Valerie's birth

Well, I had the pleasure (ha ha) of being induced with my darling Valerie. I wanted to have a third VBAC, after successfully delivering McKay & Courtney in this manner. So, after being postponed a day due to maternity overcrowding, Mike & I headed to the hospital early in the morning on 9/30/04 to begin the induction...

I felt "ready" as my body had already started the process on its' own... shouldn't be long.... right?

My progress was very slow after beginning the Pitocin, so around noon (and at only 3 cm) I told Mike & my dad (in town from Michigan for the delivery) to go get some lunch so at least THEY wouldn't be hungry. Venetia (my pal) stayed behind to keep me company. It was a good thing. Thanks V.

Almost immediately after Mike & dad left things began to get CRAZY. Within 15 minutes I was feeling the urge to push... WHAT?

A quick phone call to Mike & dad in the Taco Bell drive thru around the corner from the hospital... HURRY, please hurry.

Everybody was scurrying, the doc was quickly called & after {checking things out} said, "okay, this baby is coming, it's time to push".

are you kidding me?

"Not Without My Husband!!!!!"

He said Mike better hustle because we might not have a choice, husband or no husband.

Dad dropped Mike off at the maternity entrance, he sprinted to our room and BADA BOOM * BADA BING... happy birthday Valerie!

Valerie Morgan Taylor
7 lbs 8 oz
20 inches

Dad parked & ran up in time to catch Valerie's first cry on the cell phone for mom back in Michigan (love you mom!!!)

The icing on top?

Within minutes of Valerie's birth, I got to eat a HOT taco. Seriously awesome.

extremely unflattering photo, but had to capture the moment
(do I seriously have man-hands?)

I feel so fortunate to have had Dad there to greet his 6th granddaughter and Venetia to encourage, cheer, videotape & especially ooh & aah.

Valerie, your birth was such a joy and that was surely indicative of what you bring to our lives on a daily basis.

We love you Val.

Courtney's birth

It all started at 6:00 am on 7/11/02. Mike & I woke up to watch the morning news as we lay in bed on another hot summer day in Arizona. We happen to catch a news story about the "birthday" of the 7-11 convenience store... and as it were, they were giving away FREE SLURPEES. Say no more... we were up, dressed and in line to get our free (albeit bite size) slurpees within the hour. What a way to start the day...

The festive mood continued as Mike went off to work & Jon, McKay and I spent the morning playing. We decided to keep the party going and went to McDonalds for lunch, and I distinctly remember feeling my first "real" contractions.

I decided we better head home because I WAS NOT READY TO HAVE THIS BABY !

oh no.

* wash all pink laundry in Dreft
* organize all pink laundry into closets & drawers
*pack hospital bag
* hurry & type the rest of my charts from my medical transcription job (how can I concentrate?)
* clean house
* do not panic

I remember when my sister-in-law April came over to pick up the boys & I was furiously vacuuming the house.
Our conversation,
April: "Don't you think you ought to call Mike?"
Me: "Oooeee (contraction sound)... okay, as soon as I finish"
April: No, seriously Beck, I think you should call"
Me:"ooEeee... almost done..."
April: "Beck..."
Me: "Can't.go.to.hospital.with.dirty.house. OOEEooee"
April: "Are you forgetting that Mike is in Phoenix & will be right in the middle of rush hour traffic?"
Me: "OOOEEEE.oooeee.OOOEEE.oooeee... (dialing mildly panicked)... Mike, you need to get home N-O-W!!!"

When we got to the hospital I was 6 cm dilated, and our darling Courtney was born a couple short hours & several pushes later (2 weeks early).

Courtney Marie Taylor
6 lbs 15 oz
20 inches

We waited 7 1/2 long years for you to join our family, and we couldn't be happier.

We love you Courtney.