Ellis Ann’s Birth Story

April 19, 2022

Last family photo of just us three!

Jo Jo came to stay with Graham

Welcome to the world Ellis Ann!

I should start by saying I started having contractions around April 3. They would get stronger to the point I thought maybe that was it, and then they would go away for several hours or even a whole day. However on Saturday April 9, something told me they were a bit different this time. We got up and took Graham to swimming lessons, and then I met a friend for a pedicure. She jokingly said the pedicure would send me into labor (but I had a feeling it was already coming).

I was having contractions on and off throughout the morning. They were really not painful and I was able to keep doing what I had planned. Once I was at home, Sean wanted me to rest, hoping that the contractions would go away. I think he secretly wanted a few more days to prepare! As the day went on it just started to seem more and more like it was time! Late that afternoon I called Aunt Jody and told her to come over to our house to stay with Graham so we would be able to leave for the hospital when the time came. We called Dadima and Pop Pop and told them to head to our house the next morning because we thought it was close to time. We had dinner and Graham went to bed. We thought we would go to bed and try to get some rest before the time came. We were in bed no more than 15 minutes before I said “it’s time.”

Around 10:00 that night the contractions were starting to be very painful and getting closer together. Sean had already loaded everything in the car that afternoon, in anticipation of needing to leave quickly. Luckily it is a short drive from our house to the hospital. When entering the hospital I had been asked if I had any Covid-19 symptoms and I said no (but I wasn’t being totally honest, I had a terrible cough that I had for at least a week, but had tested negative at home several times). We were taken in and given a triage room right away and I thought things would move quickly. They checked me out and decided that I was in labor and it was time to be admitted. But then we had the two SLOWEST nurses come in and it took FOREVER to get triaged. Time passes much slower too when you’re waiting anxiously for an epidural! The nurses were moving so slow that it gave everyone on the floor enough time to notice my cough, so I had to be tested for covid and the flu, luckily both were negative.

Two hours later we were finally moved to a labor and delivery room. We had the sweetest nurse, who I think had just finished nursing school. She was just the nicest, but had no confidence and had to call the charge nurse to come check behind her over and over. I guess that’s better than her making a mistake though.

She called for the epidural and the anesthesia resident came right away. I had such a great experience with my epidural with Graham that I was expecting the same thing. And I did not get that. It took him several tries to get it placed and it was really not the most comfortable experience. Thankfully, it started to work quickly, but then out of nowhere I got so sick!

There was a nurse in the room setting up the warmer and we were just chatting away and suddenly I was like I AM SO HOT I AM GOING TO BE SICK! She jumped into action and took care of the situation. The sickness passed quickly and finally I was able to rest a little. It’s tough to rest though because people keep coming in and out of the room and checking different things. It felt like I had finally fallen asleep for a few minutes when I was awoken by my water breaking!

After my water broke things went QUICKLY and I sort of lost track of time. The nurse called for my doctor and he came right away. From the pictures it looks like he was gowning up around 4:50 am. I pushed for about 10 minutes and that was it! Our Ellis Ann was born at 5:06 am, weighing 6lb 9.5 oz., and 19.75 inches long! The tiniest little thing. She didn’t cry much at first and it was scary for a few seconds, but the nurse rubbed her and got her crying and said she was just fine!

We didn’t realize it at first, but when I asked if Sean was going to cut the cord, the doctor said he had to do it already. The cord was wrapped around her neck twice when she was delivered so he had to quickly get it off, but it did not cause her any issues.

Right from the start Ellis Ann has been the cuddliest little thing. We spent most of the rest of the day in the labor and delivery room because there was no mother/baby rooms available. Sean was hesitant to leave for food because we kept thinking I would be getting moved and he would need to help out. Finally after a few hours I was STARVING and so he had no choice but to go out and get lunch! I ate my sandwich snuggling the sweetest girl. We were still in the labor and delivery room another few hours before they found a room for us, but it wasn’t so bad because the L&D rooms are so much bigger and nicer.

Once we finally got moved we ordered our celebratory meal from the hospital (we knew better than to order the “steak” this time around). We spent the rest of the day snuggling our girl! She slept well the first night as long as she was being held. Ellis Ann had her bath and all of her required testing very early the next morning. She passed with flying colors so we were cleared to go home.

Once we were home she was able to meet Dadima and Pop Pop before we went to daycare to pick up Graham so he could meet his sister. Graham was happy to see us after being with Aunt Jody and Dadima and Pop Pop for a couple of days. When we got home to meet Ellis Ann it was very uneventful, Graham noticed that she had a paci and he wanted it for himself, but other than that he went on his way, which was funny enough in its own way. It was so nice outside that we loaded her up in the stroller and went for a walk to enjoy some fresh air.

We are feeling so lucky to have this healthy happy little girl!

Family Beach Weekend

April 7, 2022

We spent a long weekend at the beach soaking up our last trip as a family of three. I was 34 weeks pregnant with sister and it was our last chance to get out of town! We had perfect weather all weekend! Graham is at an age now where it is so fun to see him explore and try new things. We had breakfast at our new favorite spot! We walked around town and checked out the shops. We had lunch on the water. We played and played at the park. We watched the airplanes. Aunt Jody and Penny joined us too! We got to go out for a date night, which was so fun but the new restaurant we tried was not so good!

The absolute best part of the weekend was watching Graham run straight for the ocean on the beach. The water was cold, but it was warm enough to play in the waves and the sand. Graham absolutely LOVED it! It was such a joy to see him splashing in the waves and digging in the sand. We spent most of the afternoon on the beach and it has me looking forward to summer!

We completed the weekend with Graham’s first happy meal and a McDonald’s parking lot picnic!

Graham’s First Haircut

April 6, 2022

Before

Before

We had a special day getting Graham’s first haircut. Mike gave me my first haircut when I was about 2 years old. He was fresh out of school and for some reason he just hit it off with my family! He has been doing all of our hair pretty much ever since then. Graham is the fourth generation of our family to see Mike! Dadima and Pop Pop, Aunt Jody, and Penny all joined us for the haircut. Graham was such a good sport, just eating crackers and letting Mike trim up his hair. We had a very tiny little trim done just to get it out of his eyes and got the back trimmed up so it would be more even. I just love his hair so much and didn’t want to loose the baby curls! Although, I’m pretty convinced he is going to end up with my curly hair, it looks a lot like mine did when I was little. We went for pizza and ice cream afterwards to celebrate what a great job Graham did!

Graham is Fifteen Months Old!

March 31, 2022

Thirteen months was probably your biggest month yet! You hit so many milestones and it was such a joy to see you learn so much so quickly. You started walking on your own. One day you were holding on to the couch cruising and the next day your were off. We had your first big snow, it was mostly ice but still. You really started talking this month, saying more, bye, hat, hot, nose (you also know where your nose is), night night, and ball (ball was your first word). You will also growl when we say lion now which is just the best. You had your first trip to the dentist, you got so many new teeth this month that I honestly lost count. We finally went back to swim lessons this month and you love it as much as ever! You’ve been making the most hilarious disapproving look at the dinner table, where you look down under your hair at us and we all crack up! Poppa Bob was with us most of the month; daycare closed twice for covid exposures so you were home with him so mom and dad could go to work. There were lots of afternoon couch naps with mommy this month, since you were home from school and I just love them! The silver lining for you being out of school so much this month was that we all got to spend extra time with you and see you bloom this month!

Fourteen months! You’ve continued to grow and learn so quickly. It took us a bit to settle back in to a routine after you were out of school so much, but you finally found your groove at school with your teachers and friends this month! We celebrated Valentine’s Day this month, the balloons were your favorite. Swimming is going great! You’re going under now, although you are a bit distracted by what all the other kids are doing so you’re not closing your mouth sometimes. Our afternoon naps have suddenly become a thing of the past, you’re far too busy! They sure were sweet while they lasted and I will miss them! We’ve had some nice days for playing outside and are loving our backyard! Hats are still your favorite! Mom and dad went away for a weekend at The Greenbrier this month and you stayed with Dadima and Poppa Bob at their house, your first time in a different place without us. We took our last trip just the three of us to the beach this month! It was a blast to see you on the beach, playing in the waves and the sand!

Now at fifteen, almost sixteen months old it’s hard to believe you will be a big brother in just a couple weeks. You are laughing and running and playing nonstop now. It seems like everyday brings a new word or a new skill. You have so many words now that I’ve lost count and you know quite a few of your body parts. You had your first haircut this month! We’re loving the warmer weather and being able to play outside. You’re developing your own opinions about things now. You’re in a phase where you only want to eat fruit and are throwing all your other food in the floor. You have brought so much joy to us over the past year! Your smile lights up the room and hearing you giggle makes our hearts sing!! Growing up as an only child I always dreamed of having a sibling. I hope that you and your sister will be a gift to each other. Being so close in age, I hope you’ll develop a lifelong friendship and many wonderful shared memories together. We look forward to seeing you grow into your new role as big brother. We love you so big little boy!

Maternity Photo Shoot

March 29, 2022

We had maternity photos taken on a gorgeous spring afternoon in March. As usual Amber took our photos and they turned out perfect! I was 36 weeks pregnant!! Graham is 15 months old and it’s hard to believe how close it is to him being a big brother! We can’t wait to meet our girl!

Here are the photos we took with Amber when I was pregnant with Graham!

Paris – Day 7

March 4, 2022

On our final day in Paris we tried to fit in a few last minute things, while also keeping it low key and enjoying our last bit of vacation. We went to the Museum de l’Orangerie to check out the Monet water lilies, but didn’t see much else here. We were honestly overwhelmed with all the museums we had seen. We had lunch at L’Imperial Rivoli, where I tried a Croque-Madame for the first time… When in France Right?!? We did some last minute walking around the Marais neighborhood, and checked out the Picasso Museum. I loved that we had the museum pass for this trip. We never had to wait in line for tickets, or for entry, and we didn’t have to feel bad about the museums we breezed in and out of since we had already paid for the pass. We had our last chocolate croissant, packed our bags and enjoyed one last view from our colorful balcony. It was a WONDERFUL trip!!

This wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t show us being the ONLY people in the Charles de Gaulle Airport. Always the timely traveler Sean had us at the airport hours before it even opened, which feels hard to do at an international airport the size of CDG but we managed…

The Perfect Baby Moon at The Greenbrier

March 3, 2022

Our Room

Ready for the Bunker Tour

Patterns for Days

Casino

Peach Cake

Carriage Rides

The Salt Cave and Spa

Most epic afternoon nap

Afternoon tea

Perfect place for a swim

Jerry West’s Prime 44 Steakhouse

The best décor

Sean’s favorite chandelier

My favorite chandelier

Sunday breakfast

The Greenbrier was the absolute perfect place for our babymoon weekend getaway! I can’t recommend it enough if you’re looking for a place to get away for a short trip on the East Coast. It’s the perfect mix of things to do and nothing to do but relax! We arrived on a Friday afternoon just in time for the Bunker Tour. This is a little piece of history that you should not miss! It is absolutely unbelievable that a fallout shelter for Congress existed for 30 years with no one being the wiser.

On Friday evening we went into the nearby town of Lewisburg. It has apparently become quite the local foodie spot. We tried out The Livery Tavern, which was honestly just OK. Our waitress was great and we enjoyed our dinner, but I think if we go back we would try somewhere different. There were quite a few spots we were considering trying out, like The French Goat and The Humble Tomato, so something to look forward to for next time! After dinner we went back to the hotel and checked out the casino. To me one of the fun things about the resort is that it still has a dress code, sport coats are required for men in the casino. It was fun to get dressed up and enjoy an evening out. Once we had run out of luck I decided it was time for late night cake! We had the funniest experience at the dessert shop. The nicest man was helping us grab a slice of peach cake to-go, and then he offered us the cake buy one get one free, so why not!? Two giant slices of peach cake, never heard of peach cake but sounds delicious! As he is packing it up in the to-go containers, another employee walks up to the counter and says “do you know what you’re having?” referencing my very pregnant belly, which I totally missed and responded with “CAKE!” After my moment of embarrassment we took the cake back to our room and it was SO GOOD!!

We started out Saturday with a trip to The Pomona Salt Cave and Spa. The Greenbrier has an amazing spa that I’m sure is worth every penny, but is v expensive. We were both able to do facials, and a trip to the salt cave, and lunch, and smoothies here for nearly the same cost as one facial at The Greenbrier. It’s about 15 minutes driving from the hotel. We loved our experience here! I’m sure it’s not as fancy as The Greenbrier, but it was a perfect relaxing morning. We also loved that there was a café and smoothie shop on site. The lunch and smoothies that we got were great! After our relaxing morning we went back to the resort to relax and I had an epic afternoon nap. We went for afternoon tea in the main lobby and followed that up with a swim in the pool. That evening we had dinner at Prime 44, Jerry West’s steakhouse onsite at the resort. The food was delicious, but the service was even better. Honestly, a perfect day!

One of the things we kept noticing all weekend was how wonderful the staff at the resort is! Our waitress told us that she was a third generation employee from her family. Everyone is so helpful and friendly and really wants you to feel taken care of!

On Sunday we closed out the weekend with the full breakfast buffet in the main dining room! All in all it was a perfect weekend away preparing for little girl!

Also happy to report that I finally checked this spot off my bucket list of places I want to visit in the south!

Paris – Day 6

February 26, 2022

I could say this about all the days of the trip, but Day 6 was one of the best. We took the train to Versailles early that morning. We got there almost as it was opening and it really was not crowded (with the exception of the crowd you see in the Hall of Mirrors photo, which I think may always be like that). I think visiting in November also helped with the crowds. One thing I will say about our trip to Versailles in low season was that much of the furniture and other things that the audio guide mentioned seemed to be missing, possibly it was being cleaned or restored, and the famous gardens were a little lackluster with nothing in season. However, we enjoyed there not being much of a crowd and still getting to experience this famous location. We stayed a few hours and then took the train back in to Paris. That afternoon we explored Montmarte. I loved this area and would love to spend more time here. There are so many amazing shops and streets that you could spend days wandering here. We watched the sun set over Paris from the Sacre-Coeur, which I highly recommended. The view at sunset was magical. We wandered from here to the Hotel Particulier for some fancy drinks in a cozy spot off the beaten path. (Also happy to report we are still making the drink the bartender here taught us.) We finished up with dinner at Buillon Pigalle. The restaurant was a mix of tourist and locals, and the food was fantastic. This was one of our best “authentic” French meals. We are still trying to recreate the beef bourguignon.

More from our trip: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 7

Paris – Day 5

February 19, 2022

Our the 5th day of our trip we covered a lot of ground. We started with a tour of the catacombs. I cannot express how much I disliked this. Sean had booked this as something he wanted to do, and I had no clue what we were getting into. I do not like small spaces, I do not like being underground, I do not like dead bodies, I do not like there being no emergency exit. The catacombs are all of those things. That aside our tour guide was really knowledgeable and engaging. We were lucky enough to be in Paris when the Rembrandt collection was on display at the Louvre. We had reservations that afternoon to check it out. We hit the highlights of the exhibit and hit the road. The Louvre was overly crowded to the point of not being enjoyable, as it turned out our reservation was only to see the Rembrandt pieces not the rest of the museum and we weren’t sad about it because it was such a cluster. That night we had tickets to see a ballet at the Palais Garnier. I had mostly just wanted to see a show inside the famous opera house so we could see the inside. It is definitely worth seeing in my opinion. It’s gorgeous. We wound up loving the show we saw, we had amazing seats that I had purchased basically by accident, and it was great to drink champagne and feel fancy for a night.

More from our trip: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 6

Paris – Day 4

February 12, 2022

Day 4 of the trip was a museum and shopping day. We started the day with breakfast at Brasserie Le Bourbon. There were lots of business people here having meetings and eating. We enjoyed eating here. We followed that up with walking to the Rodin museum, which allowed us to take in some sights around the area. The Rodin museum was probably my favorite that we visited. I loved that it is both inside and outside, it wasn’t crowded, and you could walk around the gardens right in the middle of the city. We then went to the Museum D’Orsay, which has lots of great highlights, but we were lost most of the time we were there. It was crowded and difficult to navigate but we did manage to see some beautiful art! From here we walked to Rue Saint Honore to do some shopping. We stopped in Laduree since no trip to Paris is complete without the famous macarons. After our shopping we hurried back to change and head to our dinner reservation at Frenchie. We made a huge mistake and tried to take an Uber since we were all dressed up, we ended up sitting in so much traffic that we were late for our reservation. The restaurant staff was so great about it, but they have a strict cancellation policy so Sean was freaking out the whole drive there. The food at Frenchie was AMAZING. It is one of the best meals I have ever eaten. We had the sommelier do the wine pairing for each course also. We were lucky enough to have seats at the bar looking into the kitchen, which was a great experience. After dinner we walked to get a drink at the Experimental Cocktail Club, which was a fantastic spot our server told us about. When we were ready to head home we tried Uber again, but had no luck as our driver drove away as we were walking toward the car. We opted for the metro back, and I was not please about being in the metro late at night in high heels, but what a cool looking metro stop.

More from our trip: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 6