Grace Louise Romney

She made it. 9 months of hoping and praying that our little girl would be healthy and safe finally brought us our perfectly healthy, beautiful little girl, Grace. Here's how she made her debut. My 38 week appointment was on a Wednesday and my midwife informed me she thought we would have a baby by Friday, I was dilated to a 3 and 80% effaced, having lots of contractions. Well I made it to my 39 week appointment the next Wednesday. At that appointment she said we'll be seeing you next week. Friday morning my water broke. I woke up to a thump like a hammer but internally at 2:30 am Friday morning. I got up to do my ritual pregnant lady bathroom break. Once I was done I noticed I just kept trickling, and trickling, and trickling. I couldn't stop. I let Grant know I thought my water just broke, just saying those words to him made my heart start racing. I wasn't having contractions so I thought I'd just wait it out a few hours, I REALLY didn't want to be induced and my midwife said if my water broke without contractions they would have to induce me. The minute I laid back down in bed I started having contractions. Grant and I started timing them, anywhere between 8 and 13 minutes apart and too hard to talk through. We hung out at home for another 2 hours getting everything ready with work and I did the dishes. Mind you this whole time I'm still trickling, how much water can a person hold?! Grant and I knelt down and said a prayer, I needed to know the Spirit would be with me. We got to the hospital at 4:30 am and by this time my contractions were getting more intense and about 5 minutes apart, but still bare able. My heart was racing, was I really about to have a baby? It was nothing like they show it in the movies with the running around like a crazy person and the husband accidentally leaving his wife behind. Between contractions Grant and I were totally talking and laughing and I was calling my family to let them know the news. They checked me at the hospital, I was only a 4! 2 hours of contractions and nothing!? The baby was also pretty far up so they had to keep me hooked to the monitors until my midwife showed up. Contractions laying down are no fun. By this point they were pretty painful and I really had to breathe through each one. My midwife showed up around 7 and checked me again, a 6! Hooray for progress. She also let me get off the monitors and move around. I found rolling my hips in a figure 8 really helped, but man those suckers were starting to hurt. It was at this point I started questioning myself and my desire to have her all natural. Could I really do this for a possible 10 more hours? I knew first time labors tended to be looong, and I was exhausted. I just decided, one contraction at a time, I could handle one more. By this point I was on the exercise ball sprawled out over Grant starting to think, maybe I'll die? No really, I was questioning it, dramatic I know. At 8 my midwife checked me again, 7. 7? One cm in an hour?! I started calculating, if that rate continued I could have another 3 hours. I really didn't think I could last another 3 minutes. From this time until Grace came out my eyes were closed and I was focusing all I could on just helping this baby out. They were coming 3 in a row with only a few second break, this is where I turned into a crazy person. Nothing can describe pain like that, but I knew it was good because my body was getting this baby out. I threw in the towel twice during the whole experience, and this was one of the times. I felt another contraction coming on and just shook my head with tears welling in my eyes, my midwife caught me and in her stern, calm voice said "Yes Zaundra you can do this." And I was back in the game. With every breath out I said to myself "you can do this." At around 9:30 she looked at me and said are you pushing? I couldn't help it the urge was too strong I just shook my head. "Ok let's push!" I found my second wind with that, I was going to have a baby! She had me hold my thighs and start pushing. Grant was right next to me feeding me ice chips and holding my legs between contractions for a break. Grant was right next to me the entire time, holding my head, holding my arms, supporting my weight, whatever I needed. Pushing was the second time I threw in the towel. Surely a person's body couldn't handle this much pain and pressure, I was going to split right in half. Every contraction my team of nurses and midwife chanted PUSH, GO, YOUR DOING GREAT, YOU GOT THIS! So I kept going. After almost an hour of pushing my midwife yelled "Zaundra open you eyes!" I saw our little lady be lifted up and put right on my chest and I lost it. Grace Louise finally made it and she was perfect.

Great Things

So many happy things happening!

I'm almost 39 weeks, and my midwife has given me the official "baby should be coming any day now." Although, it's starting to drive me crazy. Everyday I think this could be the day and every night I have to face the facts no baby, maybe tomorrow. Come on baby!

The tree next to our house is BLOOMING. I will admit I used to hate that ugly tree's limbs hanging over our driveway, but everyday I drive under the blossoms into the garage and it makes me smile. It's like having my own private archway. Now if that dingy tree on the left could get blooming!

Who knew a tree could bring so much happy!

I finally got my diploma this week!! I must say my name looks good on a college diploma. Dang. Sometimes it feels good to toot your own horn and well I'm tooting. I need to honk for Grant too. He was so supportive and encouraging. Teamwork for sure.

My friend Chelsea got us into this half price consignment sale last night. Just picture a huge storefront full of racks of clothes, toys, books, everything baby! I got all of the things in that picture for $30. A boppy pillow, a pillow cover, 5 outfits, and 3 pairs of shoes.

While I understand this baby won't even be walking for year, baby shoes are the most precious things I've ever seen, baby shoes and baby swimsuits!

I don't brag about Grant often, but I do think he is a great man and well I want to brag. He recently started selling again to put on accounts for the company. I am so grateful for how hard he works for us. Not only does he work hard, but then he comes home and tells me how grateful he is for all I do. He even offers to go grocery shopping, after he worked all night. That is love.

So many happy things, and so many more to come. A baby, my mom will be here the 19th, my sister will be here the 30th, and Grants parents will be here the end of May. Grant and I also have birthdays this month, March sounds like a party to me! Yes, even the no sleep, nursing all night, changing millions of diapers newborn thing is a welcome challenge. I'm going to be a mom, and I can't wait.

Baby Shower and Hiccups

This baby gets the hiccups ALL THE TIME. Yesterday, 3 times that I noticed. Poor thing... and they're so fast and close together. I hate the hiccups, but I LOVE watching hers, holy cow. I have a little under 5 weeks until my due date. Crossing my fingers that I'm like my mom and she comes right on time! New pregnancy symptoms are:

-I love this baby so much. I can't believe I get to have her forever. I cry when I think about it.

-I also cry when I think about puppies, Grant, old people, pretty flowers, you name it.

-I feel like a bus/whale/train all the time

-I found one stretch mark, tiny, but still there and on the top of my stomach what?!

-Babies movements are getting less crazy, she's running out of room to sprint from one side of my uterus to the other.

-Baby lifted Grants head the other day like a serious bench press it was hilarious.

-Heartburn is getting better

-Skin is breaking out

-CAN'T sleep, my poor poor hips

-I pee when I sneeze, or laugh to hard

-I still only have to pee 2 times a night usually (sorry that's it about pee)

-Grant found the most adorable (and best deal) on a crib, dresser, and pack and play. And he assembled what was supposed to be a 6 hour crib project, in.... wait for it, oh 30 minutes. What a stud.

-All the baby necessities are here and ready for her arrival!

-One day this random lady told me I should be a pregnancy model, I wanted to kiss her.

The ladies in my ward threw my an AWESOME french style baby shower. It was so great. Especially since I've only been here a few months, I couldn't believe the amount of people there and how generous they were. I feel so blessed to live where we do.

My friend Audrey is a cake boss we'll just say. She made this beautiful cake for me, not only does it look amazing, it was the best cake I've ever tasted. Victorian sponge cake with lemon/raspberry filling.

A side story: Grant is from California, and three of his close friends from high school all moved to TX. Their wives are GREAT. This is Kelly, she made me that gorgeous grey and yellow blanket in the belly picture and this adorable frame for the nursery. She's also given me boxes of Zantac, a prenatal yoga, and a hypnobirthing book, no not for my baby shower, just because. Did I mention everyone loves her, because they do.

Another side story: Our three husbands all sold pest control for Grant's bro in years past, and now we all live in TX too! See people everyone wants to live in TX, you should too. Eli (on the right) is exactly one month behind me in her pregnancy! And Dani came even though her and I are just barley getting to know each other. Nice friends eh?

And this will be me, all day, oh so soon. Believe it or not I can't wait.

32 Weeks

Here she is! I didn't realize how big I was until I was taking the picture, woah! Not a lot to report out here in Texas. We're loving the warm winter. It makes the crazy summers worth it. Our house is finally getting put together and it feels so nice! Grant and I actually did our first day of yard work on Saturday. It reminded me how much I like doing yard work on a beautiful sunny day. We had some flower beds that needed serious cleaning out and bushes that needed cleaning up. It looks so much better. Sadly, I've been researching what kinds of flowers and plants grow well out here... umm nothing. No tulips, no daffodils, no lilacs... sad day. I'm just going to have to get creative! The newest pregnancy symptoms:

-the kicks are starting to hurt

-heartburn follows every meal

-I can't paint my own toe nails

-she is so fun to watch moving around

-she loves early morning and late night, lucky me

-she still prefers to kick my ribs on the right side

-my shirts are very quickly becoming belly shirts, I might finally have to buy maternity tops

-dry skin all the time

Grant and I have been enjoying lots of time together, running errands and doing stuff for the business... and some fun stuff too. We are happy the Mavericks are finally stepping up and playing better, it makes it way more fun to go to the games. The first game we went to was a nightmare, but last night they played awesome! Sorry Jimmer we still like ya, but we gotta stick with our Mavs.

Tonight I'm making Cafe Rio's sweet pork salads, not quite the same, but it'll have to do. And yesterday I would have killed for a J Dawgs. Missing Utah food that's for sure.

Changes

Something I've noticed during this pregnancy is the fact that changes don't happen over a week long period slowly, they happen all of a sudden. For example, all of a sudden my belly is huge and everyone asks how far along I am, but seriously the day before no one could tell I was pregnant. Or one night I'm sleeping just dandy and the next I'm tossing and turning, and turning is suddenly very difficult. One day I could eat whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. Now I seriously have a nightly ritual of 2 Tums at about 5:30 for the heartburn. Baby used to give a kick every few days, one day last week she just decided she would kick all day long. That part is actually pretty cool, especially feeling what part of her body is where. I can now tell the difference between little feet and a big bum that's stuck in my ribs. I've found she enjoys the right side of my stomach and especially my right ribs, she must feel safe there. I wonder what the next changes will be? Not being able to tie my own shoes all of a sudden?

I'm officially done with college! I finished my student teaching last Friday and I feel so free. Sure, I have a TON of stuff to do for the business, but it's my own time now and I love that. The last day of school was really sweet. Those kids are the best, I'll post about them soon.

A birthday girl

My sister has a big birthday today. I so wish I could be with her to celebrate and eat lots of yummy food and dance around together. Instead I want to tell you why she is an amazing sister.

Always there to play dress up with. I don't know anyone else who I can always count on to dress up with and not need an occasion for it, I love it.

A true testament of an amazing sister. When I moved to New York City she came to visit me and it rocked. We got to see Phantom of the Opera, eat lots of yummy food, and walk around the entire city. Let's go back.

Another reason we're sisters. No one else can make as great of faces and poses as my sister and I. It must be the dancer in us.

I really shouldn't have posted this picture, my head looks ginormous. I have always been bigger than my sis. The joke was if I stood behind her my shoulders would still stick out, what can I say I have football player shoulders.

Thank you for pushing me up to level hard on Rock Band CoCo!

Did I mention she is seriously beautiful?

We look alike. That face wasn't planned, we're just that good.

CoCo I love you I'm so glad I got to be your little sister growing up. I'm glad you used me to play dress up and loved me so much. I'm especially glad I get to be not only your little sis but your friend now. I can't wait for you to be the best Aunt to my little baby the world has ever seen. Happy Birthday!!!!

Happy Halloween

Grant is not the easiest person to photograph. He doesn't love taking your "normal" picture. Don't get me wrong I love a good crazy face picture, they are SO fun. But there are times when I want some pictures for memories sake. This particular Halloween at the pumpkin patch was too good of a photo op to pass up, so we made a deal.

Grant got to choose the first pose. The looks on our faces tell all. (Get it my belly as the giant pumpkin?)

But...

I got this festive gem out of it, I'd say the trade off was worth it.