Maggie is two weeks old today. At her two week check up, she was 8 pounds 14 ounces and 21 inches long, so she’s definitely growing.
I get a lot of questions asking how Elise is adjusting. I admit I was preparing myself for the worse, but there was no need. Elise loves Maggie and is always asking if she can touch her. She is very protective and concerned for Maggie’s well being. Elise reminds visitors to be gentle, and she also lets me know when the baby is crying or when she thinks the baby needs a drink. She gives Maggie a hug and a kiss everyday before she leaves for school; Elise is a sweet big sister. Here are some pictures of the McClellan dyad:
Maggie is already a week old – how did that happen? I’m enjoying my one on one time with her while Elise finishes up this last month at school. I am also enjoying re-discovering all the things I had to give up during pregnancy: coffee, wine, cold deli meat, and sleeping on my back. It’s so nice to sleep on my back (and not have 30 pounds protruding from my abdomen and torso) and make a sandwich without worrying whether I got the turkey hot enough in the microwave to kill listeria. It’s the little things.
After Maggie was born, we were taken to post partum for the rest of our stay at Texas Health Resources Plano Presbyterian. If you ever need a hospital, this is a nice one; the nurses were great and the food was good too. We really did confuse everyone though. All my paperwork said first time mother because this was my first pregnancy, but then we would tell them we already had a daughter and put Elise’s picture on Maggie’s hospital bed that puzzled them. One nurse asked, “Where did she (Elise) come from?” so we got explain adopting Elise and other things several times.
Our first night is kind of haze except for when things made us call the nurse like ice, pain pills, and baby scares. I slept on ice because giving birth does affect the body – good times. One time during the night, the nursery nurse came in and heard Maggie cough and swiftly grabbed the bulb syringe and suctioned her mouth because she saw amniotic fluid which was clear. Later in the night, I heard something and there is brown liquid spilling out her mouth – lovely. Don’t worry it was just dried blood, so the nursery nurse suctioned her stomach which helped me not worry.
After we got through the night, we had many lovely visitors on Thursday who brought cupcakes and flowers; I think I ate most of the cupcakes. Elise popped in a couple times; she is very excited about her little sister and worried if she cries. Then it was almost Friday and time to get ready for the trip home.
Friday morning, our pediatrician came to check and everything was great. We used the same pediatrician we use for Elise, but she didn’t know we were pregnant. She was very excited and happy for us. Then Elise was delivered back to us, so we could all leave as a family. We survived the five minute car ride from the hospital to our house just fine.
On Wednesday, May 11 at 3:28 pm Maggie Lynn McClellan was born. She weighed 7 lbs. 4.5 oz and was 19 and 1/4 inches long. For those who want a few details: My induction started at 7:45 am, and I was 10 cm around 12:30pm, but little Maggie was turned a little sideways. (I don’t remember the medical terms to describe Maggie’s position, but if she didn’t move she wasn’t going to come out.) We had to wait a couple hours and try different positions to see if she would turn. Eventually when I started pushing around 2:15 pm, she turned and was born by 3:28 pm. Overall, a pretty swift experience. These are pictures of our first hours at the hospital. Maggie is home now and doing great, but I’ll save those pictures and more from the hospital for another post.
WARNING: You will see my shoulder.
A letter written the night before:
Dear Maggie, I’m ready. Maggie I have experienced my body changing as you grow. I have felt your punches, kicks, and jabs. Now, I am ready to know you: your sweet little eyes, nose, lips, ears, fingers, toes, your cries and tears. Will you have black hair like my infant picture? Who will you take after? a grandparent? an uncle? an aunt? Soon we will find out. And everybody is waiting and wanting to meet you especially your big sister Elise. Elise is ready to play and to help and to love. You two are our precious, sweet girls, and I’m glad the time has come for you to join us. We love you Maggie.
On Friday, Elise came home with a present for me that she made at school. It started out as, “Mom, I got a present for you,” but quickly evolved into, “Can we open it?…I want to play with it…I want my present…I want my book, pen, and bracelet.” Well, what can you expect from an almost 3 year old. We had a nice weekend though it was our last weekend with just Elise. Big changes are on the way in just a few days – crazy.
So, Monday Elise predicted that Maggie would be born today, Wednesday, but no such luck. Elise did correctly predict that we were pregnant and having a girl, so she’s 2 for 3. She even woke up today and said, “The baby is coming out today;” somehow she was so sure. Though Maggie did not come today, there is an end in site. Scott and I will go to the hospital at 8 pm on Tuesday, May 10 and the induction will start Wednesday, May 11 at 8 am; therefore, Maggie will have no choice but to come May 11. Unless, I am one of those people who takes forever, and she doesn’t come until May 12 – sigh – lovely. Either way almost done. Here is a final photo of me at 39 weeks and video of Elise talking to Maggie. Much of what Elise says is just silly talk but at the very beginning she is talking to Maggie telling her to come out, and if you stick it out to the end, you see her fall off the couch – good times. Enjoy!
Elise loves to wear tutus and sparkly things and thinks they are appropriate for just about any activity, so here is video of her playing with dad and practicing her dance for her dance recital in June. You can see why Scott hopes Maggie has a little tomboy in her to dial down the girly sparkliness.
Comments (2) 
We really did confuse everyone though. All my paperwork said first time mother because this was my first pregnancy, but then we would tell them we already had a daughter and put Elise’s picture on Maggie’s hospital bed that puzzled them. One nurse asked, “Where did she (Elise) come from?” so we got explain adopting Elise and other things several times.
Themocracy