Claire is here

Claire Madison Chesser is finally here and it has taken me 5 weeks to post a birth story and pictures! It has been a big adjustment and i think we are finally getting on a litle bit of a schedule and get used to each other. So here is a quick birth story and some pics!

4/30/09 ~ We arrived at the hospital at 9am and registered. 9:30am i'm taken to my room to change, meet the anesthesiologist, my and nurses. 11am Cory and i are walked to the OR. He waits outside while i am prepped. My anesthesiologist was unable to give me a full spinal so i had 4 local injections to numb the area. The ansthesiologist also ended up giving me a medication so i wouldn't feel any pain. But it ended up making me incoherent and i don't remember much.

I remember Cory coming into the OR, hearing Claire cry then i went to sleep. It took me about 3 hours to come to completely and see clearly. Everything and everyone was blurry for quite a while. It was frustrating not being able to see Claire or hold her. But she was worth the wait and now i can't put her down.

Claire is a blessing and we are all thankful for her. We are all in love with her. Chloie is like a little mommy to her. She doesn't like anyone else to hold her but her. She loves to feed her and help bathe her.

Claire is now 5wks old and she is becoming so alert. She knows mine, Cory and Chloie's voice.
At her 3wk dr appointment she weighed 7 lb 12oz and was 20in long. She goes back 6/23 so i will update then w/her new weight and length. Now for some
pics!

Birth Day 4/30/09

1 Week

2 Weeks

3 Weeks

4 Weeks

5 Weeks

1 Month

37 Week Appt

Chloie and I just got back form the Dr. Normal OB Visit. She checked me and said i was dilated to a 1. Told me to go home and do some walking if i feel like it. We scheduled the c-section for the April 30th if she doesn't come by then. We were trying for May 1st but the hospital is already booked up that day. So By next Thursday Miss Claire will be here!

37 Weeks

37 weeks down, 3 weeks left! (I'm hoping for less!!) She's full term now! Woohoo!! Now you can come anytime Claire! Mommy and daddy are anxiously awaiting to meet you!!!

Symptoms: Contractions off and on, nothing regular though, come on get regular!! Nesting
Still having all the typical/normal pre/early labor symptoms too

Cravings:Pineapples

Thirty-seven weeks
* She is official full term now but can still benefit from extra days in the womb.
* Your baby continues to practice breathing movements. Isn't it amazing how she can breathe "under water?"
* Grasp is firm now. It won't be long until you'll feel that strong little fist confidently grasping your finger (or tightly clenching your hair)!
* A few weeks ago, your baby would move her eyes toward light. Now she turns towards light outside the uterus.
* " As the uterine wall stretches and thins allowing more light to permeate, she develops definite daily activity cycles. You will want to be sure to establish good patterns yourself at this time, thus encouraging them in your child. Ever heard of a baby getting her days/nights mixed up? Now's the time to try to avoid that!
* This week, the average size is about 6.3 pounds (2859gm) now and 19.1 inches (48.6cm) length. (average size about the size of a Swiss Chard)

Bath time

I was so excited yesterday to finally find Miss Claire a bath tub! For the last few weeks every time i go to Wal-Mart, Target or Babies r Us they have been out of the type of bath tub I'm looking for. Yesterday Chloie and i made a quick trip to Wal-Mart and decided to see if they had any in stock. We finally found one!

I had one almost just like this with Chloie and loved it so i was determined to find another!
Just had to share Claire's new tub!

36 weeks

I'm 9 months!!!! I'm so anxious, excited & nervous!

Symptoms: Restlessness, fatigue, major heartburn still , unable to sleep/get comfy, thirstiness, false labor off and on, stretching pains, leg cramps, back pain and hip pain.

Cravings: Pineapple, Chocolate, Orange Juice


Claire: Is def. a mover. She loves moving like crazy person! I swear she's trying to let herself out. She's like superman, ya know how he extends his arms and flies through things? Well this lil baby does that with his feet through my ribs/side/belly. Sometimes it hurts! She's a lil strong one. Wonder if her personality outside of the womb will be similar to now...a mover, a hiccup-per.

Thirty Six Weeks


*Your baby is almost ready and most likely, so are you! The only organ still to mature is the lungs. While certainly you are both growing anxious to meet, remember that each day (up to 42 weeks), that your little one stays within your womb will multiply his chances to breathe on his own.
*If he hasn't already, this week your baby may drop into the birth canal. While breathing for mom becomes easier, walking may be the exact opposite! If he's not your first baby, this "lightening" may not occur until right before labor.
*Fat is dimpling your baby's elbows and knees, and forming creases in the neck and wrists.
*His skin is growing smooth and, shall we say it, "baby" soft.
*His gums are very rigid. It won't be many months before you'll see his teeth.
*He has a fully developed pair of kidneys and his liver has begun processing some waste products.
*Your child's average size is now 18.66 inches (47.4cm) and 5.78 pounds (2622 g). Between now and birth he will gain about an ounce a day! He's about the size of a crenshaw melon:

Back from the dr

I'm back from the dr. First was the ultrasound to check Claire's weight and position. She is still head down and in position and weighs 5lbs 14oz so almost 6lbs! I'm not dilated. We are scheduling a c-section for May 1st incase i do not go into labor. So 2 more weeks left i can't believe it!

Nursery

Here are a few pics of the nursery!