Emma: 22 Months

Sleeping: We transitioned Emma to her big girl bed the first week of April and it went really smoothly. Nearly two months in and she's still going down/waking up at the same time and waits for us to come get her. Naps have been the same as well, taking two to three hour naps in the afternoon. The only sleep "issues" are more meltdowns since Maggie has been born surrounding going to sleep. But the moment we read a book, say prayers and leave the room, the crying stops within a minute (if not sooner). Emma truly loves her bed and is often found back in it reading or pretend sleeping with her baby dolls.

Eating: Eating is still hit and miss with Emma. There are days she can't eat enough and days I wonder how she is functioning on such little food. I blame it on cutting her two year molars. Her favorite foods at the moment are gold fish, granola bars, fruit and steamed broccoli. She's also loving salads!

Development: The last couple of months, I was slightly and quietly concerned on Emma's talking or lack there of. While I know you can't compare children and every one of them develops differently, I couldn't help but compare. Everyone tells you that first borns (especially girls) talk so much and are further advance in their speech. That's not Emma. While she speaks and we can understand her, others have no idea what she is saying. She also wasn't (up until the last week or two) learning new words or repeating things. I am now assured that one day she will blow us away and just start talking up a storm and probably not stop :) If that time is next week, next month or months from now, that is okay.

The last several weeks have been quite the transition for Emma. Matt and I are convinced that temper tantrums are inherent for the first born when a new child comes into the world. Boy does Emma have them perfected. We went through a stretch where there were no meltdowns, and now they are back in full force. Emma has always been our sensitive little girl, so with attention having to be shared, she's even more sensitive. She knows when you aren't paying attention and is doing things to get it or will just come up to you and say "hi" to make sure you see her. We make sure to include her in everything and ask for her help when we can, praising her for being a big girl and so helpful.

But, with the low of temper tantrums comes the high of seeing her doing and trying new things. She loves to jump, throw things and run. Next week Emma starts Tumble Bugs!

Likes/Dislikes: Books! Seriously, this girl loves herself some books. You can often find her in a chair or in her bed "reading" books. Some of her favorites are I Love You Through and Through, Press Here, Giggle!, Bubble Guppies or her big sister books. Along with her books, she continues to be obsessed with Bubble Guppies. Thanks to the Holtz family, Emma is hooked on this tv show on NickJr. She has since received a few Bubble Guppie toys and absolutely loves them.

Ever since Maggie arrived, Emma has become that much more motherly with her baby dolls. She likes to feed them, burp them, walk around "ssshhhh" them to sleep and giving them kisses. Emma also loves to help burp her sister, hold her and touch her hand. She truly is the sweetest thing and is really good with Maggie. She loves watching her little sister, especially now that Maggie is becoming more alert. I can't wait to see what Emma thinks of her little sister in the months to come.

Emma can't stand having dirt or anything on her feet. She loves playing outside and running around barefoot, but the moment she steps foot in the door she plops down to inspect her feet and pick off the smallest particle of anything on her feet. Along with that, she could find the smallest crumb on the kitchen floor and pick it up to bring to you or throw away. So I have used this to my advantage and she helps me "clean". She is her mother's child for sure.

{M} Newborn Pictures

Pictures taken by Destri Andorf of D&orfs Photography

Hospital Stay

First few hours: Our first couple hours went by fast and were quite hectic. Maggie was brought to my chest immediately after she was born and stayed there for nearly 90 minutes before being weighed, measured and cleaned up. While I loved the moment, I hated that Matt didn't get to hold her right away and he has said that is something he didn't like this time around. I understand the importance for skin to skin with the mom and I loved that I got to do that again, but I still ache thinking Matt didn't get to hold her for so long. Once we got me up and walking, we needed to get the room packed up and moved over to our new room on the other side of the hospital.

Weighed 8 lb 11.5 oz and measured 21.5 in 

Introducing Emma to Maggie: Because I didn't want to pass Emma in the hall as we were moving rooms without her meeting Maggie first, we brought her into our delivery room before we headed over. While Matt went to go get Emma from our parents, I moved to a chair so it would be easier for her to get up and see Maggie. As they walked in the room, Emma went right past me and started exploring the the bed and all the gadgets that were around. She had no interest until we sat her right next to me. She was a bit confused (we think she thought of Maggie as a baby doll) and just sat there and looked at her and then looked at me. After a few minutes, Emma finally touched her and just stared at her.

Visitors: Once we got settled in our new room, our parents and Emma came in to see Maggie. We waited until they saw Maggie to tell them her name and stats. Our poor families had to wait almost four hours before they knew any details which I am sure drove them crazy. On Saturday, Blake and his girlfriend Kinsey visited along with my co-worker/friend, Aimee and her daughter Simone.

Nursing: This is probably the most disappointing aspect of our hospital stay. Like Emma, Maggie didn't latch on well and when she did, it was constant biting. Through the night on Friday was the worst, I was sobbing from the extreme pain and knew this isn't what it was supposed to feel like. The nurse we had was super sweet, but she was a "floater" nurse and not a pediatrics nurse, so therefore she  just had me nurse through the pain before trying other things or getting a lactation consultant. It wasn't until the very end that I said I needed a shield, I couldn't do this anymore. By the time our next nurse started, she realized I was bleeding, cracked and starting to scab over and really worked with us on trying to latch with the shield. Even with the shield, it was beyond painful because of the damage done earlier. Luckily, we got a great lactation consultant that worked with us up until we left.

Heading home: We were itching to get out of the hospital and head home to Emma by Sunday morning (Mother's Day). Luckily this time around, we were able to leave at 11:00 a.m. Prior to leaving, Matt's parents came to visit again before heading back to Litchfield. We also got the all clear from my OB and the pediatrician. Then it was up to us to get packed up, Maggie ready and get the official discharge instructions from the nurse. Unlike her sister, Maggie slept the whole way home and didn't mind her car seat at all.

Maggie wore the same outfit home that my mom, myself and Emma all wore home from the hospital. 

Once home, big sister Emma (and Nana) were there to welcome us. Emma was so excited that she got right in the car to greet Maggie. My mom was nice enough to stick around and help for a little bit after so we could get unpacked, Emma lunch and get us all comfortable to do this on our own. Emma was able to hold Maggie and watch her a little bit before needing to go down for a nap, which resulted in her first major meltdown since Maggie's arrival.

Maggie's Birth Story

I was 39 weeks and 1 day on Friday, May 8, when we were scheduled to be induced to meet our second baby girl. It was just like any other day in our household: getting us all ready, out the door and Emma to Nana's. Except this day we were dropping her off as a family of three and next time we would see Emma, we would be a family of four with two daughters.

Let me say this on Maggie's delivery: thank goodness it was NOTHING like my pregnancy. To be honest, if we were to have more and I could be guaranteed not to have another pregnancy like I did but have a similar labor and delivery, I would have another in a heartbeat. (Ssshhh….don't tell Matt!) It was quick and pretty uneventful.

We checked into the hospital at 7:30 and were taken to where I would labor and deliver. The hospital is under construction, so you labor and deliver on the Birthways floor, but recovery is in the new part of the hospital so that construction isn't disrupting the baby and family. Our room had a window being installed next door and you could hear construction guys out replacing the brick, it wasn't crazy loud or bothersome since I was clearly pre-occupied, but can see why the move us once the baby is born.

Dr. Lines came in and broke my water at 9:05 a.m. and I was 90% effaced, five centimeters and her head was so incredibly low. She said again that she thought I would have had her by now and that while she was at the hospital the weekend before, she made notes in my files that if I were to come in with contractions 10-12 minutes apart, to keep me and call her. I was relieved when she said she wasn't wanting to do Pitocin (nor was I) and thought contractions would come on their own in the next two hours. She knew I wanted an epidural eventually and encouraged me that if I wanted to not miss the window of getting one, to request it the minute I start getting uncomfortable.

At 10:45 and by the second "lap" of the hallway, I started feeling a lot of pressure and felt like I could feel her head dropping. I was done and ready to hang out in the room for the rest of it. At 11:15 contractions were coming five to seven minutes apart and getting painful. I requested the epidural and started getting hooked up to fluids at 11:40. Matt told me I better request it now and reminded me that I could miss the chance for it if I waited much longer. The anesthesiologist came and administered the epidural at 12:20 (exact same time I had one with Emma) and by then the contractions were three to five minutes apart. This time around I couldn't feel anything - no pressure or urge to push.

Dr. Lines came to check me at 1:25 and laughed and said I was nine and half centimeters and pretty much complete. She said the epidural was the magic drug for me and must relax me enough to dilate so fast. Dr. Lines had our nurse get everything ready and call the baby's nurse to the room, she would be back in five minutes to deliver. Matt and I laughed and looked at each other not thinking it was going to be that fast again.

At 1:30 Dr. Lines was back in the room and we started pushing. Again, I had no idea when I was having a contraction, so she told me when to push. After 10 minutes and seven pushes later, our little Maggie Claire was born at 1:40 measuring 21.5 inches and 8 pounds 11.5 ounces. She was healthy and perfect.

I told you it was quick and uneventful. The most happened post delivery as I lost quite a bit of blood and my uterus wasn't contracting. I started getting light-headed and they handed Maggie to Matt while they gave me a shot (Hemabate) in both my cervix and thigh to help. It took about 30 minutes to get the bleeding to normal and for my uterus to start contracting. Honestly, this was the most painful part of day. By this time my epidural had worn off and they were pushing on my stomach constantly during this 30 minutes - I was crying and shrieking in pain. It's bad enough when they do it every hour after delivery, but to have it be constant right after was enough to send me over the edge.

The next few hours were getting everything under control, getting me up and walking around, Maggie cleaned up and measured and things together to move rooms.

Stay tuned for Emma meeting Maggie for the first time, visitors and the rest of our hospital stay…..

Introducing Maggie Claire

Our new little princess has arrived and we are so excited to introduce everyone to:

Maggie Claire Shoultz

Birthday: May 8, 2015 at 1:40 p.m.

Weight: 8 lbs 11.5 oz

Length: 21.5 inches

We got home yesterday and are adjusting to our new normal as a family of four. As always, we thank our family and friends for all the well wishes and prayers. 

38 Weeks and Appointment

I had my 38 week appointment on Thursday, the 30th and was convinced I would be at 5 cm and they would send me straight to the hospital. No dice. I was still at a 4 cm but she was lower than she was the week before. My OB walked in and laughed telling me she was convinced I would have had her by now. So did I. We scheduled to be induced on Friday, May 8 at 39 weeks 1 day. Why are we inducing prior to my due date? First is the stress and pain my body has been under the last 20 weeks and it is at the worst. I can hardly walk without tears or wincing in pain. Second is her fear that I will go so fast (with how low she is) and she wants to have some control over that. She has stressed to me that the moment my water breaks or that contractions really start getting 10 minutes apart, I need to get to the hospital as soon as possible. I prefer not giving birth at home or on the side of the road. So if this little girl doesn't come on her own by Friday, we will be getting induced. I so badly wish for her to come on her own as I want to know how that is and feels, but at the same time, I am going to listen to my doctor that I trust wholeheartedly. I thought she would come prior to Friday, but now am convinced we will end up getting induced.

For now, I am taking it easy as much as I can and enjoying time with Matt and Emma.

Weight gain with Emma: 22 lbs     Baby #2: 25 lbs

Letter to Emma Before She Becomes a Big Sister

To my sweet baby girl,

We are down to the final few weeks (or days!) until you become a big sister, your dad and I become the parents of two little girls and we become a family of four. It seems like just yesterday we welcomed you into our lives and since that day, you have been our absolute world. You have brought us the most love, joy and happiness we could ever possibly imagine. Every day your dad or I say to each other "Can you believe she is ours?" or "How lucky are we?".

I have been super nostalgic and emotional as I realize how fast you are growing, how you no longer are a baby or how I don't want you to feel neglected or replaced (that just kills me that you could be sad from this). But your daddy keeps reminding me how you will ALWAYS be our baby girl, our first born and the one that started our family. For that, you will hold a special place forever in our hearts. He also reminds me that although you are growing, how neat it is that we get to see you grow, learn and become your own person. We have both said that we are going to do our best to give you as much 1:1 time as we can when your little sister comes. You in no way are ever replaceable. Ever.

These next few months are about to get crazy Emma, but your dad and I are going to try our best to make it an easy transition for you. So bear with us as we adjust to having two girls under the age of two and as we figure out how to make our family of four functional. It is going to be difficult at first and hard on all of us as we adjust. But there will come a day when you can't imagine life without your little sister. You two are about to go on an amazing journey in this life and we can't wait to watch and guide you along the way.

I am so excited to see you become a big sister. Seeing you with your little baby dolls is so sweet and giving us small glimpses as to what you will be like with your sister. We can't wait for you to meet your sister for the first time and for you to hold and kiss her. You are going to be an incredible big sister. You already have so much love for everyone around you, that I know you will just love on your sister.

You my little girl, are so incredibly loved and cherished. From your favorite book "I (we) love you through and through…yesterday, today and tomorrow too".

Love,
Mommy