3 Weeks

Anastasia will be 3 weeks tomorrow.

What A Good Mommy

Without any prompting, Elyse asked to have her baby wrapped up and then did this:





Of course it wasn't on video the first time, so I asked her to do it again, but it shows what she has been seeing me and Toby doing a lot of lately. Won't she make a great Mommy some day?

Then and Now

They do grow up don't they...

The Harkless Girls

Knit with Love

Elyse and Anastasia's Great Aunt Pat knit them each a special blanket.

This is Anastasia's:

This is Elyse's (then and now):

Thank you so much Aunt Pat, I know the girls will cherish these throughout their lives.

Answered Prayers

With Anastasia's arrival I have been able to see God work. Here are some prayers that have been recently answered:

• Anastasia's birth went smoothly with no complications
• Anastasia is healthy
• Anastasia has been feeding and sleeping well
• Elyse has been doing great with the transition into Big Sisterhood
• Anastasia waited until my parents were here to make an appearance
• So far there are no signs of Baby Blues (this is HUGE!)
• My recovery has been progressing well

Thank you for praying.

Details

Anastasia's Birth Story (omitting the gory details for your reading pleasure):

So... On May 29th, Anastasia's due date, my mom and I had a great day planned, hoping I would go into labor, but not expecting it. We went to Starbucks, got a pedicure and then went out to lunch. After we got back from lunch, we hung out the rest of the afternoon.

It was around 4 when I began to feel contractions at regular intervals. They began to increase in frequency through dinner. It was after Toby put Elyse to bed around 7 when the contractions were 5 to 7 minutes apart and we began to really prepare to go to the hospital. I couldn't really wrap my head around the fact that I was going to have a baby!

We got to the hospital (NUH) around 8. The ward was full so it took them awhile to check how far I was. Luckily we had a midwife with us, so I felt well looked after- from a medical stand point and a support stand point. I think it was around 10 when I was 4cm.

I was going for a total natural birth (no interventions) so, with Toby's help, I continued my breathing but was having pain in my legs that wouldn't go away. My midwife suggested that I go into the bath tub. She prepared it and I got in, it helped. I also think it help speed things along. In the next hour or so I was at 8cm and then around 10:30 I was at 10 cm. Since I was in the water, I stayed there and Anastasia was born at 11:47 pm, just making it on her due date.

The experience it what I wanted- totally natural. I couldn't have done it without Toby. He kept me focused, hydrated, and positive. He was an awesome coach!!!

I think my natural birth helped with my recovery. Also my doctor listened to what I wanted and helped me get that. I feel so much better mentally and physically than I did after Elyse's birth. Thank you for all the prayers!!!!