Emmeline Mae Gardner

A few more pics

Emmeline Mae Gardner

Debut photos. I am posting these only 5 months after the fact..... I was really surprised that I made it this far. Addie tried to come 6 weeks early and held out to 36 weeks so with Emmie I was sure she was going to come early. By the way, her name was almost Robby. We left the hospital without naming her and I called a week later. Our choices were Layla Mae, Emmeline Mae or Robby May. Doug's favorite was Emmeline so of course I let him choose : ). Anyhow, she had been breech through the end of my pregnancy. I tried to tell her to turn around as I did not want another c-section but she would not listen and the doctor would not turn her because of my prior c-section. So she was scheduled for delivery on May 10th and we showed up ready to go and ready to get her out! For some reason I gained very little weight - 10 lbs - but I felt huge. Trust me, I don't know why I did not gain more but I didn't. I did not do anything more with her than I did with Addie, but I guess your body just does what it is going to do. As I type, I again feel regret that I did not keep a diligent journal during this pregnancy. This was Doug's first really as he was gone with I was pregnant with Addie. He felt one of our children move for the first time during this pregnancy, was able to cater to me for the first time during a pregnancy (ha!), and was always asking "Does you belly get bigger than that?!" And he saw his first delivery of one of his children.

I was told that I would be able to see the delivery but the docs lied. I had a sheet up by my face but Doug walked me through the entire procedure up to the size of the retractors. Scheduled c-section is a bit nicer than an emergency like Addie was. I was much more alert with Emmie which was great except for when the pushed down on my belly to get her out. I once again was wrong about the sex - sure that she was a boy. O for 2. Just before delivery, they checked once more to make sure c-section was my only option - sure enough the kid was transverse so c-section was our only option. It is amazing how quickly she entered this world.

39 weeks!