Elise Camille Broadbent

What a perfect day!  We moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan 2 weeks ago (tomorrow) and I have been diligently getting everything settled into our new place.  We absolutely love it here, by the way!  Last night I finished organizing my room and hall closet and thought "now I can have this baby." The night before that I got out all of the baby clothes and put them in her dresser.  Anyway, I woke up this morning around 5:30am feeling a little sore around my waist and lower back.  I rolled over and tried to fall back asleep.  I felt it again soon after and it occurred to me that maybe it was a contraction so I checked the time.  sure enough, it went away and came back again a few minutes later.  I waited through a few more contractions before saying anything to Mark.  For the next hour I felt them pretty consistently 3-4 minutes apart.  We got up, got ready for the day, made a few phone calls, ate breakfast (My favorite, Marshmellow Mateys!), my friend showed up, and then we left to the hospital.  The contractions slowed down to about 15-20 minutes apart but were a bit more intense.  They checked me, admitted me, and around 9:45 I got my epidural and they broke my water.  I love that epidural.  I was so comfortable and relaxed.  My contractions were still about 7-10 minutes apart so they gave me a little pitocin.  It wasn't long before I buzzed the nurses and told them I was going to start pushing so they better hurry up.  I had to encourage them a little because they didn't quite believe me.  I had Elise at 12:27pm.  Mark got to deliver her.  The room was so relaxed.  I got to watch the whole thing and it only took a few pushes.  They set the baby on my chest and waited a minute before Mark cut the cord and then I just kept her on my chest for an hour or so.  I loved how relaxed the whole experience was.  I didn't feel any pain and yet I could feel enough to know when and how to push.  I had a full night's rest beforehand.  I had a good breakfast before and I pushed her out just in time for lunch :).  I guess the only thing that could have gone a little smoother is if the nurses hadn't had to prick me 3 times trying to get the IV in before handing me off to the anesthesiologist to do it right.

Another upside is my dear friend, Laura, moved to GR last year and is a lactation consultant in the same hospital.  She got to come see me right after the baby was born.  She was also working at the same hospital on the same day where I delivered Maren.  It's so nice to have good friends close by, especially when the rest of our family is so far away!

The kids got to stop by today.  They love their little sister already.  Maren would not leave her side, saying "Lees, Lees" whenever I asked her to come over to me instead.  Mark is home with them right now.  So hopefully he can have a good night's rest tonight! 

The timing is perfect too--she is a week early (just like Noah was) which is perfect because Mark starts work on her actual due date (June 14). 

Baby stats: 7 lbs 1oz. chubby cheeks (comparatively, of course), 19 inches long, tons of dark blonde hair.  eats, sleeps, and poops.  full, luscious lips.  absolutely perfect.  Welcome Elise!