Month 1

- Her nickname is "Toad" and "Piggy", Toad because sometimes she acts like a toad, but mostly because she has the cutest, roundest little toad tummy.  Piggy because she snorts when she cries sometimes and let me tell you it is adorable.
- Up until the last few weeks we woul all dread bathtime because of the blood-curdling screams and hyperventilating that would take place, but finally she has succumbed and bathtime has become our FAVORITE part of the day
- She hates getting her clothes changed.  I've tried going fast and I've tried going slow, and either way she is not a fan of that process
- She has grown out of newborn diapers and moved on to Size 1
- Growing out of most of of her newborn clothes as well
- We bought her a swing and it sometimes works when we are trying to put her down for a nap, hopefully she will start loving it more
- Her little vibrating chair is my new best friend becasue I can put her in it when I'm getting ready or cooking and the vibrations lull her into a trance
- Suspecting she may be a bit gassy so I'm watching all the foods I eat: no more chocolate, mexican(onions), or carbonation
-Also began supplementing with formula and there has been a huge difference (poor girl was just starving I suppose)
- Has been sleeping in 4 hour increments at night, so I ususally get up around 3a.m. ish and 6a.m.ish to feed her
- Swaddling is her jam
- We have already moved her into her nursey because she seems to sleep better in that room (we think because it is the warmest in the house) so I now sleep in the guest room next door
- She is following objects with her eyes and focusing on things and grabbing at things with her hands
- Has a strong little neck and is a superstar when it comes to tummytime
- The other night when Devin came home he started talking to her and she got the BIGGEST smile on her face...probably the highlight of my life! Now we catch her smiling at all kinds of things, but mostly her Dad's voice.

 Happy Valentine's! (And I see the beginnings of some lucious neck rolls!)

 Brother...

 Bathtime at Grandma Joelynn's

 Sitting in her chair while Mom gets ready for the day

 Daddy's girl!

 Smiles for Dad

Smiles for Mom

38....she has arrived!

The Birth Story:

It all began when I went into my 37 week appointment (for the rest of the pregnancy I would be going in to the doc's office once a week instead of once every 2 weeks).  I was feeling fit as a fiddle and prepared and happy to carry around my bundle for at least three more weeks... The doctor came in with some troubling news telling me that my blood pressure which was normally 120/75 had jumped to 155/90. He then commented that I was looking a bit puffy in the face and that i was hyperreflexive - all were signs that I could be headed to preclampsia.  He told us to come back in two days and that if my BP hadn't gone down he would induce me.  I was already dialated to a 3.5 and she was turned in the right direction so he had no doubt she was ready to come out. 

I was mortified by this news.  The mortification did not come from worry of mine or her health but for the fact that I felt like I was being rushed into something and I just wasn't mentally ready for yet! In the back of my mind I kept hoping that my blood pressure would go down by the next visit and I could go back on my merry way to being pregnant for a few more weeks.  The next day I worked my 12 hour shift at work, checking my BP periodically and to my dismay it only got higher and all I could think was that this was my last day being pregnant, tomorrow everything changes.  I was so scared of that change staring me in the face! That night afer work I was a basketcase.  Poor Devin was giddy with excitement and I was ruining all the fun by crying at everything.  We made sure our bags were packed and we settled in for the night.

The next morning my blood pressure had not changed so the doc sent us over to labor and delivery at about 9:00.  We had made the calls so my parents were on their way from Cedar City and Devin's parents were on their way from Moab.  Might I add that my sister-in-law had her baby in Monticello the day before so Devin's family had to leave straight from there to come to us!

   

We got settled in our room and they began the Pitocin and broke my water.   We settled in and began watching our Friends and The Office DVD's.  Our nurse asked us about the epidural and I told her I wanted to hold off.  At one point in my pregnancy  I had thought I would attempt going drug-free, but never wanted to commit to it because I knew there were so many things that could happen at the end that would make it impossible (breach, failure to dialate...etc) So when I found out we were being induced I was already defeated and knew that I wouldn't be able to do it while on the Pitocin.  But I still wanted to give it a try, and if anything I wanted to be able to feel what a really bad contraction felt like before I got the drugs! And my wish was granted. 

After a few hours those contractions were coming hard and fast.  Devin was a great coach.  He stayed calm and collected and was supportive without babying me.  Devin's mom Joelynn came in and coached me through some of them.  My quitting point was when the nurse checked me and I was dialted to a 7.5.  While she was checking me I couldn't do what I had been doing to bear through the pain of that AND the contraction at the same time and started to feel weak, shaky, sweaty, and tired, and ready to vomit.  I looked over at Devin and told him "I can't do it anymore."  He asked me several times if that was what I really wanted before he told the nurse to get the anesthsiologist.  

I remember when the drugs arrived becasue the anesthisiologist smelled like popcorn, and I was already feeling nauseus, so I did not appreciate that.  I was leaned over the bed and mad that I had to go through even more pain, and I was staring at Devin's pants thinking that I was probably going to throw up on them, luckily I did not and as it turned out I couldn't even feel the epidural going in.  I remember the anesthesiologist also saying "Wow, she's pretty sweaty."  I laid back and the nurse checked me again...I was a 9.  I beared through a few more contractions that got easeir and easier as those drugs kicked in.  Then came the pushing.  The epidural was in full effect and I felt like I could push for hours...which I think I did until at 9:28pm we heard the most beautiful cries coming from these little lungs... 

Quinn Marie Dalton was born on 12/28/2012 at 9:28 pm weighing 6lb 11oz and 19 inches long! She was perfect and had the sweetest, softest, high-pitched cry I had ever heard! It was music to my ears.  (About the name, we had three names we liked and decided to wait until we saw her to pick the final one, the middle name is my Grandma's middle name)

Our families had a few minutes to come in and visit us before visiting hours were over, then we traveld up to the Mom and Baby unit where we ate dinner and Devin fell asleep on his not-so-comfy chair.  My adrenaline was full force because I couldn't keep my eyes closed, I just stared in awe at that tiny baby in basinet. We were disscharged the next day at five and bundled Quinn up and took her to her new home. 

Poor baby had a bit of jaundice so they sent us a Bilirubin bed for a few days.  I hated it, but it did the trick and she was jaundice-free in no time. 

 How much the world can change in a day, but I'm coming to realize that change is not such a scary thing....