Welcome sweet Story K!

On Thursday evening, February 16, our sweet daughter Story Katherine Cobb was born at Duke Hospital.  She was 8 lbs 6 oz and 20.5 inches long.  I was blessed to have the same doctor, Dr. Nieves, who also delivered Tag.  He is TERRIFIC!  I'm convinced that little grace was an act of God because there are probably 15+ doctors in that practice and  you don't get a say in who will deliver your baby... it's just whoever is on call during that shift.    

My water broke Wednesday around 11:30 pm and we went to Duke on Thursday morning at 7 am when contractions didn't pick up.  We were admitted and told to do some walking to try to get the contractions I was having to become regular--no luck!  So at 12:45pm we started pitocin and were on pitocin ALL day.  I ate a quick lunch before we got the pitocin and around 6pm my awesome doctor let me have half a turkey sandwich (plain), and some peaches. Although I was having contractions (according to the machine) I couldn't really feel them regularly.  At this time he told us he really felt like we wouldn't have a baby until well after midnight and to try to rest (HA).  Brentley went home to help our family members put Tag to bed and get a few things while I rested.  Then, we watched our Thursday night line up (30 Rock, Office, etc.) and around 10pm the contractions went from 0 to 1 on the pain scale to maybe an 8 or 9.  I couldn't believe how quickly I was jolted into active labor!  By 10:30pm they were off the scale and the Doctor checked me to find me only 5 CM dilated.  Since It had taken me all day to get from 3CM (what I was when I came to the hospital) to 5CM, I decided to get an epidural.  They administered that around 11pm saying it would work in about 20 minutes, and as soon as they left the room my contractions became so powerful they forced me to start pushing.  The nurse called the Doctor in to get ready, and Story came a few minutes later at 11:26pm!      

 I don't have any good pictures of Story when she was first born, but if I did they would be a bit scary looking.  She came out with a terribly bruised head from the quick labor, or as Brentley put it, my body contracting on her face :(  It took a day or so for the bruising to go away which then revealed these lovely pink, rosy cheeks.

These are pictures of our little Story Kate at 7 days old.  It's pretty amazing how much they change each day these first few weeks.   

 She favors Tag in some ways but is much different in others.  Tag had much chunkier arms and legs than Story has.  And Story has much longer fingers and toes than Tag has.  And, obviously Tag had way more hair (and a bigger head, I might add!).   

Here is a picture of Tag meeting Story for the first time.  He was pretty amused by her.  We are still practicing "gently" stroking her head or touching her feet.  He loves to say "Bebe" and he enjoys looking at her up close (supervised, of course). 

Below are a few pictures comparing Tag and Story at their first well baby check ups.  Story on the left and Tag on the right.  To me, they do favor quite a bit!

   

I'm still not convinced that the second baby is "easier," but I think my expectations were set more accurately this time.  Nursing is still hard as heck, but I think knowing all the aches and pains are normal makes it easier.  So far, Story is sleepier than Tag was, so at night I have had a few really nice stretches of sleep (Lord, please let this continue).  But, she eats nearly every 2 hours during the day (ouch).  Tag was almost immediately on a 3-3.5 hour routine, even at night.      

Tag is learning to adjust but it's not always easy for him.  He seems to want to be in my lap exactly when I'm feeding Story, and cries "mamamama" which hurts my heart!  I hate not being able to immediately comfort him, but I know he has to learn to share his mama and daddy with his sweet sister. 

Anyway, I can't believe we're now a family of 4!  My heart feels full and happy and I am so grateful that God saw fit to bring Story into our lives! Praise be to God! 

PS:  Story is a name that Brentley and I came up with, just talking through things we both love (Both being English majors and book nerds and all...)  Katherine is my great-grandmothers name, my grandmothers middle name, and my middle name, so I kept it going.  My mother also has the middle name "Kaye" which is a shortened version of the name.  I like the juxtaposition of a very different name with a very classic name.  I also like the option to call her "Story Kate," though I'll probably be the only one to do that, as B isn't a huge fan of double names.  I hope that Story will grow up loving her name and loving the women whose name she shares.  I think the world of Story's grandmothers-- they are strong, kind, beautiful women with servant's hearts.  I love these women!!