Phebe at 1 Month

1 Month Old

Life with Phebe has been so wonderful. This baby is a d.r.e.a.m.! She only cries when she is hungry, tired, has a dirty diaper, or needs to be burped. She slept so much the first three weeks, I thought something could be wrong. And I had to wake her up even during the day to eat. But it turns out, she was just sleepy and has a very easy temperament.                                     

The interesting thing is that at the very beginning we actually thought she was quite sensitive and reactive-- and that she might have a more difficult temperament because she would randomly scream out when we moved her. I told Brent I thought she was screaming out in pain, and I had noticed that she didn't move one arm as much as the other, but I didn't think much of it. However, at an appointment with the doctor at five days old revealed she had a broken collar bone! Poor baby. There is nothing you can do for it except be gentle, but after that it was very clear that she was crying about that. Since it has healed, she has hardly cried at all (for an infant at least). 

In fact, we used a pacifier in the beginning, but haven't used one in over a week because she hardly cries! When you pick her up, she stops! I'm telling you, it's incredible. And I know it has nothing to do with me. This baby just has a very easy temperament. 

My mom told my sister KaRynn that Phebe could be put to sleep with two bounces, and KaRynn said she didn't believe her. But KaRynn came into town last week and was holding Phebe, and she said, "Oh my gosh! She's already asleep. Mom said she fell asleep in two bounces, and she was right!" 

The truth is, if you put her down after two bounces, her eyes will pop open and she might complain. But to put her to sleep, all I have to do is put her on my chest and pat her back a few times, and she's out. I just chill in an arm chair for ten minutes or so and put her down, and she's down! Can all my babies be like this, please?!

We aren't without challenges though: thrush has been an ongoing issue for over a month. So annoying! But I am very grateful that nursing is still going well. We have her two month appointment tomorrow, and I predict she will clock in at 13 lbs. She's a chunk! And we love it. I never thought before I had babies that changing diapers could be fun, but really it is because you get to see their thigh rolls, and for some reason that is just delightful to me. Ha ha. 

We also are concerned about her head/neck and think she may have mild torticollis. Tomorrow's appointment will help us know for sure. But you will notice that in all the pictures her head is turned towards her right. We work hard to encourage her to turn to the left as much as possible and hope this will not be a severe problem. 

Phebe smiles with a wide, open-mouth smile that is so cute. And she has started to coo. I love it. And the other day, I caught her looking at her own fist with a face that said, "Hey, wait, am I controlling this thing?" 

Brent and I are so much more relaxed as parents. When she was brand new, we knew we could move her or do anything around her and that she would still stay asleep. And I know that if I'm in the middle of helping Isaac with something and she starts crying, she can wait for a minute and be okay. I don't stress out. It's so satisfying to recognize so much growth in myself as I care for this new baby. 

We love her! 

"Stick 'em up!"

First Smiles

Dad and Isaac hanging out at the Pediatricians-- where we spent every day for the first
four days after the hospital because of her bilirubin levels. 

One Week Old

Blessing Day

Blessing Day

Out at a restaurant with Baba and Jiji-- newborns are so easy! 

Phebe's Birth

                                       

Just over a month ago we welcomed sweet Phebe Jean into our family. Phebe (pronounced Phoebe or fee-bee) is named after a fifth great-grandmother of mine, Phebe Draper Palmer Brown, who was one of my first ancestors to join the Mormon Church. She was born in Rome, NY, grew up in Canada, moved to Kirtland, OH, crossed the plains, marched with the Mormon Battalion to San Diego, and eventually settled Draper, UT, where she taught school and was the postmistress. She was a very courageous woman who did many hard things, including losing a child to a fire accident, losing her first husband, and raising three families besides her own biological children. Really, when I think about her life, I am awestruck. I can’t imagine doing what she did. I feel like a wimp! I can’t wait to meet her in the next life and learn from her. 

Phebe Jean is also named after my grandmother, Jean Sheranian, who I grew up next-door to in Los Angeles. She passed away two and a half years ago from ovarian cancer, and was very ill for her last year or so. But I remember her as an energetic, fun grandma. Really, I can’t think of anyone else who encapsulates the word vivacious more that she did. She truly was full of life: serving, planning, working, cooking, vacationing, reading, going to movies and concerts and the theater, and serving in the Church. 

And I feel like these two ancestors of mine were very likely present for Phebe’s birth. I did not have a profound spiritual experience, but I was told in the blessing that Brent gave me before we left for the hospital that I would have the help of ancestors. And while giving birth I felt more inner strength, steadiness, and calmness of mind than I knew I had.

Phebe’s birth was amazing. After laboring for two days to bring Isaac into the world, I was expecting another long labor, but Phebe was born less than eight hours after I felt the first contraction. In fact, we arrived at the hospital just an hour and a half before she was born! 

39 Weeks-- just two days before she was born
Isn't it funny how pregnancy makes your nose swell?

I had been preparing to give birth without an epidural. But since I had an epidural with Isaac, I wasn't sure A) if I wanted to have an unmediated birth and B) if I could hold up under pressure and actually do it, even if part of me wanted to.

I have nothing against epidurals, but my epidural experience with Isaac wasn't ideal. And there was part of me that wanted to do it just to experience it and see if I could. (Kind of like running a marathon, I'd say . . . except I'd never do that. Haha!) I decided to just take things as they went. I didn't set my expectations either way so that I could make the decision I needed to in the moment. But I did practice relaxation and breathing to prepare myself. 

I went into labor a little after midnight and labored own my own for about four hours before I woke up Brent. During that time, I focused on sleeping as much as I could and drinking as much as I could. I learned from Isaac's birth (the hard way) that rest and hydration are essential! 

And really, I was able to rest between contractions and stay positive and calm. It wasn't so bad. In fact, I wasn't worried about getting to the hospital at all. My contractions were manageable and were only 30 seconds-1 minute long. But once I got into the shower, they started coming 3 minutes apart, so my midwife said I should come in. 

Once we were packing up and heading to the hospital, however, it was clear we needed to get there fast. The contractions were really strong. (Thank you to Natalie who came over at the crack of dawn to watch Isaac!)

Brent helped me stay focused and calm and put counter-pressure on my back. But I wanted to get there ASAP. Consciously I didn't think I was that far progressed in labor, but I felt an urgency to get to the hospital. In the car, I kept telling Brent to hurry. 

When we got there, the nurses pretty much attacked me with my IV because I needed to get one round of antibiotics in my system before the baby was born. When the midwife checked me, she said, "You're at 9 1/2. We're going to have this baby before my shift ends (which was in about 90 minutes)." I couldn't believe it. 

In my mind, I freaked out, but only for a second: "Can I do this without an epidural? AH! I'm not sure. . . . Well, I guess I'm already doing it. So, we're just going to do this!!" 

The truth is, looking back, I was already in the zone-- meaning I was caught up in the moment taking one contraction at a time, not really thinking about how long it was going to take or how things were going to happen. In my birthing classes we had talked about this, but I had never gotten to this point with Isaac. It really is a different mental state that is really helpful when giving birth. It's like your body stops your mind from thinking too much so that you can stay calm. 

And with the help of my amazing midwife Titi, and my even more amazing husband, Brent, who wins the Husband Doula of the Year award, Phebe was born at 7:49 AM weighing in at 9 lbs 8 oz, 21 inches long! A big, fat, sweet baby! Brent caught her and cut the cord. Just look at that proud daddy: 

                                             

                                      

                                     

I was pretty wiped out, and honestly didn't even care that I had just had a baby. I was just glad labor was over! But it wasn't hard to fall in love with that sweet face. I couldn't believe how beautiful she was. 

Just look at those cheeks!

                                   

She looks like a 1 month old-- but she really is 1 day old!

                       

Isaac meeting his sister for the first time

Isaac's "Cheese!" Face

First Family Photo

My 1/4 Japanese Blondie Girl! 

After a birth like that, I'm glad we decided to name this baby girl Phebe. Just like her namesake, she has already taught me that I can do hard things!