Reasons I am the best mom in the world...

Ha! Is it allowed for me to toot my own horn? I am going to guess that it is, but only because I have the best baby, which makes it pretty easy to be a good mommy. I really don't mind getting up with her at night and lose sleep. She lets me take a nap during the day. I don't mind that she spits up on me after almost every feeding. It means she is getting enough to eat and I can always wash my clothes. I don't mind when she fusses because the times she smiles at me, melts my heart and makes me forget about all the times she has cried. I don't mind that there are days I don't get to change out of my pajamas or take a shower because it means I get to spend the whole day snuggling up with my baby. And I don't mind when she make messes and I have to give her a bath because she loves the bath so very much and it so cute just laying there. Mads- You truly are the light of my life. Every morning when you smile at me, it fills my heart with an inexplicable amount of joy. Even when you cry, I love that I get to comfort you and hold you. I can't get enough of you, my sweet baby girl. I want to hold you ALL the time, but resist the urge, knowing you need your own time too. But I want you to know, that if you ever need me to hold you, I will be there. I love you doodlebug. I am so proud to be your mommy. XO Mommy

How M came to be

And so it begins. A new chapter in our lives. An amazing chapter. A chapter we have waited, dreamed and prayed for. And with that change, comes a change in the blog. It will now focus on the ever exciting life of parenthood and the growing angel that has completely consumed our lives. I am very proud to introduce our daughter: Madalyn Isabella Pearl Taylor Born July 4, 2012 at 10:29 am She weighed 7 pounds 14 ounces and was 20 inches long. Her head measured 13.5 cm around. Perfection.

As I sit here and write this, Miss Mady is talking up a storm. She is kicking those strong legs of hers and telling me stories. I love listening to her. It is quite possibly the best sound in the world. Although, it was nothing like hearing her cry for the very first time. *MUSIC TO MY EARS* On July 1, while talking to my brother, I thought my water had broke. I had just felt a "gush" and was sure that this was it. Tom and I went on a walk to see if the gushing continued and I was sure it had. We decided we needed to go to Labor and Delivery. When we got there, I was checked and told that it was just a bit of amniotic fluid that was leaking but my water hadn't broken. They checked me and I was dilated to a 1 and was 75% effaced. I walked the halls and climbed stars for an hour and was rechecked only to be dilated to a 1 1/2. Early active labor was what they called it and was sent home. The doctor was sure I would be back very soon. On Monday, the back labor really began. And it was painful, but I had no idea what was to come. I hardly slept that night, I walked and bounced on the ball as much as possible. Tuesday, the contractions were 6-7 minutes apart, consistently, but were gaining in pressure and pain. At noon, I called my mom and asked her to come get me and take me to Labor and Delivery. We got there at about 2:30 and was told that I was between 2 and 3 centimeters dilated and that I would be checked in. We were gonna have a baby!!!! At about 5:30, I was finally put into a room. I was in so much pain at this point, but I was bound and determined to make it through this au natural. I took showers and swayed. I moaned. I breathed. I walked. But nothing seemed to help and I was not really progressing, nor was I resting. At 1 am on the 4th, I received the epidural, which was AMAZING! The doctor who gave it to me was great and I hardly felt anything going in. I was able to relax a bit, but only after they sat me up because I couldn't feel anything beneath my neck (eeeekkkk!). Daddy was very tired and was passed out next to me as we waited. The pressure of the contractions was still there, but I was doing much better. At 7 am, I was at 7 cm and 90% effaced. I called my mom to come back to the hospital so she could wait in the waiting room until our princess had arrived. By the time she got there, the doctors were ready to break my water (8:30 am). I was 8 cm and 95% effaced. And then it was all down hill!!! Contractions came right on top of each other. I just remember thinking, "And I wanted labor to start???!!!!" At 9:29, I started to push. There were two times I wasn't sure I could do it any more. I had amazing nurses and my mom ended up staying in the room the whole time. She helped me so much. Between her and Tom, I am sure that is why I did so great. The nurses told me that I was doing so well and that I needed to come back and teach other ladies how to do this. Ha!!!! At around 10:25, this little girl was ready to come out. Jim Brickman was playing on the Ipod and there was not a doctor in site. The nurse was yelling, "We've got a delivery in here!" And she was whistling. As she held the baby's head in, she told me not to push. I am thinking, "You've got to be kidding me, right? This baby is coming out now!!!!" At 10:29, one hour after I began pushing, Madalyn was born. And she was perfect. She had her cord wrapped around her neck, but they were quick to remove it and lay her on me. It was the most amazing experience in my life. They grabbed her to clean her off, and daddy and Yama followed while they stitched me up (2nd degree tear). They dressed her in her first outfit and took pictures. She was beautiful. Perfect. She even had red hair (Aunt Melba would be proud)!!! It was then that Tom and I decided on her name. My great grandmother was also born on the fourth of July. It seemed only fitting that she get her name. So, Mady was named Madalyn Isabella Pearl. And the name fits her perfectly. We spent 3 days in the hospital after she was born. She had a bit of jaundice, so after a night under the bilirubin lights, we were able to bring our perfect, healthy daughter home. We stopped by Tom's parents on the way home to let his brother meet her. When we left their house, we went the back way, only to find out the last bridge we needed to cross was down, so we ended up driving all the way to Sacramento and then home. It was nuts!!! But Mads was a trooper! I wanted to make sure I got this down so that one day, Mady can read how she came into this world, and to make sure I didn't forget anything important. I am so blessed to have such a beautiful, happy baby. She truly is a great baby, with few complaints in the world. She is either hungry, tired or has a diaper that needs to be changed. At 6 weeks, she is smiling, cooing and giggling. She has a pretty good schedule of going to sleep at 11 p.m. and waking up at 3 to eat and then back to sleep until 7 or 8. She is growing so much and I cannot wait to see her continue to grow. I cannot thank everyone enough for all of the love, prayers and time they have spent on us. We feel so very blessed for all that you have done for us. We loved that Auntie Jenn came out to visit the week after she was born. I felt horribly spoiled by my mom, Peter, Tom and Jenn. They helped so much with taking care of Mady so that I could get some sleep and rest. I am thankful for all that they do now so that when I need a break, they make sure I have one. I know I am babbling. I just feel like I have so much to tell. Hopefully the next post will be much more entertaining. :)