Scarlett Kennedy's Birthday Celebration!

Last Belly Shot: 39 weeks

Somehow I managed to smile for pictures through contractions. That's when the nurse walked in and said it was time to crank up the Pitocin. Yikes!

My pretty momma was a great support

The picture says it all

I can't believe she's mine! So blessed to have this little girl.

In this moment all I could think was "Is this real life?" It was the most surreal moment of my life to have the man of my dreams by my side when I was given the most precious gift I have ever received.

Uncle Ben is smitten!

I'm guessing she's screaming, "ROLL TIDEEEE!!!"

My sweet friends came to visit!

He was wrapped from the very first time he saw her :)

Obsessed with this little hat

This is the same dress that I came home in almost 24 years ago! My mom made it for me, so you can imagine how excited she was to see it on her first grandbaby.

We were so ready to go home!

Granny and Gramps

She's all mine! O my goodness!

Scarlett Kennedy Chandler: A Baby Story

I went to the doctor Monday, April 8th, 2013 for my 39 week checkup. He examined me and told me my body was very ready to have the baby. He said I would be going into labor very soon and asked if I would like to be induced the following morning. I was shocked! I am the ultimate planner and very Type A, so of course I jumped at the opportunity to have her in such a convenient way. I called Alex and then all of our parents. They drove to Nashville that night, so they wouldn't miss anything.

The following morning, Tuesday, April 9th, I was admitted at 6am to be induced. When they hooked me up to the monitors, they realized that I was already contracting regularly and was in early labor with contractions 4-5 min apart. I didn't even feel them! The doctor came in at 7:30am to break my water and start pitocin. I was at 2.5 cm dilated and very effaced. I was told that I was in active labor by the time I reached 4 cm dilated and that could take a very long time. They expected it to be well after lunchtime before I was there. 

The nurse checked me on a regular basis and told me that I could get some pain medication at any time, but couldn't get my epidural until I was 4 cm dilated. She said if I wanted pain medicine that I have to be examined first, so I told her I would try to go as long as possible because I hated being checked.

The contractions weren't really bad all morning even when the nurse kept turning up the pitocin levels. I was actually smiling and laughing with everyone in the room. The nurse said that had to change, so she turned it up even higher. By 11:30am, I was feeling very overwhelmed because the contractions were coming faster and stronger. I was so tired and I felt like I could barely work through them. That's when my attitude changed! I went from smiles to tears pretty quickly. I still didn't want the pain medicine yet because I was afraid I had not progressed enough. I finally caved in at 12:10pm and asked for the pain medication. The nurse checked me and I was at 5 cm dilated! I was so happy that I far enough along to get my epidural. That's when the worst part of my labor occurred. The hospital was extremely busy and I had to wait an ENTIRE HOUR before I got my epidural. By the time the anesthesiologist got there I was in so much pain and was literally growling at anyone and everyone. After I got the epidural (which was sooooo easy and DID NOT hurt), I was one happy girl! O and by the time I got the epidural, I had progressed to 7 cm. 

After the epidural, I was all smiles again and it just took a couple more hours to reach fully dilated and effaced. It then took 20 minutes of pushing and I had my sweet baby in my arms! It was the happiest day of my life and I am still in disbelief that I have such a beautiful baby girl. Alex and I are blessed beyond measure.