Joanna's Arrival

I'm a little hesitant to write a "birth story", but I do want to remember the details of that day. So, here goes...

We went to the hospital on Tuesday night, October 23rd, 2013 to begin the induction process. Now, of course, induction wasn't exactly the way I wanted things to happen, but by that point, I was ready! I was "somewhat favorable" as far as dilation and effacement went so my body just needed that extra boost to get things going! Looking back now, it was a good decision and I would do it again if it comes down to it! I tried everything I could to get her to come on her own! That night in the hospital was funny...just me and Will (Holly stopped by for a bit too!) and crazy amounts of anticipation, but really just laid there and hung out!

After a night with the medication to dilate me more I was having regular contractions by the morning. Will said he remembers waking up in the middle of the night and looking at the monitor and seeing the contractions happening and that was what made the whole thing really real to him. Contractions weren't painful at that point, but were working so by the time my doctor checked me, I was at 3cm. She went ahead and broke my water about 11am and that's when things really started getting moving and more painful. I labored for a while on my own trying to move around as much as I could because I knew as soon as I got the epidural my movement would be limited. My mom and dad got there right as things were getting pretty rough...lots of tears with seeing them and the pain and at that point I knew I was ready for the epidural. They never had to give me too much Pitocin to keep contractions going so that was good, but I would guess they were much stronger than normal contractions would be on there own and I was ready for those drugs!

The epidural was the most difficult part of the whole process because the first time they did it, it did not work completely. I had a "hot spot" that didn't get numb and because of that I felt a ton of pain in one location. Finally after 2 hours or so of trying to make the first epi work, they came in and did it for a second time. It worked almost immediately and I felt SO much better. This also allowed my body to relax and start progressing more. I went from about a 5cm to fully complete in about 3 hours. It was weird to feel SO much pressure but no pain with the epidural! The doctor came in and checked and had me do a practice push at about 8:00pm and she thought I was ready to go so then things really started moving! I started pushing at about 8:40 and Joanna arrived at 9:10pm! Praise the Lord for being able to push her out quickly. Once I started pushing I was like...no way I can do this for 2 hours...so I just went for it and it worked! She asked if I wanted the mirror to watch, but definitely not for me so I just relied on Will and Dr. Carter to encourage me. I loved my doctor and the nurses...my nurse during the day with the whole epidural disaster was incredible!

A little hesitant about this new world!

It was amazing to hold her right after she was born and Will cut the cord, truly indescribable. I was sad to let her get checked out by the peds people and it took FOREVER because they were training a new nurse, but once we got her back in my arms, tried breastfeeding for the first time and had some family time it was Joanna's moment to meet her extended family and our family was complete!

8 pounds 8 ounces

We then got to move into the "penthouse" room of the new mother and baby floor at St. Luke's which was so great, Joanna got her first bath and we finally got to bed after eating some food at about 2am!

What a blessing she is to our whole family.

Love,
The Messamores

2013

It has now been just over a year since I started this blog and I didn't quite meet my goal of blogging once a month...you know, some stuff came up I guess! Well, that is my goal again for this year, at least a once a month blog and the topic will be much easier for that one minimum post...Joanna's monthly updates! I hope to include more as well about what is going on in our daily lives, but no promises! We are loving every minute with our girl and it was so fun to celebrate our anniversary with her this year! We chose New Year's Eve for our wedding date for a few reasons...mainly because it would be a great party, but never would I have thought that with our anniversary each year would come so much natural reflection, excitement for what is to come and more. We did good!

This year was especially fun to write in our anniversary journal and naturally, most of it was about Joanna. It has been a wonderful year, but as Will and I say about marriage, no year is ever the same, we are constantly changing and growing together and we both agree that this year we fell in love with each other even more as we watched each other become parents. Here is our sweet family on New Year's and of course, our little one had her own little photo shoot!

Over the next few days I will hopefully post some more with a 1 and 2 month update!

Can't wait to see what 2013 brings our family.

Love,
The Messamores

Election Day

Pretty cool to have a such a huge national election right after Joanna arrived! I have been thinking a lot about how life had changed in the past 4 years since Will and I spent 3 hours "caucusing" and then watching the results later in the year with my husband who had gotten seriously invested in that election and today spent 30 minutes with our family of 3 voting! Tonight I am sure we will be watching and probably playing with our girl! They said at the church she was the youngest voter of the day and definitely the cutest!

Thought this link was the best thing I have read about the elections! Hope in something more than politics!
http://thegospelcoalition.org/io

Love,
The Messamores

Wide Awake

There are only so many times mommy can check Facebook and Twitter for entertainment after a certain hour...apparently most of my friends go to bed before midnight these days! Not us Joanna, we are wide awake at 1:12 am! Those two nice long naps this evening must have done you wonders! Mommy's 45 minute nap isn't quite cutting it. However, I will I am sure look back on our odd hours we're keeping these first couple of weeks as one of the things that was special about getting to know each other. Speaking of getting to know you, here are a few things we've learned the past 11 days!
1. You love to snuggle, especially with your whole body curled up on our chests. In fact, we've nicknamed you Joanna, Queen of Snuggles or Snuggle Bear. It's pretty funny commentary to think about what "the queen" would have to say when you get a sad face or we change your diaper and you get MAD!
2. You love your hands, it's pretty cute when they are always by your face!
3. Everyone thinks you are beautiful. Especially us. We also think you are a strong woman already! Literally strong, you hold your head up so much already and sometime push off people who are holding you to try to see! You also let us know how strong and assertive you are when you cry...it is not very often, but when you do, you know what you want!
4. Face Time is the greatest invention! We talk to grandparents most days.. crazy to think about what technology will be around later in your life, but this is awesome for now!

Well, you have decided it's time to sleep...maybe, so time to close. We love
you Joanna Grace, even if it is 1:30am!

Love,
Mom and Dad

Daddy's Little Monkey

Joanna Grace Messamore

In just a short few hours we went from this...

to this...

And now all the fun begins

Thankful

I would consider myself a pretty patient person...except when it comes to really exciting things like holidays, vacations, gift giving and apparently having a baby! I've been known to give Will his Christmas gifts weeks early or start counting down for summer break at least a few months in advance (what teacher doesn't)...but now, as I sit here on baby girl's due date, my patience is being tested like no other time in my life before. So...instead of whining about still being pregnant, hoping to see my girl and wishing our families could just get here already, I thought I would try a new approach and reflect on how thankful I am to be here right now. Throughout the past 9 months I (we) have been incredibly blessed. There is really no other way to look at it.

-The Lord's protection over us with a very healthy and uneventful pregnancy, most doctor's visits were refreshingly short and sweet. We know that doesn't guarantee a smooth birth or mean our baby will be 100% healthy when she arrives although Lord willing those things will be true, but it certainly made a worried first time mom a lot more relaxed.

 -Amazing friends and family who "showered" us with love! First of all, this starts with the fact that we have such strong ties to our hometowns and friends and family there that we grew up with over the years as well as our Kansas City community! From a beautiful tea party in Wichita, to the cutest birdy shower in Kansas City, a sweet pea pink and green party (with incredible food courtesy of Carey) to a fun diaper-themed breakfast at my school...each celebration was unique, baby girl received wonderful gifts and I felt incredibly loved as I know Will did too. I also have to add as an avid lover of parties and themes and all, my friends are so creative and talented in hostessing--it is not always easy to host a shower and they all did such a wonderful job! By the way, we have some crafty people in our lives...this girl has more wonderful handmade gifts and I can't wait to tell her about the amazing women that made each blanket, hat, bib, artwork and more!

 -My husband. Period. Just thankful for him in general. His genuine excitement, kind words, willingness to do the dishes (my main aversion at the beginning of pregnancy that has lasted the whole time...hmmmm), constant reminders to take care of myself and the baby, pursuing me and how I was really feeling even if it often lead to tears, and so much more. All this while completing his dissertation and PhD, starting the challenging 3rd year of medical school and more. I know he is going to be a loving, steadfast and wonderful dad to our girl.

 -Being pregnant. I really didn't think when we started talking about having a baby that we would be anywhere close to this point right now. I had convinced myself that it might be a bit of a challenge to get pregnant due to some weird cycles and all that. In a season of life where many of our friends are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, dealing with pregnancy loss and more, I again just have to be thankful that we are even where we are right now. We are hoping and praying for all these babies and soon to be babies and their parents too. Sometimes it just doesn't seem fair, but we trust a God who is bigger than our plans could ever be. His story will be the perfect one in the end.

 -So many other things...helpful and supportive co-workers, a summer off to prepare and rest up for baby, a new car that makes me feel safe, grace from Jesus and others, a home to bring our baby home to, pumpkin spice candles, hilarious questions from junior high kids, Latte Land, hamburgers (probably my biggest pregnancy craving) and much much more.

 Pray for us as this baby will be coming sometime soon--who knows when!
 Love,
The Messamores