Getting Easier

Morgan and I are looking a lot happier these days.

That's partly because my stitches are healing and I finally fit back into a pair of my old jeans again.

And part of it comes from Morgan deciding that she can eat at Mom's. The first night home from the hospital she went from 6:00 at night until noon the next day without eating anything except one bottle. She was wailing and hungry, and I was sore and desperate, but she just wouldn't latch on. That next day we visited a nice lactation consultant, who helped a lot, and Morgan's pediatrician helped me to get a free breast pump from my insurance company. It's taken a little while, but I think we've finally cleared that hurdle. She's now eating steadily and everyone involved is a lot happier.

However, as her eating disorder resolved itself, she began struggling with sleep. She would fight and fight to stay awake, and it seemed like the only way she would sleep is if someone was holding her. That was cute for about an hour, and then I realized that my whole life would be spent feeding and holding her. Being slightly more ambitious than that, I frantically started reading all the baby help books I had received as gifts and confidently laid aside without opening. One book introduced a new concept to me: baby doesn't have to be asleep before you put her down for a nap. Here I had been rocking her to sleep and then putting her in bed - no wonder she didn't like that. I also decided that she could cry herself to sleep a little and it wouldn't kill her. Since last night on, I've tried putting her to bed when it's nap time, asleep or not, and let her cry a little bit, and it's worked just fine. See?

Hopefully this combination of eating well and sleeping well at the same time (remarkable concept, I know) will keep Morgan looking this cute and healthy and her mommy sane.

And here's the reason Morgan always wants to be held now: Grandma Boizelle. The woman who can't get enough of her first grandchild and has to tear herself away from the crib. My mom is a notoriously deep/long sleeper, and yet she keeps sending me to bed in the middle of the night so she can take care of Morgan. That's the true mark of grandmotherly devotion.

And since she's been here, it's been homemade meals every night and wonderful baked goods. Erik nearly cried when he came home and saw this.

Life is good, Morgan is a blessing, and life is truly getting easier every day.

Thus Shall She Be Called...

We have been a bit busy and forgot to tell everybody what we named our sweet baby. We chose the name Morgan Jane Merkley. The name Morgan is a family name from Lauren's side. In the 1800's the Morgans were coming from England to Nauvoo, Illinois. The father passed away on the journey and some of the Morgan family was taken in by a guy named Christopher Merkley, my great-great-great grandpa. None of the other names we had picked out fit, so there you have it!

This is Morgan's Grandma Boizelle.

This is Morgan's Nana. This picture is right after labor, so Morgan looks like she has been in a boxing match.

This is Morgan's great-grandma Godfrey.

We got Morgan dressed up for her first BYU game day! Without any prompting she made the "touchdown" signal. I have never been so proud in my life. Let's hope it is a good omen.

More Pictures

Her toes are almost as long as Lauren's.

A BABY!!

We announce the birth of Ms. Merkley!! We are fairly certain on a name, but are just trying it out for a day or two. She was born at 00:05 (12:05 AM) on Monday morning. She weighed 8 pounds 10 ounces, is 21 inches long, and was speaking in complete sentences by the time I cut the cord. Lauren is doing well, but is very tired after starting contractions some 20 hours before the main event. She already has a double chin like her daddy!

And we're still waiting

I haven't felt much like posting any pictures lately - or taking them for that matter - because no matter what I do I feel huge. However, I am comforted by Erik who says that I don't look pregnant from behind. This picture was taken two weeks ago, so just visualize the bump a bit bigger and lower.

Last week at the OB I was 80% thinned, dilated to a 1, and "in launch position." She stripped my membranes, which caused discomfort but no labor. Basically, I could go any minute, which is killing me. I think I'd rather be told, "Sorry, this baby isn't coming for at least another two weeks. Get over it." Then at least I wouldn't wake up every morning disappointed that I didn't go into labor, and would stop interpreting every twinge and pain as the beginning of the end. I have another appointment today, so maybe if I'm lucky she'll say "You're dilated to a 4! Let's get this baby out." Probably not realistic, but I'm so done with this pregnancy thing. We are so anxious to see her and hold her. Here's how Erik's holding up:

He's better than I at this waiting game. He prays that everything will go well with the delivery and that she will come when she's healthy and ready. I pray morning and night that she will come NOW. Even so, we're down to 13 days...