Sunday, June 6, 2010

Linnea Mae's Homebirth

Linnea's birth story begins the morning of her birth day. We started the day with a walk on the beach with my Dad, Madeline, and a friend and her baby girl. It was a beautiful day and we walked and chatted and enjoyed the morning. I had been having Braxton Hicks contractions for a day and a half by this point and I had to slow down once or twice to breathe through the contractions. I could feel that this baby would be coming soon but I had no idea how the rest of my day would play out.

After stopping at the playground for a little while, we all headed home for lunch and a nap. On the drive home I had a couple of contractions that felt a little stronger and different. They were still really mild, but noticeable and felt more like real contractions, starting low in the belly and wrapping around to my back. After I put Madeline down for her nap I gave my dad a few babysitting instructions, made myself lunch and went upstairs to take a nap. Unfortunately I had so many things running through my mind that I wasn't able to sleep. So instead I ran myself a bath and soaked in the tub. Heavenly!

At 2:30pm I was hanging out in bed, resting and watching tv when I felt a contraction that was so intense that I had to stand up to work through it. It was like flipping a switch and suddenly my labor was on. I called Erik at work and told him that I thought labor was starting and I wanted him to come home. I wasn't having consistent contractions yet but the ones I was having were very strong. I called my midwife and doula to let them know that things were starting. Erik arrived home around 3pm and found me in the bathroom vocalizing through a contraction. I was so happy to see him because in the last 15 minutes my labor went from irregular to contractions every 4-5 minutes, each one lasting over a minute and very strong. Erik freaked a little seeing how hard I was already working. He realized, though I did not at the time, that I was pretty far into labor. All I wanted at the time was some counter-pressure on my back but Erik was busy trying to get the bed ready and putting plastic and towels down on the floor.

Things moved really quickly and by 3:40pm, Erik called my midwives and doula and asked them to come over. Jamin, La Shel and Kani all arrived at one time around 4pm as I was stepping in the shower trying to get some relief from these crazy contractions. After only a few minutes in the shower I wanted to get in the bath to try and relieve some of the pressure in my back. I told my doula, Kani, that these contractions were way too intense for this early in labor. I had been a little worried about how I would handle labor this time around and I really thought I was just being a weeny about the pain. I realize now looking back that I was in transition and everyone knew it but me. I was only in the bath for a few minutes when I started feeling pushy. So I got out of the bath and made my way over to the bed. I was standing next to the bed, leaning over a big pile of pillows when my water broke. My midwife checked me at this point and I was 8cm! Thank God! I climbed on the bed and spend the next 20 minutes on my side vocalizing very loudly through my contractions while my wonderful doula put counter-pressure on my back. I absolutely loved her for that. Then my body started involuntarily pushing at the peak of each contraction. When I asked if it was okay that I was pushing, I was reassured that it was fine and just to follow what my body was telling me. After a few more contractions like this, my body was full out pushing and there was nothing I could do to stop it. I was, and still am, absolutely amazed by the power of my body and this involuntary pushing. I could feel my baby moving down with each push. 10 minutes and 3 contractions later I birthed my 8lb 3 oz baby girl into my midwife's hands. She was immediately placed on my chest and in my arms. I saw her take her first breath and make her first cry in my arms. It was love at first sight! She was so big and beautiful and had tons of vernix on her back. Linnea Mae was born after a crazy and intense 2 and 1/2 hour labor on May 26th at 5:01pm.

This is how I started May 26th


5:01pm Linnea Mae was born in our bed


Her first breastfeeding


Getting checked out


My amazing birth team


My beautiful family


Love at first sight


Proud Opa


Comparing our girls (yep, that is Madeline on the computer screen)


Sweet sleeping girl


Linnea Mae

Madeline's 19 Month Photos

We had some photos taken of Madeline last month and we finally got them in. Mad was in such a grumpy mood that morning and it was a pretty gray day so I wasn't sure how they would turn out. But I am so pleased and think these photos are so cute! Here are a few...


Beautiful Madeline


If you're happy and you know it...


All smiles :)


Daddy's girl


Our family of three

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Our new arrival...

Linnea Mae Kolberg is here!! Linnea was born at home in our bed on May 26th at 5:01pm. She is a beautiful 8lbs 3 oz and 21 inches. I love her little chubby cheeks!! We are so blessed to have 2 gorgeous girls! More pics and birth story to come...


Chubby cheeked Linnea Mae


Mommy and Linnea - one day old

Friday, May 21, 2010

39 weeks

I have now been pregnant for 39 weeks, 3 days, 13 hours, 2 minutes, and a number of seconds that are slowly ticking by. Not that I'm keeping track or anything. My iPregnancy app says that Baby Linnea is full term and that labor can begin at any time. Well hello Baby! Mommy's ready!!

My body handles pregnancy really well so I've just in the last week or so reached that very uncomfortable stage. You know, the I'm-so-big-and-gigantic-that-I-can-barely-move stage. Before last week I was thinking that this baby was smaller than Madeline but now I'm not so sure. My due date is on Friday so I'm hoping Baby Linnea decides to join our world before then. But who knows, I could be pregnant for the next two and a half weeks.

As my time with only Madeline winds down, I'm feeling a little sad. Madeline is so sweet and special to me that a part of me is mourning the loss of it just being the two of us. I won't have as much time to spend one on one with her. I won't be able to give her my undivided attention like I do now. But I am looking forward to this new baby girl that I have been carrying around for the last 9 months. I know that it might be a difficult transition, but I think Madeline will be a great big sister. And hopefully, they will be best friends.


39 weeks


38 weeks


37 weeks


Just for fun! - 33 weeks


32 weeks


27 weeks


22 weeks

Monday, May 17, 2010

Getting Ready for Baby

We have been busy lately trying to get our house in order and the baby room ready. Our house is still not in order (its a work in progress) but the baby room is finally, mostly ready.

I love the green we picked for her walls. It's so pretty. The bedding I picked is so cute. It is white with green, pink, orange and brown polka dots and butterflies. Love it! The rocking chair Opa bought for Madeline goes so well with everything. We moved Madeline into a big girl bed (pics coming soon) about a month ago so we're reusing the crib and dresser for this baby.

Okay, baby. We're ready for you!






Friday, May 14, 2010

The Smartest Girl on the Block

So Erik got an iPad. If you know Erik, then you are now thinking, "Well of course Erik got an iPad!" To make amends for getting the iPad, Erik has downloaded several fun toddler games that he has introduced to Madeline. And she LOVES them! She asks all day long for her "iPo". Here is a little video I took of her today playing one of her games. My Madeline is so smart!!!


Saturday, May 1, 2010

Wild Animal Park

A couple of weeks ago Madeline, Nana, and I went to the Wild Animal Park. We especially wanted to see the Butterfly Exhibit which is only open for 4 weeks a year. While we were there we found out why. The poor, beautiful butterflies only live for 4 weeks. We had a wonderful time seeing all the butterflies flying around and tried very hard not to step on them. One even landed on Nana's hand! It was such a fun day hanging out with Nana and seeing all the animals!



Beautiful butterflies!


This one landed on Nana


Like Madeline would say, "Wow, cool!"


This one really blended in to the concrete. The outside of its wings were not very pretty but the inside were a beautiful periwinkle blue.


More butterflies


Madeline and Nana


Looking at the lions