Payton's First Christmas

Christmas started early this year for Payton. My family came over on the 23rd for presents and tamales (a tradition started at Mamaw's almost 50 years ago when they had tamales after church on Christmas Eve).





Early Monday morning we flew to Alabama. I was a little worried about the flight since Payton had an ear infection, but she did great! She fell asleep before we boarded and stayed asleep the entire flight! I think we have a globe trotter on our hands!!

We spent Christmas Eve with Grandma Red (MiMi's mom) and then Christmas Day with Nanny and Pa (PaPa's mom and dad). Everyone was thrilled to see Payton and I think everyone that wanted to hold her did. She handled all the people and her schedule being thrown off remarkably well.

Grandma Red and Payton

Aunt Heather and Payton

Her cousins LOVE Baby Girl! They can't believe she's so little and every move she made, Conner told us about.


She had a great Christmas and has enough toys to last her until her birthday! I can't wait for next Christmas when she'll be walking and talking and we create our own family traditions.

"Talking"

Payton was in a great mood today when we left Birmingham. She was talking while the plane was parked at the gate and then went to sleep the entire flight! We can't ask for a better traveler!!!

Pro pics

3 months!

I honestly cannot believe 3 months have passed since my beautiful little girl was born and my life was forever changed.

I recently read something in Parents magazine that said that to the author, it seemed like the women you yearned for a baby and being pregnant had a harder time adjusting than the women who's pregnancy wasn't planned.

For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a mother. I couldn't wait to be pregnant, to give birth to a little miracle, to see how my life and my husband's life would change, to see that little one grow into an amazing person and to be responsible for that amazing journey.

My pregnancy was fantastic. I loved almost every minute of it. I thought that once I had Payton, the joy would continue and we'd be blissfully happy. What I hadn't counted on was a far from routine birth and all the nicu issues we had with Payton. I truly believe the experience was what led to post partum depression. I didn't get to hold Payton for almost 12 hours... I was so scared to bond with her in case something happened and she didn't make it. I don't think that there was ever a chance of her not making it, but in my exhausted, emotional state, I was trying to protect my heart.

When I say that I couldn't have gotten through the first 6 weeks without my mom and sister I mean it. I think I would've been committed if they weren't here everyday to help me. I didn't want to see anyone but Lane, my mom, my dad and my sister. It was such a dark time. I felt like such a failure. I knew something was wrong, but I didn't know what to do to fix it. Never once did I regret having Payton, but I wondered why she deserved me as a mother.

Thankfully, I was able to move my post partum appointment up a week and I was prescribed medication. I cannot tell you what a difference it's made in 7 short weeks. I'm able to be a blissfully, happy mommy and I know this is my sole purpose in life! Payton is the most beautiful, sweet little girl and I am truly blessed to have her as my daughter. I hope one day she'll be able to say she was blessed to have me as a mother.

A Mother Is Born

I received this about 2 weeks after Payton was born and still cry every time I read it. This is so amazingly true.

A MOTHER IS BORN

My first child, a daughter, was born on July 27, 2000, and I was completely unprepared.

I thought I was ready for her birth. I had read my books and articles on childbirth and baby care; I had bought everything on my shopping checklist. The nursery was ready for use, and my husband and I were anxiously awaiting for her arrival. I was prepared for wakeful nights, endless diapers, sore nipples, crying(both hers and mine), and the feeling that I can't get anything done. I was prepared for sitz baths and hemorrhoids.

What I wasn't prepared for was the way the entire world looked different to me the minute she was born. I wasn't prepared for the fact that the sheer weight of my love would reduce me to tears on a daily basis. I didn't know that I wouldn't be able to get through my first lullaby to her because I wouldn't be able to sing through my tears. I didn't know that the entire world would suddenly become unbelievable beautiful and yet infinitely scarier. I didn't know that it would seem like a new place had been created inside of me, just to hold this incredible love.

I had no idea what it would feel like when the nurse wheeled my daughter in to me saying, "She's looking for you," and the way the image of her deep-blue eyes looking right at me would be seared in my heart forever. I didn't know that I could love someone so much it literally hurts, that a trip to Walmart would make me feel like a protective mother bear guarding her cub, or that my first trip to the grocery store without her would break my heart.

I didn't know that she would forever change the way my husband and I look at each other, or that the process of giving birth to her and breast-feeding her would give me a whole new respect for my body. No one ever told me that I would no longer be able to watch the evening news because every story about child abuse would make me think of my daughter's face.

Why didn't anyone warn me about these things? I am overwhelmed by it all. Will I ever be able to leave her and think of anything else but her, or see a crust in her eye or spot on her skin that doesn't make me nervous? Will I ever be able to show her and express to her just how deep and all-encompassing my love for her is? Will I ever be able to be the mother I so desperately want her to have?

I have heard it said, and now know that it is true, that when a woman gives birth to her first child, there are two births. The first is the birth of the child. The second is the birth of the mother. Perhaps that is the birth that is impossible to prepare for....
Written by Regina Phillips

12 weeks

11 weeks

10 weeks

Congratulations!

Lane graduated with his MBA on November 30th! We're SO glad to have him home full time and I'm sure his business partner is glad to have him at work full time too!

Lane plans to hold this photo over Payton's head.... apparently she'll be getting her Masters before she gets married and has kids!

Holidays

Our little spider!


Thanksgiving at Nonnie and Deeda's


Waiting to see Santa!

Weekly pics

I've been taking pictures of Payton every week with a bear Lane and I bought on our Vegas Vacation when I was 4 months pregnant.

Here's up to 9 weeks! She's changed so much!
2 weeks
3 weeks
4 weeks
5 weeks 6 weeks 7 weeks
2 months 9 weeks

Computer issues

For whatever reason I can't login on my home computer, but I'll update pics of Miss Payton soon!

Birth story

Went in for the scheduled induction on 9-20 (my due date) at 7:30 am... started pitocin about 9:30... shot of nubain around 10:45.... epi at 11:45... 7 cm at 12... started pushing around 3:45.. Payton was born at 5:06 pm... I have a 4th degree tear... held Payton on my stomach for about 15 seconds then was stitched up while they suctioned her.

Payton was born with spontaneous pneumothorax, which is a buildup of air in the space between the lung and the chest wall. As the amount of air in this space increases, the pressure against the lung causes the lung to collapse. It resolves on its own over time. She went to the nicu and I wasn't able to hold her until Friday and that was only for a few minutes before they put her under an oxygen tent. They were concerned with fast breathing, but it was resolved and she came out of the O2 tent on Saturday.

I was released on Saturday and Lane and I stayed in a hotel so we could be close enough to go feed her in the middle of the night. They took out her IV on Sunday morning and she was released Monday morning!!!

We're home and doing well. The doctor's say this happens in about 5% of newborns and it goes undetected. She's a totally normal newborn and is as healthy as ever.... just a little bit of a rough start, but she's completely perfect.

We're tired to say the least and I'm emotionally drained.

almost 40 weeks

Well, I'm 4 cm dilated and 80% effaced. We go in tomorrow morning at 7:15 to get hooked up to the IV and pitocin will be started... she'll also break my water. She did say I can have the epidural whenever I'm ready for it. Such a tough call. In a strange way, I want to experience some contractions, but everything I've heard about pitocin contractions make me not want to. I'm also nervous about the epi wearing off before she's here.

We'll post pics soon and look for an email from my mom or Lane.

Since I know Parra has been wanting to ask me to post a pic, here's one from last week... at 39 weeks exactly... trying to keep Payton from coming until Lane was able to make it home from Alabama.

Update!

Saturday morning Lane and I went to the hospital since I thought I had been contracting and the nurse checked me. Said I was a good 4, almost 5 cm dilated. I asked if I was staying and she said she just needed to call the doctor (not my OB, but another in her practice), but most likely yes. She came in a few minutes later with all the "stuff" to start the IV. Guess I was staying!!! I called my mom and dad, Lane called his family and as overwhelming as it all was, we were so excited that Payton was coming!! I made it through about half the bag of IV fluids and the doctor made it up to the hospital. She checked me very roughly with her man hands and said I wasn't in labor, was barely a 3 and not even 50% effaced. Funny, since at the appointment on Thursday, MY doctor said I was a good 3 and 75% effaced (and had been for 2 weeks). The nurses felt so bad since they started the IV, etc....Contractions have been coming on and off Saturday and yesterday.

This morning I had every intention on going into work to wrap everything up because if Payton isn't here in the next 3 days, I'm being induced on Thursday morning at 7:30. Cross your fingers that these contractions that I'm having now are the "real" thing and continue to get more painful and more regular (never thought I'd be wishing for pain)... they definitely hurt worse than what was going on on Friday and Saturday.

39 weeks

Just wanted to let yall know... I was able to move my doctor's appointment up to today just so we could give Lane some notice if there was major progress.

I'm a "good 3cm" dilated and the OB said is just a waiting game at this point. She said that the best way to keep Payton in for as long as possible is to lay on my left side and drink lots of water and DON'T walk! Thank goodness my parents are here and that my mom doesn't work... otherwise I'd be going crazy.

I'm hoping to talk to Lane before he leaves for the visitation and tell him I need him to come back either very late Friday night or early Saturday morning. Just continue to keep the Chamblee family in your prayers - I think it's going to really hit them at the visitation tonight and also keep praying that I won't go into labor until Lane is able to fulfill his family obligations and then get home to us.

Induction scheduled!!!

If Miss P hasn't made her arrival by September 20th, we're going in at 7:30 am to be induced! The doctor is confident that if we make it to this point it will be a successful induction. I would love to go into labor on my own before next Thursday. I have faith that it will happen the way it's suppose to so Payton and I are both healthy.

Labor and Delivery

Saturday morning started as a normal day for us... we slept in, went to breakfast and came home to watch college football... I ran to the store to pick up and few things and our friend Jeff came over with his daughter Reese to watch the Alabama game with Lane. I made cupcakes (I guess since the house is spotless, the nesting is now concentrated on cooking) while Lane made lunch for us. To spare everyone the details, Elaine needed to go to the ER, so Lane and I watched Reese so Jeff could meet her there. Kristin came over to hang out with us since we hadn't seen her in forever!

I kept noticing a very wet feeling and then once I thought about it, I couldn't remember the last time I felt Payton move. I drank a big glass of orange juice and sat on the couch to see if I was just too busy earlier to feel anything. After an agonizing 45 minutes of nothing happening, I decided to call the doctor. She wanted us to come in, so off we went to L&D.

They immediately found Payton's heartbeat (answered prayers) and then tested to see if it was amniotic fluid I was feeling. The first test was negative, but the nurse did say I was 1-2 cm dilated (progress!!). They continued to monitor Payton's heartbeat and my contractions. After about 45 minutes and another negative for fluid, they sent us home.

We're now just waiting for a big gush of fluid or contractions to really start. I'm getting very impatient, but know Payton will come when she's ready.

** Just a disclaimer... if you call and I don't call you back, don't worry... we'll let you know when something happens, either by text message, phone call or email. **

38 week update

On Labor Day, I was having contractions every 5-10 minutes for about 2 and a half hours. After talking to the on-call doctor, we decided to wait and see if anything progressed.. it didn't, but I've been having contractions every day since.

The contractions are doing something... at the doctor today I'm 1 cm dilated and 75% effaced. We're waiting for a call back on an induction date in 2 weeks. I would rather have it on the calendar and not need it, then need it and have to wait. Most likely it will be her due date and hopefully it won't be 24 hours of labor. Just continue to pray that we won't need to induce! The doctor doesn't think I'll make it to the 20th and I really hope she's right.

Update from 37 week appointment

I'm measuring 38 weeks (completely normal and nothing that says I'm too big or she's too big), but no additional progress from last week. Still a fingertip dilated and 50% effaced. The doctor said all I need are some contractions to get her to move down and help me dilate. I've been feeling crampy and just generally icky.. some say that's how they felt before they went into labor.

About 1:30 in the morning on Saturday, I woke up to terrible pain in my back and across the left side of my stomach. I went to the bathroom and then laid back down to see what would happen. The pain finally went away and I decided not to wake Lane unless it came again.... unfortunately it didn't.

Start sending prayers that there will be progress at the appointment on Friday AND that she'll come soon... my feet can't take it! I was doing great with minimal swelling, but that has totally changed this week. As I was getting dressed for church yesterday, I quickly found that I have 1 pair of dressy flip flops that fit my fat feet. If you know me at all, you know this was a sad day in the Chamblee household. I'm so ready to be able to wear my normal shoes and buy all the cute Fall clothes that are showing up in the stores.

37 weeks

Since I'm sure everyone loves the bare belly pics, here's one from today at 37 weeks. I can't tell much of a difference from last week. I go to the doctor again tomorrow, so let's hope for even more progress!

Carry out on aisle 2

I'm not sure why I think this is so funny, but since I've been feeling like a HUGE whale lately, I guess it made me smile!

I had to run to Petsmart and when I was checking out, the clerk asked if I needed help loading the bag of dog food in the car. I said I manage to get the 40 pound bag of food from the bottom shelf into my basket, so I could get it from the basket to the back of my car. She looked at me and said, "Well honey, when you get further along, you really need to get some help with that." When I told her I had about 3 weeks left, the look on her face was PRICELESS!!! She must have felt bad because then she told me how great I looked and you'd never think I could have a baby any day.

Woo Hoo!!

We've made some progress! I'm a finger tip dilated and 50% effaced! I asked the doctor about inducing after 41 weeks (the longest over due she'd let me go) and she said that we won't need to have that conversation... she's fairly certain Payton will make her debut before then! I think Labor Day would be fitting ;)

36 weeks!

It's official! Payton could come any time now.

Tomorrow is my first internal exam... checking for any progress. I'm hoping to be a tiny bit dilated, but have a feeling she'll tell me everything is shut tight.

Here's the belly today.... Payton is taking her own sweet time dropping, but at least she's a little lower than a few days ago.

1 month to go!

We officially have 1 month to go as long as Payton isn't early! This pregnancy has completely flown by. I just hope these last 4 weeks continue at the current pace and don't slow down. I do think my organization and planning nature is sometimes a curse. Except for installing the carseat base, everything is done! My bag is packed except for last minute toiletries like the hairdryer and makeup. Dr F said that basically if anything happens between now and Thursday, they'll treat it as preterm labor and try to stop any progress, but after Thursday, she's free to come at any time. As long as she's completely healthy, I have no problem with her coming early!! I know that she'll come when she's ready, but don't think that'll stop me from eating spicy food, walking, sitting on the exercise ball and the other labor inducing action (I'm sure Lane will be so dissapointed).

Here's a belly pic from today....

Payton's room

Payton's room is finished! We decided not to paint since we're not entirely sure how much longer we'll be in this house and I had no idea what color to even paint the walls since there's so much color going on in everything else!

view from the doorway


close up of the wall hanging... my favorite part of the room... besides the rocker!


the onesie on the changing pad is embroidered in pink "Miss September"... hopefully it will fit her so she can wear it coming home from the hospital.


close up of the Pottery Barn Kids bumper Lane picked out


Payton's already overflowing closet... the sad part is she has a 6 drawer dresser that's just as full

And for fun... me today... at 34 weeks 3 days... I feel like a freaking house, but why does my belly look smaller than last week??

33 weeks 4 days

Payton is still in my ribs and it's getting even more uncomfortable the bigger she gets. I'm hoping she'll start making her decent soon. I've started sitting on an exercise ball - I've read it will help her drop and it helps ease the ligament pain I've been having. I've only almost rolled off it twice ;)

New Belly Pics

While Allie was here we decided to do some fun belly pics! Here we are at 31 weeks 3 days:

Pickles and Ice cream!!!


Scout and the bump

4D Sonogram

We scheduled a 4D sonogram for Thursday night so Allison, Mom and Dad could come see Payton. She had other plans and was being quite stubborn and kept her hand and arm in front of her face, so we didn't get very good pictures. Lane keeps saying "Stubborn like her Momma".... who me???

Stork Vision was nice enough to bring us back on Saturday to see if she would cooperate. Nonnie came up for the shower so she was able to come see the live action with everyone else! Payton is pretty squished in there and it scares me to think of where she'll go as she grows and gets closer to delivery. If you look closely, you can see Miss Payton in all her glory. It'll be interesting to compare these photos once she's here!




I think she looks like an angel here... complete with a set of wings!

Baby Shower!

Today was FABULOUS! My sister and Elaine threw an amazing shower for me and Miss Payton. I'm so amazed at the generosity of everyone. Lane and I are truly blessed with incredible friends and family.

Lane and several of the husbands with kiddos in tow stayed at our house and had a fish fry while the girls were at Elaine's having a fabulous brunch. Here are some pics of the food set up... there's no way anyone went hungry ;)




Cupcakes with dots, stripes and P's; diaper cake and chocolate covered strawberries