already over a week old!

Not real sure what to think of the world yet...and mommy's obsession 

                                       with taking pictures
Her long fingers
1 week old

She is a thumb sucker sometimes :)

Brynn is doing great. She had her 1 week appt. yesterday. She weighs 6 lbs. 10 oz. The doctor said she looked great for only being 9 days old. She is still a little jaundice but the doctor was not concerned at all. She goes in again next Monday for her 2 week appt. She is sleeping pretty well at night. She goes usually 3 hours or so which is nice. She sleeps in the playpen next to our bed...until the 5ish feeding...by then I am tired of getting up so once she is done feeding and her diaper is changed I lay her on my chest and she sleeps there for about 45 minutes and then I put her back in her bed. Last night she was wide awake at the feeding and I wasn't having it :)  We got to sleep in today which was nice. I didn't get out of bed until almost ten o'clock and she didn't get up until almost eleven. But I better get going, she just got  her bath and I think she is fighting sleeping, so I am going to go rock her! Here are some recent pics of our little Brynn.

Brynn

Jerret's Capt. Morgan Pose


her LOOONG foot

Brynn Marie Mantalas

Our happy family of 3
Warming after her first bath
Our precious baby Brynn

Well it's official...Jerret and I are parents of a BEAUTIFUL baby girl. Her name is Brynn Marie Mantalas. We welcomed her 6 pound 8 ounce, 18 inch little brown haired body into the world on Saturday, March 21st at 4:10 p.m. I woke up at 3:15 in the morning on Saturday to a surprise of my water breaking...I called the birthing center and they told us to come in. By 8 am I was on oxytocin (or patocin).  I had planned on going without pain meds, and around 3:00 being 6 centimeters I couldn't take the pain any longer. We decided to go for the epidural. Our nurse said it would take at least 20 more minutes to get my IV ready to go for it plus I would need to be able to be still for 10 minutes. I wasn't sure about this because contractions were SO intense I was moving all over the place!  However, within 7 minutes of deciding on the epidural, something in our labor had dramatically changed...a baby felt like it was going to come out. Our nurse checked again, and I was 9 centimeters. I went from a 6 to a 9 in 7 minutes. I kept telling people 10 minutes and my nurse reminded me every time, no it was 7 minutes. :) So we went no epidural and pushed for about a half hour. Man was that ever painful, but well worth it. I was up and showering within about an hour after delivery. I had some internal tearing so I have some stitches, however, I am getting around quite well. Lots of nurses kept telling me, I didn't look like I just had a baby. I am so thankful now that I didn't have to the epidural because it was what we wanted all along. But during the moment I just didn't feel like I could take it. Jerret told me before hand that he would help talk me out of it, however, he said he couldn't stand seeing me in so much pain so he just said it was up to me during the moment. Here are a couple of pics of Brynn...hope you enjoy!!!

35 1/2 weeks

35 weeks

Kelly & me...belly to belly

35 weeks

We are at 35 weeks now. I went to the doc on Friday. The heartbeat was at 130. She said the baby sounds healthy. I asked about my belly size and weight gain...she said everything looks great. My belly measured 34 cm. So is predicting a baby on the smaller side, because each week my belly has been on the low side of size...but still in the normal range. She sees growth every time I go in. I go in next Wednesday...it was the only day they could get me in...to get the strep B test and also they might begin to check to see if anything is happening yet :) We are comin' in on the close. I was just looking through pics today of my pregnant belly and it is funny to look at some of them when I thought I was getting a belly and it is barely anything :) I am hoping we carry through the beginning of April. I have a lot of stuff I need to get done not only around here but at school as well. I have 1 week and 2 days with my kids until Spring break. We have conferences the week before so it gives the kids a bigger break. I am hoping to come back that first week of April or so and then it is around our due date. I am debating whether to put an actual quit date or not. It will probably depend on what the doc says at my next appt. I am still have horrible indigestion. It is so uncomfortable. But seeing pics of where my stomach is, it is not surprising at all!!  I just need to remember, even though I feel starving, there isn't a place for all that food to go, so I need to eat small portions just more often. Jer and I started birthing classes last Thursday. Our teacher is comical so it makes it fun and go fast for being a 3 hour night class. Jer will be in Texas for indoor nationals this next week so Kelly is going to go with me. She wants to be in the delivery room anyways...since she would love to work with newborns someday. So it will be good for her to go. Anyways, that is about all that is new. I am going to go seek out a newborn boy outfit and a newborn girl outfit this week, so I have it washed and in the hospital bag. I want our baby going home in gender specific colored clothing :)  

Update

Grams with a few of her grandchildren

Some of the cousins with Grandma
Grandma and Tony
Group shot of the Cousins

I had my appt. on Friday...everything is good. The heartbeat is 140 still. She said the head it down. My weight gain and blood pressure are fine she said. She advised me to start looking into a pediatrician or a fam. doc for the baby. We are starting our birthing classes in March. We will go for 4 Thursdays. Mom also signed me up for a breastfeeding class too...OH YEAH!! :)  Everything is going good. 

   Tonight we went to Uncle Dave and Sherri's to visit. Tony and Grandma are in town. It was a nice, fun visit!  Tony looks different than the last time I saw him!!  He leaves on Wednesday to go back to N. Korea before heading to Bankok he said. 

   

Here is my belly at 32 weeks. The one in the white shirt looks like I am sticking it out, however, I am not. I am not sure why I am leaned back a little...Anyways, the others are with the kitty to see the size in comparison..we have a LARGE cat too :)  I am feeling good still. My next Doc. appt is next Friday. The weather here has been gorgeous today! Jer and I just got back from a walk...very nice to feel the sunshine on our faces!!!