You're doin' fine, Oklahoma

Hadley and I recently set out on our first Mommy/Daughter adventure.  We were blessed enough to spend an entire week with family and friends in OKLAHOMA!  As much as I thought I would LOVE to be out of Oklahoma when I was a teenager, it's amazing how much I really miss that place.  I'm sure it helps that it is filled with people that I love.  

Oklahoma City is only about 7 hours away, but I decided traveling that long with an infant would not be ideal.  We decided flying was a better option.  I'll admit, I was pretty nervous about flying with Hadley but she was a champ! (Except for when she had a blow out and we had to do an emergency wardrobe change right when it was time to board) She didn't cry or fuss once.  This was pretty much Hadley the whole time.

I'm hoping future flights are just as pleasant.

As soon as we got off the plane, we were greeted by my parents and we headed to the town where I grew up, Carnegie, to see my Grandma. 

The next day we traveled to Tulsa so Hadley could meet Granny Lou & Grandad!

It's fun to think that even though my grandparents are 50ish years older than I am, they were once right in this same place.  Trying to figure out how to be a parent.   I kept thinking of them going through some of the same triumphs and challenges I am experiencing.  It really has been a great new way to relate to them. 

Our time in Oklahoma was fantastic.   We had lots of quality time with family and friends.  I'll spare you all the details and let you experience it through pictures!

Hadley loves Abby!

Big G Lovin

A few of the members of Hadley's fan club

Bonding time with cousin Emery

She loves her Aunt Lo

Saying goodbye at the airport.  Love you Grammy and Pops!

 Leaving was bittersweet.  I love and miss my family in Oklahoma, but I think Hadley and I were both excited to get home to Houston.  We both missed an amazing man I like to call my husband and Hadley calls Dad(well not really since she can't talk yet).  We were so excited, we went straight from the airport to church so we could see him!  I love this man!

Sea World Adventures

On Sunday and Monday the Presley Family headed to San Antonio.  And when I say Presley family, I dont just mean Nathan, Hadley, and I.  We were there with the whole Presley clan. Big G and Kiki were there!

Along with lots of Aunts and Uncles and Cousins!

 

We got to go to the new water park.  It was a little cold for me to get in the water but that of course didn't stop the little kids!

My favorite part was the shows.  I didn't think I would enjoy seeing animals do tricks, but it was amazing!  I'm pretty sure I could watch Shamu over and over again.

We had a wonderful time getting to visit and spend time with everyone.  They are such a joy to be around!  We definitely miss getting to see them on a regular basis.  

I would like to say that Hadley had a wonderful time, but lets face it, she's just two months old.  Her favorite thing to do is sleep.  This is her "watching" the Sea Otter Show.  You can tell she's really soaking it all in.

We even made time to document our first family vacation with a picture with Shamu! Too bad we didn't communicate well enough to actually get Shamu in the picture!

We had such a great time.  Seeing all the families made me excited to think about how much fun we are going to have as Hadley grows up.  I love my family and look forward to all of our adventures together. 

January 5, 2011

It's actually been 2 months since Hadley was born, but I figured it wasn't too late to tell her birth story!  The problem is I'm not sure if I remember everything.  Which seems ridiculous, but let's blame it on the drugs!  

Hadley's due date was December 30.  My doctor decided he only wanted me to go one week past my due date.  I definitely did not want to have to be induced so the weeks before Hadley was born, Nathan and I got a lot of walking in!   We made frequent visits to the mall and outlet mall.  A few days before I was supposed to be induced I had a few signs that pointed to labor coming soon so my mom dad and mother in law all came down and we played the waiting game! We had lots of fun shopping and playing games.  It was fun even though I felt like a time bomb everyone was watching, just waiting for something to happen. That's a lot of pressure!!

However, Hadley decided she wanted to wait until we made her come out.  Nathan and I headed to the hospital around 4 am on January 5.  We got to the hospital where they hooked me up to the Pitocin.  Contractions started coming pretty quickly.  At one point the nurse came in and said they were coming too fast so she backed up on the pitocin.  I was definitely thankful for that!  I don't what contractions without pitocin feel like, but with pitocin...they are pretty intense.  

A few hours after starting pitocin, I told the nurse I was "thinking" about asking for an epidural.  She apparently had enough experience to know that meant she should go ahead and tell the anesthesiologist that I wanted one.  Contractions were coming pretty hard when she came back and told me they were really busy so it would be about 20-25 minutes before they could get to me!  Are you serious? 20-25 minutes?  At the rate these contractions were going, that seemed like a long time.  However, I didn't have a choice.  So I waited.... 5 minutes....15 minutes.....25 minutes.  Still no doctor.  35 minutes.....45 minutes...50 ..... 1 hr!   It seriously took them over and hour to get to me.  Needless to say, I've never been so thankful to see a doctor in my whole life!  I definitely know every woman has there own preferences when it comes to labor, but I am officially a fan of epidurals. It was amazing to go from feeling contractions to feeling completely pain free.  I'm sure my husband was also thankful to no longer have to be doing this the whole time!

They checked me shortly after giving me the epidural and said I was dilated to about a 7.  This was at 12:00 and the nursed informed  me we should expect a baby by about 3:30-4:00.  I was thinking 3:30-4:00 was wonderful!  Not much longer! But, at 12:45, the doctor came in to check and and said Hadley was coming within the hour!  I don't think I'll ever forget how I felt at that moment.  Before he came in, I was drugged up and ready to relax for a few hours!  My mind wasn't ready to have a baby in an hour!   We quickly had to change our mindset.  Hadley wanted out of there!  Hadley graced us with her presence at 1:21 pm after only pushing through four contractions!  It seemed so easy!   I was even smiling in between pushing!  After she was born, the doctor informed everyone that I was made to have babies, because everything went so smoothly!  I don't know how I feel about that, but It was a wonderful experience!

Hadley was able to spend the first few hours of her life meeting some very important people!

The most important people in her life, her mom and dad

Grammy and Pops

Ki Ki, who read Hadley her first book!

Aunt Lo

Her new best friend, Cousin Emery

and her future husband, Lincoln.

The first of many wonderful days for Hadley Lynn Presley!