Pauline Eleanor Davis

It's taken me two weeks to get to this post.  There is too much to say but there are no words for most of it so I'll write what I can.  Two weeks ago today we headed to the hospital.  I have to say that I was more afraid and apprehensive then I was excited.  I've never had surgery and the only scar I have is on the heal of my foot from getting it closed in a door while not wearing shoes when I was a kid.  I was worried that I wouldn't get much time with her in the first few hours because of my own recovery.  Now that I think of it, I can't even list all of the things that I was afraid of.

It was snowing for the first time this year and it made me laugh that this stubborn girl facing the wrong way was coming via c-section on a snowy day.  None of which was a part of my plan for her world debut.

We snapped this picture before heading to the hospital and hit the road.  Meri met us there after we got settled and I was pretty quiet because I was dreading the knife but a two short hours later she was here. They held her up and she was blue as they whisked her away for a short minute to the other side of the room.  I heard her cry and it was the best sound I'd ever heard in my whole life.  Ben snapped this picture of her and brought it to me to confirm that perhaps yes, Polly has my big mouth.

He held her close to me as they put me back together.  The control freak in me hated being so helpless on that table but that all melted away as she settled into her dad's arms.  She seemed so content and he seemed to fall into the role of dad so naturally.

That first night I didn't sleep, I just watch her all night which I did later regret as the exhaustion set in.




















I was in the hospital for four days and three nights but once I got home, the recovery has been much better than my worst fears had imagined after a major abdominal surgery.  My sister, mom, and nephew were a big help for a few days when we got home and then we were on our own.  My nephew was so shy about her and then he wanted to take her home with him.

All was fine until Ben got sick and the role of mom really hit me with the true realization that everything is different.  My time, our house, our routines, and everything are all rearranged.  It is wonderful but it's also really scary and honestly it's hard.  During the late nights of feeding every two hours it helps that she's so dang cute to get me through it.

Here we are today!  I have on normal clothes, underwear, and I even left the house for ten long minutes to run to fabricate.  It still doesn't feel real that she's here.  This is one of those crazy times in life when you are completely aware of the fact that your life is changed forever and you are absolutely lucky.

38 Weeks!

This very well could be the last pregnant belly post which is both exciting and terrifying.  Our little lady is being pretty stubborn and has decided to be facing the wrong direction.  Unless she turns, I'll have to have a c-section which is the complete opposite of the natural, unmedicated birth that I've been focusing on.  I'm still holding out hope that she will turn and I'm doing everything I can do to get her to turn.  Unfortunately my doctors and many other doctors won't deliver a breech baby. If only I lived in Canada.  I'm trying to come to terms with it but since I've never even had stitches, a broken bone, or surgery I'm finding this a little tough.  3-4% of babies are breech...if only I were playing the lottery.

The swelling has settled in this week.  I've been extremely lucky compared to many women I've talked to and read about.  I took off my shoes and socks the other day and cracked up laughing because it looked like my foot was just pulled out of a mold but the toes weren't separated.  I generally have chubby feet but this was a new level of Flintstone feet for sure.  It's hilarious to have this stuff happening to your body and you have limited control over it.

All of that aside, 10 days to my due date.  Her room is ready and we have everything she could ever need.  I am so ready to meet her and share her name!  

36 Weeks!

Time is definitely passing VERY quickly these days.  In April, December seemed so far away yet here we are with last stretch ahead.  We are mostly ready except I have tons to do to wrap up at work and get the store ready for the holidays.  I am waking up in the middle of the night in a panic with worry that I don't know how to do this parenting thing.  I found myself watching videos about swaddling at 3 a.m. the other night.  By morning though, I've usually come to my senses plus everyone says that it's pretty hard to break a baby.  Sometimes I watch the show16 and Pregnant to make myself feel better about where I am in life and to reassure myself that we're ready.

34.5 weeks!

I'm actually closer to 35 weeks but I've been delayed in my posts!  I'm definitely feeling more tired and ready to have my body back to myself.  I have this week off and with Ben back in town, we've been getting her room all ready.  It's almost there and she is almost here!  The next few weeks are going to fly by with the holidays, family, and wrapping up work.  Mild moments of panic creep in from time to time but I'm ready to see her little face.  

Crafty Supermarket Loot!

Crafty Supermarket was awesome yesterday! I can't believe we have another show under out belts. We had nearly 2,600 shoppers and while I thought I may not make it through the day, it was still the best day ever! This third trimester is catching up with me. I've been getting in bed a 8 when all I do is sit at my desk at work so setting up, vending, and breaking down a craft show was way too much for this pregnant body. Six more weeks or so to go. Ben, my pregnant belly photographer, gets home today so stay tuned for a bump update.

I did score some awesome loot at the show for my baby girl. I didn't buy one single thing for myself...or the list Christmas list. Whoops. Despite my extreme fatigue, I couldn't wait to get home and put the whale print in a frame! Here's who made each item:
Whale Print by Marcy Davy (All Things Grow)
Skirted Bear by LUVKT
Cat Onesie by Everyday Balloons
Wooden Elephant and Giraffe by Happy Bungalow 

These are the very first things I've bought for her. Crafty Supermarket has been a pregnancy benchmark for me since I found out I was pregnant right before the last show. I've been thinking for months that I just have to get through Crafty Supermarket, wrap up work, and then she's here. Oh my, time is moving so fast now. Today's to-do list: Get the house back into shape, unpack Fabricate, and hang out with Ben! Luckily my bf Meri is coming to the rescue to help unpack the store.

We Voted Today!

I voted today in a state that I've grown to love over the last 13 years. Tonight I'm really proud to be a part of the vote here. There is no perfect politician but I'm glad that my daughter will have a president that reflects the kind of country that I believe we can be.

32 Weeks!

The countdown is on. I'm feeling like we have more to do than time to do it but it will all work out I assume. Her room is coming together slowly. We spend our Friday night assembling a crib which now startles me every time I walk past the door. She feels like she's taking boxing lessons using my bladder as a punching bag. Other than feeling more tired this last week, I'm still feeling really great so fingers crossed that keeps up over the next 8 weeks. I've been fairly warned that it will not.