were so clean...not like they show you in the books. You were perfect in every way. And you were all mine. 7 lbs 7 oz and 20.5 inches long. You had just a little bit of fuzzy light brown hair and boy did you have some lungs!

This was the moment I fell in love with you.

Daddy and his little girl.

Mommom and Poppop Barber and Aunt Rachel were there first. Then came Mommom and Poppop O'Hara with Aunt Kristin. Everyone loved you and loved your name. We were all so happy! I was relieved that the anticipation was over and I was so looking forward to getting to know you and our first night together as a family.