Baby Emma Joy

After feeling like I might be pregnant forever, Emma Joy decided to make her appearance last Friday, March 25, 2011.  While she certainly took her time deciding to arrive (10 days late!), she was not hasty in coming, once her decision was made.  I had been up all night having contractions, and about 7am my water broke.  Kevin and I grabbed all our things and quickly skedaddled.  This put us right into morning traffic, but my dear husband was having none of it.  With contractions now coming every three minutes, he made several passes on the shoulder, was in and out of the carpool lane crossing the double line, and on the off ramp, he drove on the shoulder once more, waving and shouting "baby, baby" out the window.   Under normal circumstances this all might drive me to strangle him, but not that morning.  As I tried desperately to get comfortable in the front seat, wailing and screaming in pain, the biggest fear on my mind was not that I would have this baby in my spiffy new minivan, but that I would not get to the hospital with enough time to have an epidural.  When we arrived at Swedish, I made sure everyone in Labor and Delivery knew I wanted one, stat.  Well, for whatever reason, it didn't work (oddly, when Grace was born we were in the same situation, but there was enough time for a second epidural which did work.  Not so this time!), and I delivered Miss Emma Joy Kincaid without a single drug, a total opposite experience from the first time around.  In hindsight, I am thankful for this, but certainly wasn't at the time.  Kevin will tell you that I shouted some ridiculous, funny, and not so nice phrases that morning, but at 8:51am when our second little miracle came into this world weighing 8lb 5oz and measuring 19.4cm, none of that mattered, nor does it now.  We are a family of four with two adorable and precious little girls.  Life just can't be any sweeter.      

There are no words that can describe the feeling of having your baby placed on your chest for the first time.  Hearing those tiny little sounds and seeing those precious eyes looking at you....it's heaven.  All the pain and agony of the previous hours is forgotten as you are lost in awe and amazement at this gift God has just placed in your arms.  In those first few moments, I was overcome with a feeling of love and appreciation for my blessings.  Kevin and I talked about what a sweet spot we are at in life, and how incredibly blessed we are. 

Now that we are a week into this, sleep deprived and drained, I am still in awe of just how precious life is.  My biggest fear when I found out I was pregnant was that I wouldn't be able to balance my love and attention between two kids.  Fortunately, God knows what He is doing, and has given me more than enough love to spread between them.  He has also placed some incredibly special people in my life who have helped make the past few weeks of this transition as smooth and painless as possible, particularly for Grace.  She is so lucky to be loved so much by such wonderful people, family and friends alike.  Kevin and I have the best moms in the world who love us and our children in a way I am only beginning to understand.  We are so lucky to be learning from them how to be parents. 

Due Date

Still no sign of Baby Emma, even though today is her predicted debut.  I'm getting pretty impatient.  Very uncomfortable and anxious to meet this baby.  In the meantime, life goes on.  Nana Carolyn is here, which has been a huge help with Grace.  They have been entertaining each other, giving me a little break to relax and put my feet up now and then.  I'm pretty sure Grace senses something major is coming, as she has been a little ornery and clingy.  She loves to kiss and hug my tummy, which is so cute.  Last week, she and I got our pictures taken together and got a shot of that.  So precious!

Some of Grace's new things to say in the last few days are: "I see .... (insert whatever she sees), kuck (truck...which she loves!), what happened?,  read book, fun, sing (which she loves to do, and sometimes she even sings the correct words to songs at the correct time!), walk park, want some? (as she hands you something she'd like to share with you), goona (good...ask her how she's doing, she will usually tell you, goona), and teeth."  She loves to say "cheese" anytime someone holds up a phone, as she believes she is having her picture taken almost all the time.  So funny.  Can't wait til she can start teaching her little sister everything she knows!  Until then, patience will have to be the answer!!

I'm now a minivan mom, which I swore I'd never be.  However, with two little kids in car seats and all the "baggage" that goes along with that, we figured it was the best option for our family.  I have to say, I'm really excited about the conveniences and luxuries this vehicle has.  It's pretty sweet.  It doesn't remind me of the Dodge Caravan that I learned how to drive in, and I don't feel frumpy in it because it's actually pretty sporty and sleek.  Minivans have come a long way, and for that I am thankful! Looking forward to family road trips, a little more ease in my day-to-day outings, and having the extra room to pile in more friends and family! 

"Cheese" at breakfast time!

Sunday Morning

I love relaxing mornings at home.  Lucky for me I have a little girl who loves to snooze in the morning, so I can ease into my day quietly.  Grace is currently singing along to Sesame Street while I enjoy my coffee.  She and I are so alike in the morning - we are not morning girls!  We need our space!  Kevin went to the airport to pick up his mom who will be here to help out for awhile - looking forward to having an extra person on hand, especially when we need to go to the hospital.  Wish that would be today!

Thursday morning I was doing laundry and our washing machine broke.  Of course the repairman can't make it out til Wednesday.  I am so thankful for my dear friend Sarah who took some of my laundry home and did it for me, as well as my mom who has done the same thing.  When Grace was born, our dishwasher was broken.  At the time I thought it was devastating, now I think I would gladly take a broken dishwasher over a broken washing machine!  It could always be worse, though, and we aren't given more than we can handle.  I was sort of hoping this would be a sign that I would go into labor, though, but so far, nothing!

I am so amazed at Grace's vocabulary.  It almost seems like she learns a new word every hour!  She is saying so many little phrases, such as "where are you?" and "here I come!"  When we ask her how she is doing, she responds with "goona" (good), unless she's not happy.  She likes to tell us if she is having "fun" but of course the dreaded "no" sneaks in sometimes, too.  Par for the course.  This week she got a new shape sorting puzzle game, and I can't believe how well she puts the pieces together.  She also can put her pants on all by herself (she can't however get them over her patootie, so it's funny to watch her walk around after she has dressed herself!), and she really enjoys brushing her hair and teeth.  She does a beautiful job, I might add.  She listens and catches on to so many things, and follows directions very well, too.  Except not always in the evenings.....lately it seems like evenings are her ornery time.  She can be very temperamental and grumpy.  As frustrating as it can be, I do appreciate that these moments rarely happen during the day and that she is such a good, sweet little girl.  Can't wait to see her turn into a big sister!