December 30, 2010

It all started on December 22, really. That was the due date for our Sweetpea, and I was ready... or so I thought!

Well that day passed, and I was praying praying praying one prayer - "Please, Lord, just not Christmas day!" Well... my family came for Christmas to our new little house (that we so love) and Christmas came and went with no action.

I ate pineapple, I drank Raspberry tea, I walked and walked, I sat under the freezing full moon... all to no avail. So finally, on December 30 - a week after my due date - I was laying dejectedly on the bed... huge, and at 41 weeks gestation. I felt like an elephant.

Will decided to call our OBGYN - who happens to go to church with us - and ask if we could possibly (please say yes) induce.

His words: "Oh yes, I think that a week past her due date is long enough to wait..." Hallelujah!

He then informed us that we should go ahead and head to the hospital that very moment, and that he would be back in town from his vacation in time to deliver our New Year's Eve Eve surprise!

So at 5:00 p.m. on December 29 I was induced. I labored for 13 1/2 hours, and was finally told at 8:30 a.m. that I could begin to push. They told me that I was a good pusher, by the way.

At 9:06 a.m. Dr. Phillips held up our sweet baby and Will told me, "It's a girl!" There's no was to accurately describe the immense relief, joy, or amazement that I felt in that one moment.

Without further ado, introducing Susanna Gwendolyn Stanford (we're calling her Anna Lynn)

8 pounds - 4 ounces, 20 1/2 inches long, brown hair, blue eyes, beautiful gift from the Lord!

Ganne and Aunt Sus said we had to have a bow!

Daddy had a cold...

I loved having my hair brushed!

Swaddled... enough said

Happy Mommy!