When Mollie celebrated her first Christmas, she was one month and one day old. So sweet to have a daughter to celebrate all the holidays with now is so special!
This is your first picture with Santa. Don’t worry, he germ-xed first ;)
We spent some time with Grandma and Papa before going to Texas to see Mamaw and Papaw for the first time. It was nerve-wrecking to drive 4 hours and stay overnight with you somewhere else, but we managed.
November 26, 2012 – December 26, 2012
After your first two hospital stays, you didn’t do too much this first month. It was cold and the doctor advised us not to take you out in public for at least six weeks. We enjoyed having you home finally and soaked up every minute of the tiny baby stage.
You went to visit Mamaw and Papaw in Texas for the first time, and celebrated your first Christmas!
Nate and I conversation on the way to Mollie’s first check up:
“I don’t know why all women say they go crazy crying after having a baby. I haven’t felt that break down feeling yet.”
“I know babe, I think you’ve been great”
Go to doctor appointment, where we find out that Mollie is jaundice and we will be going back into a different hospital to get it taken care of quickly.
“Can you call my mom and tell her” (because I’m crying hysterically)
Your dad was also jaundice when he was born, so I guess this should have been our first clue that you would be just like him ;)
Man, do I have a lot of pictures that I want to remember about the first few days in the hospital. Everything was as smooth as can be and we were in love with our new baby girl!
A few details….
One of the reasons I started this blog was for my future children… The Story of Us…for You. (So this is for you Mollie girl. I hope some day you enjoy reading about how much you were wanted, prayed for, and loved.)
Mollie’s Birth Story
Mollie Grace McConathy
November 26, 2012
7 lbs 14 oz ~ 20 in.
After all the doctors appointments Nate and I were happy when Dr. Beeson told us not to go anywhere over Thanksgiving. She said she was 80% sure I wouldn’t make it through the weekend. I was pretty miserable the last few weeks of pregnancy, but from Thanksgiving Day (November 22) on, I was contracting all the time. Nothing too painful, just a lot of discomfort. Nate and I opted out of all our family get togethers and stayed home where I could relax as much as possible. On Saturday, November 23, I went in to the women’s center to see what was going on. Dr. Beeson had told me to go in if I had any pain at all. So Nate and I said bye to Claire… had a good cry… prayed in the car, and went to the hospital. They hooked me up and everything. Made me go walk around for an hour (we walked to Target and back). And sent us home. The nurse said that I may be in “active labor” but with irregular contractions I would be more comfortable at home. My instructions were to come back when I couldn’t stand up or sleep through the pain.
I didn’t go to church on Sunday and stayed home from work on Monday because I was just too uncomfortable. It wasn’t too bad at all… just uncomfortable. I was never more ready to see our baby girl and I was counting down the hours to my appointment on Tuesday because I was sure they would admit me.
Tuesday, November 26 finally rolled around and I was 38.5 weeks along (Although we knew they were off a week the entire time – I didn’t get pregnant while on a mission trip to Nicaragua -- , so I was probably 39.5 weeks). I was impatiently waiting on Nate to come get me for another regularly scheduled doctor appointment. He was running a little late, but we hustled on to the hospital, grabbing our hospital bag on our way out the door “just in case.” <1:30pm> Dr. Beeson was shocked to see me still pregnant, and Nate and I were a little bummed too. At this point being checked was regular business, so she went on with the exam. While I was on the table my water broke. I said, “what was that?” and Dr. Beeson said, “that was your water breaking. I’ll let them know you are coming down stairs.” And out the door she went. My socks were wet and stuff was everywhere. Nate and I were laughing and I didn’t know what to do. I stood up and got cleaned up as best I could and waddled my way down stairs to the women’s center. We were elated. The day was finally here!
<2:20pm> I was immediately given a room and an iv. The contractions also immediately got faster and more painful so I was super happy when the anesthesiologist got there to give me an epidural. (there was no question in my mind that’s what I wanted. “I live in 2012” was my response when asked if I was going to deliver naturally. Why not enjoy the experience instead of being in excruciating pain.) My parents were there by this time, and I was in tears because of the discomfort in my back and whole body. <3:30pm> The epidural was no big deal and the immediate relief was awesome. From that point on I was chill and happy. Nate’s parents and Hollie and Melissa were also there to check on things.
The nurse came in to check the progress, so around 4:00pm I was dilated 4 cm. When she came back at 5:15pm I was at 9.5 cm. (What? I know…. we were all shocked.) Things were progressing very quickly and the nurse said she would be back soon. Around 6:30pm I was harnessed up in all my glory, pushing and waiting on Dr. Beeson to get there to catch our baby. After a good four or five pushes and 20 minutes, our Mollie girl was here at 6:54pm! Healthy and beautiful (…. straight from the birth canal to my chest… but that’s a whole other story. Skin to skin is a big deal at Integris Hospitals.) she was greeted by Grandma, Papa, Grandmama, Granddaddy, Uncle Brian, Aunt Kim, Brendan, Landry, Aunt Kristen, Uncle Landon, and Aubrey.
It was a very surreal moment. Holding our baby…. Knowing we are parents and now responsible for this tiny life… Seeing that the love between Nate and I had now produced a sweet little girl.
It was a day that we will never forget, for sure. I had prayed the entire pregnancy for a quick delivery and a healthy baby. I would say God heard the cries of my heart and answered my every desire for this day. (And bonus… I didn’t feel anything after the epidural.)
What a beautiful gift life is, and Nate and I couldn’t be more in love and more happy to share that love with a child. We so look forward to watching Mollie grow and pray that she is happy, healthy, and beautiful inside and out.
