Introducing....

Reaghan Eileen Poindexter

Born September 17th, 2014

11:05am

Weight: 8lbs 0oz

Height: 20.5 inches

I'm not planning on being on the blog for a bit while Mark and I soak up all of the sweet goodness of our precious, newborn baby girl. But I did just want to take a few minutes to introduce you to our sweet Reaghan Eileen who made us official parents last Wednesday. I am looking forward to sharing her birth story with you, but for now will just say that it was the best first time birth experience that I could have asked for!

We are overwhelmed with love for this baby and we are enjoying every second of bonding and transitioning into a family of 3.

Not So Patiently Waiting....

Gahhhh!!!!

I know I shouldn't complain seeing as I'm only 3 days past my due date today, but the anticipation is KILLING us! We are so ready for Reaghan to get here and she seems pretty darn content to stay where she is at.

At my last appointment on my due date, the Dr. said she didn't know why Reaghan wasn't trying to come! I'm 5cm dilated, 80% effaced and baby is engaged at station "0" in my pelvis - all the ingredients are there for labor to start but it just hasn't started. She "swept" my membranes a little to see if she could get some things going but apparently my amniotic sac is "bulging" so she didn't do much because she didn't want to accidentally break my water. (wow - my standards regarding what to/not to share has really lowered the last couple weeks! I guess pregnancy does that to you?!) Okay so enough of those details.... the Dr. did an impromptu ultrasound just because the machine was already in the room and she wanted to check on her amniotic fluid levels - I got to see her precious heart beating through her ribs and her lungs doing some breathing exercises! Everything looked great so the Dr. basically said go home and try to get labor started!

I would just like to say that my child seems immune to all the supposed ways of natural labor induction... spicy food? no labor, just heartburn. Walking? uh just makes me have to pee. I've been walking 1 mile everyday with Piper and last night tried walking the mall for like 3 hours with my mom and sisters... we had no luck but did have fun shopping! Having sex? this got us the closest with some cramping and contractions but it didn't last! (Again with the over sharing!?! Sorry - I have no filter these days, I just need to stop...)

There are some other suggestions like acupuncture, acupressure points, castor oil, and some other weird things that we're not that desperate to try. We just thought we'd give the "fun" ones a go.

I keep flip flopping back and forth between wanting to try to get this baby to exit and trying to remain patient and wait on the Lord. I suppose this is my first lesson in releasing mommy control over my baby back to the Lord and learning to understand that she really belongs to Him.

In light of our internal struggle we are spending today resting and relaxing and just letting it be. No trying to get baby to do anything.

 I am not looking forward to going to work tomorrow and we can barely stand this waiting around to meet our baby girl, but we are trying to surrender our plans, trust in the Lord, and just enjoy what will be.

40 Weeks!

This mama is so ready to meet her little girl. I am trying to be patient but it is getting harder and harder! 

I feel great during the day, but as night time rolls around and I settle in for another night of restless sleep, I feel exhausted and uncomfortable and ready to have this baby! I know that I won't be getting any extra sleep once she is here but at least I will be holding her in my arms and not just staring out into the darkness!

Last night I was up late with intense back cramps and occasional contractions. I was hoping they would continue to progress into time-able contractions but unfortunately they started fading away all together around 4am.

As Mark left for work this morning, I was teary eyed and frustrated. I had let him sleep through my cramping and contractions last night in case it did turn in to active labor (no need for both of us to not get any sleep) so he asked me what was wrong. I told him I was upset that we still had no baby and weren't any closer to having a baby today even after my body seemed like it was preparing for it last night, and that I was ready for Reaghan to be here! I think he chuckled a little at my emotional response and kissed be goodbye - encouraging me that we are just now at her due date and that we just need to be patient. 

He's right. God knows the exact moment Reaghan will take her first breath in this world and we just need to rest in His plan! 

So Happy 40 weeks little girl! Tomorrow is your official due date and another Dr's appointment! We will see what they have to say. 

What's in the bag?!

We are constantly on the edge of our seats, wondering if every twinge or cramp I feel might be the start of active labor! I am constantly reviewing what we have in the hospital bag to make sure I haven't forgotten anything so I figured I'd share what I have packed. This is an amateur list, seeing as this is my first time doing this! But I did do a little searching through blogs for what mama's recommended, so I tried to include their suggestions and also have a few options that might seem redundant since I'm not entirely sure what my preferences will be or what I'll feel comfortable in following the birth.

For Me:

• 2 Nursing Bras
• 2 Nursing Tanks
• 2 Nursing "Sleeper" bras (basically sports bras) for labor and to wear under pajama's
• Flip Flops for shower and walking around
• 1 Pair of socks for walking around
• Light weight/short robe for after delivery
• 2 Pairs of loose fitting pajama's with button down shirts for easy to nursing
• Underwear - though I'm told I'll be wearing some giant mesh panties provided by the hospital following the birth. 
• Coming home outfit - yoga pants and maternity shirt - I'm not naive enough to think I'll be back in my regular clothes immediately following. :)
• Toiletries for showering after labor
• Phone charger

For Baby:

• 4 Sleeper gowns to wear at night
• 3 Receiving blankets - I know she'll also have some from the hospital
• Hand mittens - incase she likes to scratch her little face
• Pacifier - though I've also heard the hospital will provide one
• Coming home outfit - 1 size newborn and 1 in a 0-3 month size just incase she is a little bigger than we are expecting. (I only did this because it happened to our niece born back in July!)
• Boppy Pillow for nursing

For Labor:

• Therma Care heating pads
• Hand massager - for Mark to use on me

I also have a second bag packed with miscellaneous items

• Reaghan's baby book  
• Video camera 
• Folder with hospital registration papers, insurance information and birth plan
• Pregnancy Journal - planning to throw this in at the last minute
• Laptop - for Mark to use during/post labor depending on whats going on

Mark has bag packed as well with toiletries, 2 changes of clothes, a bathing suit incase we decide to use the shower during labor, and some snacks. And we each plan to bring a pillow from home - which was advice from the nurse who gave the hospital tour.

Like I said - this is our first go-around so I don't know if we've over packed or under packed. I feel like I may have over done it on the clothing options for myself and might end up just hanging out in the hospital gown the whole time, but I'm very concerned about being appropriate and modest when people come to visit afterwards yet at the same time be wearing something comfortable that I can easily nurse in. We'll see what happens!

We are only 2 days away from our due date - hopefully we'll be throwing these bags in the car very soon!

Nursery!

Some Panorama shots of the 99.9% finished nursery!

Some notable things in this nursery:

- The crib was a gift from Mark's parents

- The glider was a gift from my parents

- The shelves on the wall were built by Mark to hold her stuffed animals and books

- The changing table was one that my aunt bought for my mom when she was pregnant with me. I painted it white and Mark built a new shelf for the bottom because it was missing the shelving pieces.

- The hanging baskets above the changing table was an idea off pinterest! The original idea was using items from IKEA, but when I added up the cost it would've been $50 to get what I want (including the shipping costs.) So I put this together with a cheap curtain rod from Target and got the baskets from Marshall's. Total cost me less than $20! Yay! Not often you can find something cheaper than IKEA!

The last .1% keeping this nursery from being finished is the blank wall above the changing table and the window curtains! I really want gray chevron curtains but they are so hard to find! Amazon is the only place I can find the ones I want and they are pricey, so I am trying to save up some points on my Amazon card to get a discount on them. 

Labor Day Pregnancy Update

Labor did not start on Labor Day.

Sad Face.

We sure thought it would be fun. 

I went on a walk with Mark's family and swam in the pool with my family.

Still nothing.

I actually felt great yesterday! No cramping, Braxton Hicks, sore hips or anything.

Oh well.

As of today I am 38 weeks+6 days. Thursday will be 39 weeks and another doctors appointment.

Each day is a mystery wondering when, when, when?!?!

Baby Shower!

I am a little late posting these since my personal life photographer (aka my sister from Without Words Photography) had a pretty busy month and had to prioritize editing the pictures she was actually getting paid to do over mine. : ) But she did give the pictures to me last night, so I am excited to share the beautiful moments from the baby shower that my sisters and mom threw for me at the beginning of August!

They hosted the event at my parent's house...

They made some delicious drinks! Sweet Tea, Strawberry Lemonade and Cucumber Water!

They had a picture frame for people to sign for me and Reaghan...

Party Favors! Mason Jars with fun pink striped straws that everyone used as their drinking glass for the shower.

And they had a bag of peanuts in each one since Reaghan's nursery is full of elephants and they carried that theme through the shower. :)

 I loved the paper pendant banners that they made for the shower! I brought some home to hang up in Reaghan's nursery. (Stay tuned soon for the big nursery reveal!)

They also had a "letter" for everyone to fill out for Reaghan, sharing their prayers and wishes for her for the future. It was fill in the blanks like - "I hope you learn to love_________" or "I hope you're not afraid to________" It was precious reading everyones responses! Some fun and light hearted, some thoughtful and serious. I am keeping them in Reaghan's baby book to look back on one day.

A dear friend from church, who is extremely talented in cake baking, made me a delicious cake for the shower. She even formed the adorable elephant to go on the top! Unfortunately the day was hot and the icing melted before the shower started, but that didn't stop us from enjoying the mouth watering flavors! 

We also had a larger cake - just to make sure there was plenty to go around :)

We played a fun game of Baby Scattegories... Listing baby items from A-Z without duplicating someone else's response! I... umm... did terrible! I could barely think of any items!

We also had everyone guess Reaghan's birthday and weight - I'm not a fan of those guessing we'll go PAST the due date of the 11th!

I am so blessed by the ladies that came out to celebrate Reaghan! It hit me the other day what a blessing it is to have a community around you that genuinely loves you and want to help you provide for your new little one! They gave so many beautiful gifts and items of necessity when they didn't have to. How sweet to have people in our lives to support us in this journey.

Erin made a beautiful blanket for Reaghan to match her nursery!

Mark's mom had a quilt made for Reaghan!

My mom gave me a blanket that had been made by my aunt for me when I was a baby and also a romper that I wore when I was a toddler. I am looking forward to using them both for Reaghan!

Not only did these women give physical gifts, but they spoke words of Life and Blessings over Reaghan and Mark and I during a sweet time of prayer.

I am very grateful for my wonderful family who spent their weekend, time and money to throw this lovely shower for me and Reaghan. My very first baby shower! So many "firsts" this past year! Memories that I will cherish forever!

Reaghan's Grandma 

Auntie Sara

Auntie Sara and Cousin Lindy

Aunt Mal - Mal

Aunt Erin