Welcome, Maddie!

Well, I'm not exactly kicking this blogging thing in the butt, am I? I knew I'd start out slow, but... oh, well. I guess you just do what you can, right? To tell the truth, I came up with this great blogging plan. I would get up a couple hours before the girls a couple time a week and, bam- instant blogging time. What I didn't consider was #1: I. Am. Tired. And it's not so easy to drag this tired body out of bed! #2: Even after I do drag my tired self out of bed- I have things to do! Like, around-the-house, not-so-glamorous, mommy-type things. So, the getting up early thing is happening, it's just not producing the multitude of posts I had/have in my head. But, I'll just keep trying:)

I cannot possibly go any further with this blog without addressing the huge change and blessing that our family received this year- the addition of our beautiful daughter, Madelyn Mae. Madelyn, or Maddie, as she is mostly known, is approaching 5 months old, and I cannot even stand it. She is so completely adorable and yet, she is way too old! Time is flying, as cliche as that is, and I just need to get something down in writing before all these memories begin to escape me. I like to think that won't happen, but I know it will!

Our last picture at home as a family of three. We had a planned induction, so we took Katelyn to stay with Lolo and Lola the night before.

Katelyn, giving one last hug to Mama and "baby sister," as Maddie was known before she came into the world.

Last belly shot before leaving for the hospital. Did I mention that we had a scheduled induction? Oh, and that it was scheduled for 4AM? Yeah, that part wasn't so awesome. I believe this picture was taken around 3AM, right before we left for the hospital. I got about zero sleep that night. Well, maybe an hour, but really- does that even count?

In our room, induction under way.

I've struggled with how much to mention here about that day, because I want to be accurate, but I also want to try to remember only the good things. So, I will just say this- everything turned out well, and we ended up with a beautiful, healthy baby girl at the end of the day. But, we were not without a fairly significant bump in the road. A bump caused by what can only be described as a huge medication error (to our nursing/medical friends- think, pitocin bolus instead of fluid bolus. Not good.) It was a scary part of our day, and we came out bewildered, stunned, but most of all- grateful. Grateful that, despite a possibly life-altering error, we ended up delivering a perfectly healthy baby, and our family was completed.

Oh, and here I am, grateful for a popsicle!

There she is!

Madelyn Mae O'Flanagan

Born February 5, 2013

3:57PM

7 pounds, 11 ounces; 19 inches

Welcome to the world, sweet angel:)

OK, I hate this picture of myself, but I have to include two of our favorite people! Our amazing OB, Dr. Bashour, who delivered both of our daughters. This man even came in from home when Katelyn was born- delivering her at 3:09 in the morning! Not sure about everywhere else, but around here that is pretty much unheard of. You usually get whoever is on call if your baby is born outside of the normal 7a-7p hospital hours. And, equally amazing- we had the same nurse for the birth of both of our girls! Stacey was sooo great during my labor with Katelyn, and we were thrilled when we found out she was coming in at 7a on the day we were induced. Especially after all the craziness that ensued before her shift started, we were so happy to have Stacey come in to take over. She provided just the reassuring presence that we needed.

Maddie Mae, making her presence known!

Big girl! 

Truly, I know that Maddie wasn't a "big baby." But she was bigger than 6lb Katelyn! This is what Dr. Bashour kept reminding me during my 30 minutes of pushing;) Now, I know that I should not complain about 30 minutes. It's nothing compared to what some women go through, and for that I am so, so grateful. But, after so many months of hearing "Oh, the second one usually just pops right out!" I wasn't expecting to push for almost exactly as long as I did with K. 

Well-worth all the work:)

Eskimo kisses for Daddy

Look at those cheeks!

We had an ultrasound done around 36 weeks, and in the 3D images, we could detect some cheeks on our girl:) We were so excited to see them in person, and, of course, to smother them in kisses. Haven't stopped, to this day!

So much love:)

Meeting Grandma!

Meeting Uncle Nathan

Love at first sight:)

Katelyn was so excited to meet her baby sister!

Checking out the tiny baby toes

Meeting Lolo...

...and Lola

Getting in some Daddy-time. That and some iPad time;)

Opening her gift from baby Maddie- a travel Aquadoodle. So thoughtful, our Maddie:)

First kisses

"What's up with the crying, Mama?"

Meeting Grandpa

Family of four!

Heart = Melted

Another Daddy's Girl!

Getting ready to go home!

Funny how things change from one baby to the next. When Katelyn was born, we were in absolutely no hurry to go home. No joke, if they had let us stay a week, we would have. The hospital was so great, the staff was so nice and, let's face it- we were so scared! This time, though, we were ready to get the heck out! We just wanted to get home, have both of our girls under one roof and get started being a family of four.

No matter how smart you pack, you always end up with so. much. stuff!

Aahh! Two carseats! 

And, just because I am so certain this was my last pregnant-belly picture...

We are so, so grateful to have Madelyn as a part of this family. We are in awe of the blessing of our girls in our lives, and they are a constant reminder of God's goodness.

Hopefully it won't be another month before I share a little more of what our family has been up to!