Welcome Mary Belle!

For those of you who have been following my pregnancy drama know that our baby girl was breech and that I was trying to figure out ways to get her to turn. After all my attempts with different methods recommended to me by websites and others (including a try at external version by the doctor this past Thursday morning), she still didn't want to turn around, and we had a c-section scheduled for Thurs. the 26th of March. Well, our baby girl decided that she didn't want to wait that long and made her grand appearance Saturday morning!!! I'll write the details here for my sake, but feel free to skip to the pictures...

Saturday morning I started noticing some contractions at around 4:15, about 10-15 minutes apart. The only way I was even sure they were contractions was if I would put my hand on my belly so I could feel that it was all hard. This was similar to what happened when I went into labor with Josh, and when we did go to the hospital I was already dilated to 7 cm, so thinking of that made me start to take notice of if they were actually contractions and made me start getting nervous and excited and wondering if this was "it".

At around 5:30 or so I woke David up to tell him about the contractions and to tell him he might not get to go play frisbee golf that morning after all. A little after 6:00 we called the doctor's call service line and when the doctor on call called back she told me to go ahead and go on into the hospital, since they didn't want me to labor with my previous c-section scar and also since I was going to be having a c-section this time as well.

David and I were fortunate that his parents were in town for his cousin's wedding the previous day, so we were able to go and drop Josh off with them on our way to the hospital. The whole way to the hospital I was just hoping that I really was having contractions, because I really did feel perfectly normal (as much as a pregnant woman can anyway) other than the tightness every now and again...they weren't painful at all. I really didn't want to be causing a lot of drama for nothing!

When we got to the hospital and into triage we were talking to the nurses and telling them how we came in because of our scheduled c-section and of our experience when I went into labor with Josh and I was telling them how I hoped I really was in labor and not just making it up. I told the nurse I was dilated to 3 cm at my last doctors appointment (a week and a couple of days before) then when she checked me she said I was just like last time. I was thinking that she meant I was still dilated to 3, like at my last appointment, and starting to be embarrassed, but she said, "No, you're at a 7 or an 8" (like when I went into labor with Josh). They then called my doctor (who was nice enough to come in even though it was a weekend and he wasn't on call) and they started the mad rush to get me ready for surgery. We arrived at the hospital at around 7:10, and baby Mary Belle was born at 8:12 a.m. on Saturday, March 21st! She weighed in at 8 lbs., 7 oz. and was 20 inches long. She's got a little bit of dark hair and some chubby, chubby cheeks and is as cute as can be!!!

Mary Bell Orr, just a few minutes after being born. Aren't those chubby cheeks the best?

All bundled up. She's already scratched herself a few times, poor thing.

Happy Mother

Proud Papa

Our little family. Don't you love how Mary is covering up her face and Josh looks mad?

I'm feeling okay, as much as I can be after being sliced open, anyway. We were initially planning on going home from the hospital today (Monday), but it'll be tomorrow instead. Getting around today is much better than it was yesterday and the day before, and it's nice to not be hooked up to a million different machines now, but I am still pretty sore.

David's parents took Josh back to Thatcher with them for a few days, which is nice, especially since we're not going home from the hospital today after all. I miss him already, but I know he'll have a lot of fun there getting to play with his uncles and Grandma & Grandpa Orr. When he came to visit at the hospital he wasn't too interested in Mary, and won't try to say "Mary", just calls her "Baby" instead. He looked at her and poked her once, held her for a tiny bit but then was done. Hopefully he'll adjust well.

Mary has been doing well. She has lost a little bit of weight, was down to 7 lbs. 14.6 oz. last night, but she is a WAY better nurser (at least so far) than Josh was at the beginning. Hopefully that'll keep up. Last night she slept fairly well, which was wonderful, because David and I were both exhausted. She loves to be swaddled really tight.

I am SOOOO thankful for David. I feel bad because I'm pretty much helpless, but David is so patient with me and does everything for me. Thank you Babe, I love you so much!!!

Josh Update

Here's a little update on Josh that is long past due.

At his 18 month appointment (which was a month an a half ago, but who's counting?) he weighed in at 23 lbs, 7 oz. (25%), was 33" tall (75%), and his head was 18 1/4" (10%).

He's learning all sorts of new words and continually surprises David and me with how smart he is--no, we're not biased at all. Every morning when we go to let him out of his room (he's in a toddler bed, so we have to trap him in there with a baby gate) he'll run, carrying his wadded up blanket and stuffed puppy, to stand below the light switch in the kitchen until I turn the light on. Then he'll run to the fridge to wait for me to come and open it up, and when I do he'll drop his puppy and blanket and proceed to grab his sippy cup and the milk jug. Hmmm...I wonder what it is he wants?

Another funny thing he does is calls me "Maymee". David originally thought this was for "Mommy", but I knew better, since that's what all my nieces and newphews would call me when they were learning to talk (he was calling me Amy). So I started correcting him by saying "Mama". Now he'll say often say "Maymee" then correct himself and say "Mama". He also will often put "MaymeeDaddy" together, almost like it's one word, which is pretty funny.

He's getting to be more of a helper, which is nice, and I'm sure it will be even nicer when he will be my "gopher" after I have the baby. Sometimes it's still more work for me when he "helps", but I guess that's what it takes.

He's still quite the climber, and will usually prefer to go up and over the side of the rocking chair or couch, rather than go the easy way to get up or down. He seems to have an endless supply of energy, which is fun, but exhausting! When we would go on walks (those stopped about a week ago), he would pretty much run around the whole block, with only short stops to stop an examine something a little more closely.

He is definitely in the temper tantrum phase...yippee! How long does that phase last???

Here are some fun pictures:

My little helper washing off the table:


A couple of his many temper tantrums:


He likes to put David's and my shoes on and try to walk around with them, as he continually says "Shooos, shooos":


Giving Baby Sister a hug:


Snuggling with Daddy before bedtime:


Sporting the new Batman cape Aunt JD made for him:

Getting ready to go down the slide (and say "Beee", instead of "Weee"):

Baby Quilts & Preggo Pics

A few weeks ago I got pretty ambitious and decided that I was going to make a quilt for my baby out of some of my dad's old button-up shirts. It wasn't too hard, per se, but was quite a bit of work, especially cutting the squares out of the shirts. I followed the pattern (with a few minor modifications) of a quilt given to Josh by David's Great Aunt Jodi. The middle square is one of his old handkerchiefs. There are definitely several mistakes that you'll find if you look closely, but all in all I'm pleased with how it turned out:

Since my sister Mindy is due with a girl the day before me, I made her one too, but made it simpler:

Some of you may be thinking that those colors are pretty girlie for a man's shirt. Honestly, I never even thought it was odd that my dad had shirts in those colors, since I was used to it. I guess that proves he was man enough to wear whatever he wanted!

Now I'm feeling a little guilty that I never made a quilt for Josh--not that he doesn't have plenty. One of these days I'll make him one out of some of the other shirts I have stashed away.


I've taken quite a few more pictures of my pregnant self this time around, because now I wish I had taken more when I was pregnant with Josh.

Here is a picture of me taken 1/18/09:



And here is an updated picture of me taken last night sporting my big belly and sweet farmer tan:

We Love Nursery!

Josh's first Sunday in nursery was on 1/25/09, and boy was that a happy occasion! Our ward has the kids start coming in with a parent 2 weeks before they turn 18 months, so I went in with Josh for the 1st hour, but since he could care less whether I was there or not they told me I didn't need to stay for the 2nd hour.

The second Sunday after I dropped Josh off and met David in Sunday School I mentioned to him how I felt a little guilting dropping him off for someone else to take care of, but David reminded me how they are much better equipped to keep him entertained than I am. So far the nursery leaders say he doing great and loves to give hugs, complete with the "Ohhh" sound effect. We have such wonderful nursery workers in our ward, and I appreciate them so much! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Here is his first nursery coloring project. I think we might have a budding artist on our hands:

Today I was especially grateful for nursery. David went up to help pass the sacrament (our ward has very few young men), but since we had a confirmation today that meant he didn't get back to sit with us until Sacrament Meeting was almost half way over. That, coupled with the fact that we had forgotten to bring the diaper bag in from the van, made for a rough 1/2 hour and by the time it was done I was about ready to sell Josh to the Indians. I love my boy so much, but sometimes I wonder if he will ever learn to sit still (and not elbow me in my huge belly a million times)!

Still Breech...

We went to another doctor's appointment this past Thurs. and the baby is still breech...rats! Anyhow, we have scheduled an external version (where the doctor pushes on my stomach to try to get the baby to turn around) for this coming Thurs. morning, and if that doesn't work--or she doesn't decide to turn on her own through the other old wives tails methods I've been trying--we have a c-section scheduled for March 25th. We tried the external version with Josh too. It didn't work, obviously (and it hurt like heck), but hopefully Baby Girl won't be quite so stubborn.

I'd really love to not have another c-section, especially since after talking to my sister Kayla, after 2 c-sections you pretty much have to have the rest of them that way. So, we'd appreciate any prayers on our behalf...

Pregnancy Update

I know I'm still super far behind posting regular updates, but oh well...I'm jumping ahead.

Yesterday I went to the doctor to get "checked" and see how big and what position the baby is in. I'm just over 36 weeks. I was only dialated to 1 cm, which I'm fine with, but I was totally bummed when the ultrasound showed that the baby is breech. Again. I am still really hoping to not have to do another c-section (Josh was breech too, and even the external version didn't work to turn him), so last night I was looking up ways to get the baby to turn. I tried the "Breech Tilt" (where you lay at an incline with your head down) for about 10 minutes or so, and that seemed to get the baby moving (and also gave me a nice headache), but I think she's still head up. I can usually feel where her head is.

Anyway, I'm really hoping she'll turn on her own before it's time for her to come. So if any of you have any tips or tricks...let me know!

And no, we still haven't decided on a name for her. We had one person ask us if we just didn't want to tell everyone what it is, but no...we really haven't decided.

A Happy and Sad Day

I'm officially a Minivan Momma now. Last week, after several weeks of car shopping, we finally found one that came with what we wanted and fit our budget...a 2007 Toyota Sienna with around 38,000 miles. We got it through a wholesaler/dealer and picked it up today. Here it is in all it's glory:

Josh basking in the spaciousness:

I feel kind of silly driving a minivan with only 1 child, but that will change in a couple of months. Not that I couldn't have made the truck work with two kids...I definitely could have, but being able to keep the stroller in the vehicle (rather than haul it up to the 3rd floor) and have room to haul groceries home when I do have the 2 kids will be nice.

I'm not one who is super-comfortable with big purchases until long after the purchase is finally made, but all in all I'm pretty happy with our new find, even though I am quite sad to be giving up my truck. :(

This beauty is currently for sale:

It's a 2006 Toyota Tacoma TRD Prerunner with about 35,300 miles. We're asking $18,500 if any of you are interested (or know anyone who is).

We spent most of Sat. afternoon out at Chad & Mindy's using their driveway and garage to wash/wax/vacuum it. (Thanks again!) Why is it that you wait until you are getting rid of something that you make it extra pretty? David told me I wasn't going to want to get rid of it when we got finished with it...he was right!

Still to come (someday)...more update posts on Christmas and other happenings in the Orr family.