~Keira Rose~

Introducing....Keira Rose Taylor!!

Born on September 26, 2010 at 7:36 pm, weighing 7 lbs, 4 oz and 20.5 inches long.

Around 9:30am on the day she was born, we were headed to Joe's Farm Grill for breakfast when my water broke in the car. (My water broke in the car with Kendall too!) However, I had NO contractions at all. So I turned around and went home to change clothes, and went back out for breakfast! I decided early on that I wanted to have a natural birth this time around, and if I went to the hospital at that point, I would have been given pitocin, which I really did not want. I called my doula Iana, and she said that I had about 12 hours after my water broke before I could risk infection, so I didn't need to go to the hospital right away. After breakfast, I took a nap, knowing what was around the corner. Around 3:00 or so I started getting worried that things needed to get moving, so I started jogging around the house, ipod music and all! I started having contractions, and around 5:00 they started getting pretty intense, so we started heading to the hospital. By the time we got there, around 6:00, my contractions were EXTREMELY intense and VERY close together. I made it to triage and Iana was there. They checked me and I was about 4cm, which was not comforting, since I couldn't handle the contractions, and not knowing how long this labor would be worried me. I had mentally prepared myself for a natural birth all through my pregnancy, but THIS was not how I imagined. I really thought I could somehow have more control over the pain, but everything was happening so fast and it was so intense, I could not. I asked for an epidural. Of course, Iana tried to reason me out of it, but the pain was too intense. As they were preparing the epidural, she asked if they would check me again, and this time I was 8cm already!! It was only 15 minutes since I was 4cm! Epidural out the door! They were attempting to get me into a wheelchair to a delivery room. I was screaming my lungs out and could barely get in the chair. The nurses were scattering all over the place like busy ants, and they were worried that my doctor would not make it in time. (she just barely made it!) By the time I made it to the delivery room, I was already complete, and pushing. The only position I could be in for some reason was on all fours on the table! Yikes. At 7:36pm, Keira was born! It was all so fast and so intense, and I am very happy that I was able to have the natural birth I wanted. I lost my voice for about a week or so from screaming, (haha!) and have had some trouble with my hips for some reason. I also had high fevers/chills for the first week or so afterwards from a possible infection. I think that maybe my body just went into shock mode from everything being so crazy and happening so fast. Who knows.

Just after she was born...

Big sister Kendall!!!

Note to my other momma friends: This is what a picture after giving birth SHOULD look like! lol! Everyone has these gorgeous pictures, and I just don't get it!! (And I LOVE how nobody felt the need to tell me I had mascara all over my face! thanks a lot Jason, mom, Karen....)

Ga-Ga with her second granddaughter!!

Aunt KK!!

The day we left the hospital (Jason took Kendall to preschool that morning, and she had just gotten up from a nap, thus why she looks like a homeless child in these pictures...)

Ready to go home!!

Keira LOVES this swing!!

Love the little footsie peeking out!

I just want to eat her up with that little dimple in her chin! Yummy!

Keira looks nothing like Kendall did as a baby, but the above photo of her actually does remind me of the one of Kendall, below:

Keira has been an absolute angel, she is truly a blessing. She hardly ever cries unless she is REALLY hungry. She is usually awake from about 6:00pm-10:30pm, her busy time. She likes to be held during this time, and then after she falls asleep she only gets up once or twice throughout the night. Totally do-able for me! Especially since I feel like I am more rested now than when I was pregnant and uncomfortable and getting up to pee every five minutes. Keira is doing great with breastfeeding as well. I am so in love with her, and I spend my days soaking her in and staring at her as much as I can. Especially since this time around, I know just how fast they really do grow up...

Kendall has been such a great little helper. She did not want to hold Keira much at the beginning because her umbilical cord thing weirded her out. She called it her "money". I have no idea why. But after Keira's "money" fell off, Kendall said she would hold her. Kendall will help me out with Keira and fetch anything I need while breastfeeding, so nice! She has had some "acting out" behavior since the baby has been home, but nothing too out of the ordinary.

All in all, we are transitioning from one to two very well! If we need to be somewhere at a certain time, (like preschool!) we are getting there late, but we'll get the hang of it soon.

More Keira pictures to come!

Forgot to do a post with my last belly photos, here they are! I took these the day before I had her!