HOT baby!

Notice the missing cord stump! An innie like mommy and daddy.

We are finally alone as our little family. We have a week until David and Linda arrive. Cory left Wednesday (driving straight through to Salt Lake in 14 hours!) and Dick and Donna left yesterday morning. It was really nice having the extra help during the transition. Funny that Dick and Donna came all the way from Phoenix to enjoy the hottest days in recorded history in Western Washington! Cory left just in time as Wednesday peaked at 104 degrees...THE hottest day ever up here. Things are cooling down now so that it is bearable.
Follow up at the pediatrician today went great. Michelle has surpassed her birth weight, gaining 9 oz in 1 week! 7lb 12 oz today. Not surprising to me considering how much she's at my breast! So far, my breasts are holding up to her demands remarkably well. She weathered her final heel poke for metabolic screening with the traumatic scream of death.
I have worked up to walking the full loop around Titlow park with Michelle and Io which makes me feel a lot more balanced. I worked so hard to stay in shape during pregnancy that "taking it easy" has been a real mental and physical challenge.


Proud Martin Grandparents!

1 week old!

Starting to try out little outings. Yesterday, Cory and I took Michelle to my office. Of course, an office full of nurses were very happy to get their baby fix for the day! This morning, Donna and I took Michelle for her first ride in her stroller down to Titlow beach. She seemed to enjoy the ride in a quiet-alert state with one feeding break while throwing the ball for Io. I was especially glad to take a short walk. I was so active during the pregnancy that convalescing has been difficult this week.

Michelle and Mommy's first outdoor adventure!

Hear no evil...

Grandma Donna gets her baby fix

Great auntie Tammy gets her baby fix

Do we look a little sleep deprived???

5 says old!

Everyone loves auntie Cory!

Talk to the hand...I'm busy!

Who's sleepy now?

Our little Michelle is just doing great! We are absolutely enamored with her every step of the way. Breastfeeding is going great too! My milk came in in full force on Friday and we are both enjoying it immensely. Barry and I are a bit sleep deprived which is to be expected. But with all the help right now, we are finding plenty of time for catch-up naps. Dick and Donna arrived Friday evening planning for a week-long stay and Cory will be here until Wednesday.

Our little girl!!!

Yes, she is here! Our precious Michelle Nancy arrived Tuesday afternoon July 21st at 3:55PM. We could not have asked for a better birth experience. Cory arrived in Tacoma Sunday which made her timing absolutely perfect.
I went into labor about 3:00 AM on July 21st. We met our doula and midwife at The Birthing Inn at 9:00 AM. Every step of the way, they were amazing. I was unable to keep fluids down due to labor nausea and our midwife Susan immediately recognized the importance of getting me intravenous hydration which was easily accomplished right then and there. In the final hour, the bath tub was filled and at 3:55 PM I gave birth to our little Michelle Nancy in the water, just as we had planned all along. Four hours later, we were clear to go home, or stay in the beautiful birthing suite for up to 24 hours. We decided to go home. That night, we slept as a family together, in our bed, in our home. All the pain, all the work, so worth every step of the way. I could not have done it without such an impeccable team: Barry, Cory, our doula Kelli Hancock, and midwives Susan Sherwood and Amy Gordon. Our thanks go to everyone at "The Birthing Inn" for truly making Michelle's entrance into the world warm, safe, and beautiful. I cannot say enough accolades for everything they did to make the birth experience OUR birth. Thank you also to all of the friends and family for all your love and support along the way. A new adventure begins!

Due date photo shoot

Barry lost his baby while I grew mine over the last 40 weeks!

Due Date!

40 weeks today. I will post some pictures later...after I get Barry to take some! I think our little girl is waiting for auntie Cory to show up on Sunday because I am sooo ready to be un-pregnant. I am now up 4-5 times at night to pee and my pubic bone feels like it is ready to split apart. And now the heat is back! Almost 90 today, no air conditioning, dark house paint and west-facing windows. The nice thing is that the outdoor pool Olympic length pool at Titlow is open so we've had some nice swims this week.
Barry and I made a "due date" date tonight and will be going out to dinner and possibly a movie. Each day could be the last opportunity for anything "just the two of us"!

39 weeks...still waiting

Here we are at 39 weeks. Another day. I always thought she might come a little early, but now I am thinking it is way more likely she will be a late bloomer. Having contractions all the time, but there is nothing consistent about them. Sometimes I get one that is strong, but it is not followed by anything significant. So the waiting continues. Good news is that I got her to spin around to the Left side which is a more optimal birth position. Hopefully that will make things easier on mommy when she does decide to make her grand entrance. I think Barry and I are finally set on the name, which is the name we came up with originally. Sorry all you naysayers that think it is "too common" or "boring". At least all her teachers will be able to pronounce and spell it!

Michelle Nancy Martin
Michelle Nancy Martin
Michelle Nancy Martin
Michelle Nancy Martin

4th of July

Barry took these pictures from our roof last night. We debated if it was worth the risk of me climbing on the roof, but the ladder was stable and the roof slope mild. The fireworks in the pictures were set off by our neighbors. Barry used the tripod and opened up the shutter for 8 seconds to capture the great shots. We had a great show!

Pregnant Ballet at 38 weeks

This was performed last night in my sad attempt to induce labor. No, it didn't work. But it did give Barry a huge laugh! I checked baby's heart rate after with my doppler, no distress noted although my pelvis felt rather distressed this morning!

The "Birthing Inn"

On Sunday, I finally got Barry to watch The Business of Being Born and he immediately said "We can't do it in the hospital! Is it too late to have a home birth?" Hello! That's why I had been trying to get him to watch the film for the past 2 months! Luckily, thanks to our well connected resourceful Doula, she gave us the names of a couple midwives that deliver home births and at "The Birthing Inn", a free-standing birth center. I interviewed a midwife who is pretty full but said she could certainly accomodate a birth at the center, though it would be logistical stretch to commit to a home birth. Also, due to our insurance, it would oddly enough be more expensive for us to have a home birth than at the birth center. Ohhh, but the birth center is so lovely and comfortable AND the mess stays there. We both feel much better about staying out of the hospital. Of course, if medical necessity dictates, we could be transferred to the hospital. Check out the link for a tour of "The Birthing Inn"!
I finally feel truly at peace that we will be making this experience our own.