Introducing Taryn Margaret

We finally have our baby! We have been waiting for so long. Here's our story of how Taryn finally came to be with our family.

I was expecting this baby to come at least a week earlier than her due date because each of my other girls have come progressively earlier and Aubrey was a full week early. Also, Aubrey came quickly. With her I started having contractions at 5:00 or so (just a couple hours after I had had an appointment); and we were headed to the hospital at 11:00 that night and she was born about 1 or so in the morning. I just assumed this baby would follow that pattern since it is my fourth kid and all.

So with my due date as October 15th, I had an appointment scheduled for October 6th and I thought this would be the day. I'd have my appointment, go home, contractions would start and I'd have her by that night or the next day. Well, she had her own plans. At my appointment my doctor said I was moving along and she even said maybe she'd see me in the next couple days. In my mind I was thinking, I'll see you tonight! So I went home and I did have some contractions but by that night they had become so sporadic I wasn't even trying to keep track of them. Friday came and that night I had about an hour or two of regular contractions but I ended up falling asleep and they weren't bad enough to keep me awake. Over the next couple days I would have random contractions but nothing regular. I would go to sleep hoping that that would be the night I wake up having full-out contractions. This was becoming more and more frustrating because it was nothing like any of my other kids. With all other three I would start having contractions and they would progressively get harder and faster and we would eventually go into the hospital and I'd have a baby!

By this point I was hoping for anything to move this labor along. I was looking forward to the weather front that passed through and then to the full moon that came, but still no baby. By Wednesday, October 12th, I was sadly convinced that I was headed to another doctor's appointment which was scheduled for Thursday. I at least had the reassurance that my doctor would give me some answers: either to tell me I was progressing well or to at least schedule an induction date. At my appointment, she did both. She said I was then dilated to a 4 (I was a 2-3 the previous week) and she said I would be favorable for an induction if needs be, so I was scheduled with the hospital to be induced Monday morning (at 4:30 am!!) if I didn't go into labor before then. I left super excited because I had an end in sight. I would have this baby no later than Monday morning, October 17th.

Luckily, my contractions after that appointment started up again and finally they didn't stop. By that evening, I was not able to sleep, and I was making Tyler time them for me. By 2 in the morning, they were pretty regular and at 2:30 we headed to the hospital. Unfortunately, the contractions were not as bad as I remember them being when we were headed to the hospital with Aubrey, and sure enough when they checked me at the hospital, I was still only a 4 and the nurse could tell my contractions weren't "too bad." The on-call doctor suggested that I walk the hospital for an hour to see if my condition changed, and I was a little saddened because that's what I had to do with Abby, my first, so I was feeling kind of let down, that I was a fourth time mom and I was being asked to walk like a first-time mom. But luckily during that hour my contractions got really bad so I was admitted to the hospital around 5 am after our hour was up; I got my epidural and I was ready to have this baby! My doctor was actually at the hospital during our hour walking, but to let us rest with the epidural, she didn't come to break my water until almost 9 am. And Taryn was born at 9:45 am on October 14th (only one day early). So without further ado, let me introduce Taryn Margaret!

She weighed 7 pounds 11 ounces (same as me when I was born) and was 20 inches long.

Our first picture with mom, dad, and Taryn.

The nurse made three extra copies of Taryn's footprints (as seen above her head). One for each of her big sisters to have as their own. We thought that was really sweet of her to do for them.

Before leaving the hospital, we took some pictures of Taryn at one of their photo kiosks and they turned out so cute!

Finally, a picture of Taryn without a hat so you can see all her dark hair - a feature all of my kids have had that I love.

The big sisters and daddy bought the stuffed giraffe for Taryn which they brought when they came to visit. I love having the picture to show a size reference so as she gets older and bigger we can remember she once was as small as her stuffed animal.

After she finally got her first bath, they brought her back wearing the standard hospital hat but with a cute bow.

The girls were visiting when Taryn got back from her bath. They all wanted to hold her. This is the first picture of our four girls together.

Abby has been an awesome helper and a great big sister.

Once at home, the girls still beg to hold her. Here's a favorite of mine because Taryn has her eyes open and because Tessa is so adorable.

Aubrey even loves to have her turn holding Taryn. When she does, she sits and stares at her and says over and over, "Hi, baby Taryn. Hi, baby Taryn."

This is how you can find Taryn most of the time - asleep. At least she likes the blanket I crocheted for her.

Tyler's parents drove out as soon as they heard Taryn was born, so they arrived the night after we returned home from the hospital. We loved having them here. The other girls REALLY loved having them here too.

I thought this picture was so funny because all three girls have their eyes closed. :)

Tyler has said that his favorite part of the newborn stage is having them curl up into a ball and sleep on his chest. I caught a picture of this and it's now one of my favorite pictures ever.

And I thought her outfit was too cute not to take a picture with her in this pose.

And finally a picture from today. She's 12 days old. Love this little bundle of joy. Welcome to our family, Taryn. We love you!