If you didn't know, Nick's nickname in college was Giggles. Saturday, February 28, 2009
Ellie and Mallie
So Mallie seems to be cool with Ellie. A little afraid of her, especially when Ellie is crying (which honestly isn't that often). And Ellie could care less about Mallie. Mallie is a little curious, but she tries to smell her at a distance. So far so good.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Labor and Delivery...a summary
For those that are interested here is a summary of how Ellen came into the world.
I had a doctor's appointment on Wednesday, the 18th, where they checked and told me that I was 3.5 cm dilated. After some monitoring, they informed me that I was also having contractions. Now, my whole pregnancy I was convinced that I would have no idea when labor started and wouldn't feel the early phases of labor. Everyone laughed at me. Well...
Early Thursday morning (2:30 am abouts), I woke up to use the bathroom. Then I felt these very minor cramps which came and went every couple of minutes. Based on my mom's experience with me, we decided to go to the hospital. I barely felt these cramps and was not in any pain. (As a side note, Nick stopped to get gas. I think its funny, his wife is in labor and he stops to get gas. Good thing I wasn't really feeling these contractions!).
When we got to Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, they checked and I was 4.5 cm and having contractions every 5 minutes or so. I really wasn't feeling the contractions. However, I was admitted. My doctor was on call that night and saw me before she finished and told me that I was going to have a baby that day, we just didn't know if it would be 10 am, 3pm, or late at night! I was able to nap quite a bit as I still wasn't feeling contractions. We had to save up our energy for whenever I would start to feel contractions and really have to labor.
We had decided on a midwife birth as I really wanted to have a natural birth without pain meds. My huge needle phobia kept me from wanting someone to stick a needle in my back. Around noon, I still hadn't dialated anymore so the midwife decided to break my water to get things moving. I still wasn't feeling any contractions. Around 5 they checked me again and I hadn't changed much. Since my water was broken we couldn't let labor progress this slowly so they started with Pitocin to jump-start things. I still hadn't felt a contraction.
Earlier in the day an anesthesiologist came in to discuss pain control options and what woudl happen if we needed an emergency C-section. His converstaion about how an epidural was done almost made me hurl. However, he did inform me that only 10% of women at this hospital give birth naturally without any pain meds. I was shocked at this, 10%?
At 7:30 I started to feel some contractions. I was about at 6.5 cm now and the Pitocin was definitely kicking in. When 'My Name is Earl' started I was definitely feeling contractions, however they weren't that painful, and started to labor by walking around and leaning on the bed. We made it through 'Kath and Kim' and right when 'The Office' started (9pm EST) I was really feeling the contractions which were coming about every 90 seconds. They stopped the Pitocin sometime during 'Kath and Kim'. At 10:30 I was just about done with this whole contraction thing and the midwife moved me to the bed to check where we were.
We were at 9.5 cm and I had the urge to push. Now, this may be contary to popular belief, but pushing felt great compared to the contractions. It didn't hurt at all. My hips hurt from pulling my knees back, but the whole pushing thing really was a relief. We pushed for one hour until Ellen was born at 11:31pm. And we didn't use any pain meds throughout the whole labor and delivery. I was really proud of myself.
So, I pretty much missed early and active labor and really only felt the last part and hardest part of labor called the transition phase. Not to shabby for a first baby who weighed 8 lb 12 oz !! Susie was in the hospital when Ellen was born and came up to visit for a few minutes after the midwife was finished "fixing" me up. We then moved to the postpartum floor and our room around 1:30am. I think Nick and I got about 2 hours of sleep total...we were so excited to have little Ellen and be a party of three!
I had a doctor's appointment on Wednesday, the 18th, where they checked and told me that I was 3.5 cm dilated. After some monitoring, they informed me that I was also having contractions. Now, my whole pregnancy I was convinced that I would have no idea when labor started and wouldn't feel the early phases of labor. Everyone laughed at me. Well...
Early Thursday morning (2:30 am abouts), I woke up to use the bathroom. Then I felt these very minor cramps which came and went every couple of minutes. Based on my mom's experience with me, we decided to go to the hospital. I barely felt these cramps and was not in any pain. (As a side note, Nick stopped to get gas. I think its funny, his wife is in labor and he stops to get gas. Good thing I wasn't really feeling these contractions!).
When we got to Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, they checked and I was 4.5 cm and having contractions every 5 minutes or so. I really wasn't feeling the contractions. However, I was admitted. My doctor was on call that night and saw me before she finished and told me that I was going to have a baby that day, we just didn't know if it would be 10 am, 3pm, or late at night! I was able to nap quite a bit as I still wasn't feeling contractions. We had to save up our energy for whenever I would start to feel contractions and really have to labor.
We had decided on a midwife birth as I really wanted to have a natural birth without pain meds. My huge needle phobia kept me from wanting someone to stick a needle in my back. Around noon, I still hadn't dialated anymore so the midwife decided to break my water to get things moving. I still wasn't feeling any contractions. Around 5 they checked me again and I hadn't changed much. Since my water was broken we couldn't let labor progress this slowly so they started with Pitocin to jump-start things. I still hadn't felt a contraction.
Earlier in the day an anesthesiologist came in to discuss pain control options and what woudl happen if we needed an emergency C-section. His converstaion about how an epidural was done almost made me hurl. However, he did inform me that only 10% of women at this hospital give birth naturally without any pain meds. I was shocked at this, 10%?
At 7:30 I started to feel some contractions. I was about at 6.5 cm now and the Pitocin was definitely kicking in. When 'My Name is Earl' started I was definitely feeling contractions, however they weren't that painful, and started to labor by walking around and leaning on the bed. We made it through 'Kath and Kim' and right when 'The Office' started (9pm EST) I was really feeling the contractions which were coming about every 90 seconds. They stopped the Pitocin sometime during 'Kath and Kim'. At 10:30 I was just about done with this whole contraction thing and the midwife moved me to the bed to check where we were.
We were at 9.5 cm and I had the urge to push. Now, this may be contary to popular belief, but pushing felt great compared to the contractions. It didn't hurt at all. My hips hurt from pulling my knees back, but the whole pushing thing really was a relief. We pushed for one hour until Ellen was born at 11:31pm. And we didn't use any pain meds throughout the whole labor and delivery. I was really proud of myself.
So, I pretty much missed early and active labor and really only felt the last part and hardest part of labor called the transition phase. Not to shabby for a first baby who weighed 8 lb 12 oz !! Susie was in the hospital when Ellen was born and came up to visit for a few minutes after the midwife was finished "fixing" me up. We then moved to the postpartum floor and our room around 1:30am. I think Nick and I got about 2 hours of sleep total...we were so excited to have little Ellen and be a party of three!
One Week Old
Today is Ellie's official due date. As we know, she came just under a week early. We've had quite a ride this week getting to know each other. Not a lot of sleep. I try and set one goal for the day to accomplish. Today's goals were to take a shower and since it was over 50 degrees out today, go on a walk with Ellie. Both goals were accomplished! We have spent some time at the doctors as Ellie is a little jaundice. However, it appears to be going away.
Her cord fell off on Wednesday, actually at the doctor's office. We are doing a lot of laundry. I was anticipating lots of laundry, but the amount that Ellie decides that she isn't finished when we are changing her diaper is quite astounding! I'm really happy she is a little girl.
We gave her, her first bath this week. She wasn't sure what to think of it but was a real trooper.
She really likes her bouncy seat, as do we. Its pretty awesome as it vibrates and plays music. However, you can hook up your iPod, or other MP3 player, and play music that you actually want to listen to.
We are eating. Susie went grocery shopping for us before we came home from the hospital. And she came over last night to cook dinner. And tonight was Lou Malnati's pizza night, thanks to our good friends Sarah and Joe. They sent us a Malnati's congrats pack with two deep dish pizzas and an adorable onesie. Totally hit the spot.
I'm recovering well. Based on my experience, I understand how our ancestors gave birth without pain meds, however, the recovery process...wow, poor things didn't have any Tylenol (but I guess they had mead...same thing right?).
The funniest thing Ellen does is the startle reflex, which every baby has. When she is startled she extends her arms and legs as far as she can to make herself appear really big (reflex going back to caveman days when babies had to try and protect themselves). She does it so often though, especially on the changing table.
When I was pregnant Barca would get the hiccups everyday. I started feeling the hiccups early, around the 5th month. It was painful for me because I couldn't do anything and this little being in me had the hiccups. They were so bad that at the end of my pregnancy it would move my entire belly! Well, Ellie now has the hiccups everyday. I feel so bad for her as there is nothing we can do. However the vibration in the bouncy seat seems to help a little bit.
I can't stop staring at her and taking photos. We have so many photos of her. Tomorrow's goal is to do an official photo shoot, hopefuly we can cather her while she's awake and have her model some outfits for the grandparents and great-grandparents. And now some photos from this past couple days...
Just needs to grow a little bit more before she can come to work with me.
All bundled up for her first walk...
Flashing her baby blues...probably one of my favorite photos of her so far.
Her cord fell off on Wednesday, actually at the doctor's office. We are doing a lot of laundry. I was anticipating lots of laundry, but the amount that Ellie decides that she isn't finished when we are changing her diaper is quite astounding! I'm really happy she is a little girl.
We gave her, her first bath this week. She wasn't sure what to think of it but was a real trooper.
She really likes her bouncy seat, as do we. Its pretty awesome as it vibrates and plays music. However, you can hook up your iPod, or other MP3 player, and play music that you actually want to listen to.
We are eating. Susie went grocery shopping for us before we came home from the hospital. And she came over last night to cook dinner. And tonight was Lou Malnati's pizza night, thanks to our good friends Sarah and Joe. They sent us a Malnati's congrats pack with two deep dish pizzas and an adorable onesie. Totally hit the spot.
I'm recovering well. Based on my experience, I understand how our ancestors gave birth without pain meds, however, the recovery process...wow, poor things didn't have any Tylenol (but I guess they had mead...same thing right?).
The funniest thing Ellen does is the startle reflex, which every baby has. When she is startled she extends her arms and legs as far as she can to make herself appear really big (reflex going back to caveman days when babies had to try and protect themselves). She does it so often though, especially on the changing table.
When I was pregnant Barca would get the hiccups everyday. I started feeling the hiccups early, around the 5th month. It was painful for me because I couldn't do anything and this little being in me had the hiccups. They were so bad that at the end of my pregnancy it would move my entire belly! Well, Ellie now has the hiccups everyday. I feel so bad for her as there is nothing we can do. However the vibration in the bouncy seat seems to help a little bit.
I can't stop staring at her and taking photos. We have so many photos of her. Tomorrow's goal is to do an official photo shoot, hopefuly we can cather her while she's awake and have her model some outfits for the grandparents and great-grandparents. And now some photos from this past couple days...
Just needs to grow a little bit more before she can come to work with me.
Nick showing affection for his little girl.
Happy and chilling her bouncy seat. You can barely make out the dimples.
All bundled up for her first walk...
Flashing her baby blues...probably one of my favorite photos of her so far. 
Swadled and ready for bed.
A very tired mommy and baby
A very tired mommy and baby
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
More pictures of Ellie...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26038463@N07/
I know this seems a bit lazy.. but until we sit down and write a new blog post, you can find more pictures of Ellen on our Flicker stream. Just click on the above link.
We'll get back to blogging as soon as we can.
-Nick & Ann
I know this seems a bit lazy.. but until we sit down and write a new blog post, you can find more pictures of Ellen on our Flicker stream. Just click on the above link.
We'll get back to blogging as soon as we can.
-Nick & Ann
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Introducing Ellen Calvetti Harrer
We are so excited to announce the birth of Ellen Calvetti Harrer. She arrived at 11:31pm on February 19, 2009. She weighed in at a sturdy 8 lbs 12 oz and was 19 inches long. Below are a handful of some of the hundreds of photos we took while in the hospital. Enjoy!!
Ellie, Nick and I are all now home, happy, tired, and tired...we'll upload more photos as we move forward with this adventure in parenthood.
Ellie, Nick and I are all now home, happy, tired, and tired...we'll upload more photos as we move forward with this adventure in parenthood.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
38 Weeks...Happy Valentine's Day!
So here we are, 38 weeks pregnant. Fortunately Barca decided that she didn't want to be born on Friday the 13th or on Valentine's Day. That makes me one very happy mama-to-be.Our Valentine's Day was nice and relaxing. We did some shopping for Barca (she better come soon so I can stop spending money!). How could we have forgotten to buy towels for Barca? We went to Nick's favorite restaurant for lunch and then we went and saw Coraline (not a kid's movie, but fairly decent). For dinner, we did our Valentine's Day traditional special. Instead of fighting crowds and making reservations for dinner, we always have cheese fondue and chocolate covered strawberries. Usually we have a nice bottle of wine, but well...we're still staying away from alcohol in our house.
Today we did some final shopping for Barca (we realized we didn't have a second waterproof sheet for her crib nor an adaptor for the carseat to go into the stroller). I think we are finally done shopping for her. And of course we put up the decals (see Nick's post below). Growing up in a earthquake zone you learn its really important not to hang anything heavy over anyone's bed. Thus the decals are a perfect solution to blank walls!
And here is a picture of my actual belly. I never thought I'd be brave enough to post a picture of my stomach on the internet! Yes, that is a scar at the top of my belly. I had surgery over 5 years ago and have had that long scar ever since. It has actually grown quite a bit with my stomach.
So here we are, still waiting for Barca to make her debut...
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