Kylie Rae Miller is born

Kylie was born early on Tuesday, September 6th. Here's the story:
My due date had come and past. Labor Day weekend was coming to a close, and I felt that I would be pregnant forever. After hanging out with some friends on Monday night, I settled down to bed, only to be woken up to real contractions an hour later. Finally the time had come!

At 12:30am, I couldn't sleep through the contractions anymore so I decided to get up and walk around. I even started making cookies (I hear it's nice to bring something to the hospital nurses)! My contractions got stronger and my doula arrived about 2:30am to help me through them. She helped me walk around, rest and listen to my Hypnobirthing tracks, and sit on the exercise ball to get through them. It was definitely "labor", but it was manageable.

Brian and I decided to stay and be comfortable at home as long as possible before going to the hospital. Around 5:30am, I decided it was about time to go to the hospital to check how I was progressing (I swore if I was only at a 3, then I would just get an epidural because these contractions are no joke!).

We got to the hospital at 6:10am. I walked up to the nurse's station and told them I was having a baby! Thankfully, they took me seriously and showed me to a delivery room and not just Triage. They asked me the usual questions while the contractions were getting more and more intense, I couldn't even answer the questions anymore! They had me get on the bed to be monitored for 20 minutes. It was pretty miserable to be laying down! Little did I know, I was almost fully dilated at this point. They checked my progress and I was already at a 7-8! I was almost done! I had Brian run back to the car to get the camera. He didn't even bring it in at first because he didn't think this was the real deal.

They were just about to take some blood and set an IV when I stopped them so I could get through another contraction (I didn't want them to stab me through because of my movements). It was a big one! And my water broke. From then, it was pretty quick. I remember the nurses rushing around me, trying to get things set up. The doctor wasn't even there yet! A few contractions (read: minutes) later, my body was pushing on its own. I couldn't control it! Since the doctor wasn't there yet, the nurses delivered Kylie, with a NICU doctor observing in the corner.

Pushing was very awkward because the bed wasn't set up yet. It took about three contractions of pushing and Kylie was born at 6:40am, after 6 hours of labor!

It was such an amazing, empowering experience. I had my heart set on a natural birth and I am so grateful I got one. I had no idea I was so close to delivering when I arrived at the hospital. Next time, I will definitely come earlier! I now know what labor feels like. If I can do it without pain medication, then any girl can!

Kylie minutes after birth.

Kylie being measured.

Brian trying to keep Kylie warm while I'm being fixed up.

The graph of my contractions, there were some big ones!

Kylie in her basket.

Brian and Kylie in our recovery room.

Kylie, day 2, napping with dad.

Check out that hair!

Me and Kylie day 2, we are so ready to go home!

Mariah was so excited to meet her little sister.

The Miller girls bonding for the first time

Grandma holding Kylie for the first time.

We got home and placed Kylie with Mariah who was napping. It was posed, but so so cute!

Kylie's first bath. She liked it much better than Mariah ever did!

Grandma and Kylie bonding at home.

Marlena came to help me for the first 2 weeks. She has been helping so much! 

THANK YOU!

I took this picture because Mariah had come out of my room while Kylie was sleeping in there. I walked in the room a few minutes later and Mariah must have set this Pooh bear right next to Kylie. Her first act of sisterly kindness! I hope she keeps this up!

I feel so blessed having little Kylie in our family. She is so sweet and good and cute! Our home is crazier than ever with two little girls, but it is so much better. I can't imagine my life without Kylie :)