So, I’ve been pretty MIA from the blog the past few days. Weird how having a tiny human around that never sleeps for more than 2 hours at a time will do that…
Sunday morning started like this:
Still pregnant, and well-rested for the last time for who knows how long!
We got to the hospital around 11 AM to start the induction, and the first 12 hours we just hung out waiting for things to get going. I had a couple rounds of Cytotec, watched a bunch of crappy daytime television, and went for a few walks with Mike.
By that night things had progressed enough to start Pitocin, and for a few hours the contractions weren’t too bad so I walked around a lot, snacked a little, and tried to rest. Then things got a little more intense (and by that I mean the pain was pretty nuts and I was over it) and I knew I was ready for the epidural.
The anesthesiologist came and within half an hour the pain had diminished and I was definitely feeling pretty awesome. I wasn’t sure what to expect getting an epidural, but it went in quickly and easily, I could feel contractions but they didn’t bother me, and I could still feel my legs and move my feet a little bit (plus the baby’s heart rate stayed where it was and so did my blood pressure, which was nice).
The next 12 hours I napped off and on and things kept progressing. By 2 PM the nurses said I’d be ready to push soon, which honestly kind of freaked me out. But we listened to my pump up song (All These Things That I’ve Done by the Killers) and Mike reminded me that I could totally do this. I started pushing a little before 3 (holy crap, it is HARD – I have NO idea how people do that for hours. I was almost ready to give up after 15 minutes, but they put up a mirror so I could see her head and that totally motivated me)
By 3:21 Eleanor Jane arrived (TMI warning… the pushing made me feel really queasy and I ended up throwing up, which apparently just the right thing to do because it pushed her out!) She was 21″ long and 7 lbs 10 ounces. She’s an AMAZING baby and we absolutely adore her.
I cannot say enough about how absolutely wonderful the hospital staff was. All the doctors and nurses were so sweet and supportive, and I always felt like I had plenty of information and options.
We’ve been home for two nights now and I’m still getting used to being completely sleep-deprived and having milk end up all over everything, but I love this baby girl!
Mike is such a good dad, and you can already tell she adores him!
Aww Cate! She’s beautiful! Congratulations to you and your husband on the new addition to your family!
SHE IS SO CUTE!!! Holy cow, her face is so tiny!! I bet you just love her… what a peanut!
Congrats to you & Mike! Welcome, Ellie! Can’t wait to meet you!
Xoxo,
A
Aaaahhh!! I LOVE HER! She is gorgeous! Sounds like you were a champ – great job, mama.
You are amazing!! And she is too darn cute…so happy for you guys! Yay Melton family!!
Congratulations!! So happy for you guys
She is sooooo teeny tiny and so cute!! Congratulations to you both, that’s going to be one beautiful, sweet and well fed munchkin!
Aw, what a sweetie! She’s adorable! Congratulations!
Oh. My. Goodness. The cutest little button face on earth!!! When will she be accepting visitors?!
Congratulations! She’s adorable! I hope you continue to enjoy every moment.
Congratulations!! What a little sweetheart! Enjoy every precious moment.
Oh my goodness – goosebumps! A sincere congratulations to your entire new family. I am so, so happy for you both. Enjoy every moment!
Congratulations!! She is such a beautiful baby
I am so happy for you. Congratulations!
So happy for you!!!!!!! Love the name. Congrats!!! So happy everything is going well and that picture of mike with the baby is insanely precious!
Cate – she is so beautiful and the picture of Mike holding her is amazing. Thank you for sharing your birth story.
I know you are going to be an incredible mother. Sending so much love to your little family!
She is so precious! All three of you look incredibly happy. I’m so thrilled for you! Thanks so much for sharing your story
Congratulations!!!
Congratulations! She is beautiful.
Congratulations! She is beautiful!! So glad everything went well!
CONGRATS! She’s absolutely beautiful just like her momma! I want to see more pics!
congratulations!
Just found your blog — your baby is adorable. And 21 min of pushing on 1st baby – you go girl! That’s awesome!
That last picture is PRICELESS! What a great capture.
Congratulations she is adorable!
congratulations!
congratulations Cate! She’s precious!
She is beyond cute! Congrats again!
[...] from Cate’s World Kitchen welcomed a beautiful baby girl into this world. Congratulations, [...]
Awwww!! So cute!! Congratulations Cate, she’s beautiful!! Love the name too.
Ellie is beautiful, congrats!
Enjoy getting to know your baby girl!!
Love her name.
awww i’ve been waiting for this post
congratulations!!!! so so adorable.
Good job! You did awesome and she is beautiful. Enjoy getting to know your sweet little girl. I hope at some point we can get together for a “playdate”
You’re a rockstar and Elle is beyond precious! Rest up and enjoy every minute of it! Congrats Mama Cate!!
Congrats!! She is beyond precious!
I’ve never been here before- i was linked through from Peanut Butter Runner but that is without a doubt one of the most ADORABLE babies i have ever seen. Congrats!!!!
Oh Cate, Baby Ellie is beautiful! I honestly cannot wait to meet her! I’m so glad to hear things went well and you look amazing! Congrats to you and Mike!
Awww, she’s so cute! I looove the picture of daddy and daughter looking at each other.
Congratulations! She is beautiful!
Congratulations! Baby Ellie is adorable!
Best post ever.
She is absolutely gorgeous and I adore her name. Congratulations.
I just cried, I’m so happy for you! She is gorgeous…just so utterly gorgeous. I’m in love.
It’s so nice to know that after 41 weeks of waiting, and over 28 hours of being in the hospital there’s a light at the end of the tunnel!
Holy cats! CONGRATULATIONS!
And srsly, that last photo should be on cute overload.
Congratulations! She’s a beautiful baby girl. Your life has just improved a billion times over. Just wait … you’ll see!!
Congratulations! She is beautiful.
Congratultions! She is beautiful. Welcome Ellie
Was there ever any doubt you’d be a labor rockstar and that your baby girl would be completely precious? No way–we all knew everything would be just perfect. Congratulations to your new family of three!
She’s beautiful! Congratulations!
Oh Cate, she is so beautiful and sweet! Congratulations to you and Mike, and to little Miss Ellie (cutest name ever!) for finally braving the outside world
Ahhhh….so cute and precious. So happy you had a great birth (puking it all – hey it happens!). Enjoy every single moment! Congrats!