Monday, October 19, 2015

Miss Beth, meet Grandma&Grandpa

We were so lucky to have my parents come spend a week in Japan with us. We were able to show them quite a bit of Okinawa while they were here, but best of all Beth was able to meet her grandparents! She gave them the best snuggles and smiles each day! 

We went to the aquarium, which is the 3rd largest in the world! It has three whale sharks that were fun to watch. 


We went to three out of the nine UNESCO sites on the island. The famous red Shuri castle, the sacred site of Sefa-utaki, and the beautiful Shikinaen garden.

We had a blast at the 100¥ stores and local grocery stores. Even after being here half a year I can still spend hours in those stores just wondering what everything is. And it's always fun to try new treats. 

We walked through the southeast botanical gardens. They are so beautiful and peaceful. 

We caught low tide to explore the beach and collect seashells. 

We got a famous Cocok pedicure. Well my mom and I did. Those Japanese nails though! 

We went to Okinawa world and saw a little bit of everything that Okinawa has to offer. (And dealt with the explosion of a lifetime from Miss Beth in middle of walking through a dark cave) 

We even had time for Kokesai Dori on our way back to the airport, where they finally tried some McDonald's in Japan! 

We ate at our favorite Japanese restaurants, including ramen- several times, sushi- where mom only ate chicken, curry- Japanese and Indian, and all you can eat cook yourself teriyaki steaks! I was spoiled with my moms home cooking a few nights and my dads breakfasts! 

Beth was a champ for each busy day! She may not remember this week, but it was something pretty special to have grandparents in Japan to meet the sweet babe. She is already a grandmas girl, and loves grandma and grandpa so much! 
My mom and dad spoiled us so much, not only by flying across the world to see us, but each day they were here! We miss them already and can't wait to go home soon to be back with them! 

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Evelynn Beth Goode

Our sweet little princess is finally here! Evelynn Beth Goode was born on Monday September 21, 2015 at 3:33p at the US Navy Hospital on Camp Foster in Okinawa. She weighed 7 lbs 8 oz and 20.5 inches long. Lots of dark hair and beautiful in every way! She had the perfect entrance into the world and is already living a perfect little life. 
Beth has been such a fun and good baby. It's not often that she cries for more than a few minutes before I realize what she needs. She sleeps for four to five hours at night, waking up about twice. We love dressing her and putting bows on her. She scratched herself for the first time at two weeks. Passed her left hearing test at two weeks. And had her first blow out diaper at two weeks. She has acquired lots of nicknames, Baby B, B, Bethaboo, Betharoohoo, pumkpin butt, and mama's favorite Miss Beth. She can pucker her lips so tight, her favorite face to pull. Beth is a little Popeyes since her first day with a left eye that likes to stay shut. She gets the hiccups several times a day. Her mama and daddy smother her in kisses every day, and love her more each time we look at her! Miss Beth has already changed our lives and we can't wait to spend the next years raising our beautiful daughter. 
That smile! 
Going home, so teeny! 
The cutest sign my Okinawa friend made for Beth to come home to
Kissy faces everyday 
Baby Girl's first day at church

The detailed birth story is for my own diary purposes, so skip it if you'd like, read it if you'd like. 
Throughout pregnancy I had not felt any contractions, I didn't get Braxton Hicks, and didn't know what a true contraction would feel like. At about 37 weeks I realized that I was contracting, my stomach would get super tight and hard, I just didn't know that was what a contraction was. But no pain at all! Early on Sunday morning I was woken up by some menstural cramps, which I hadn't felt in months! They were a bit uncomfortable, so I laid in bed until morning. I was texting my mom asking if this meant that baby was on her way. I started to notice that with each cramp, my stomach was tightening. They were happening quite often, a few each hour, and very irregular. I didn't want to get my hopes up so I called them Braxton Hicks and went to church. I was a little uncomfortable. After church we went to a friends house for dinner. I tried to play it cool through each contraction, I didn't want anyone to know cause I'm so shy and awkward like that, and made I it back home around eight. I started to time the contractions which were about 5 minutes apart lasting 1 minute. I let this go on for 4 hours. In the birthing classes we were told to go in at this point, so we headed to the hospital in mild pain during the contractions. At midnight I was dilated to 4cm, and 50% effaced. The doctor on shift sent us home and told me to come back when the contractions were 2 minutes apart. So I went home and cried. I was frustrated to be sent home, I was in pain, and Tyler was lucky enough to fall asleep which made my hormonal self upset. So I cried. The contractions were getting more intense and I was getting more emotional. At about five my contractions were 2 minutes apart and I was not happy! Tyler called and talked to the doctor again and decided to take me back into the hospital. I was refusing, I was still crying, but I didn't want to go in just to be sent home again. So yes, Tyler pretty much drug me out the door to go. At six I was dilated to 6cm and 90% effaced, Yay! Only about thirty minutes later and I was in a room getting an epidural! That point on was smooth sailing. I couldn't stop wondering why people choose not to get the epidural! Tyler slept on the chair next to me, while I was too excited to sleep. They checked me again at about ten, I was 8cm. And again at noon, my cervix was gone! The doctor gave the baby time to move down on her own, which I was grateful for because when three came around and I started pushing it didn't last more than 20 minutes. Tyler was getting excited with each push as he could see her head (with hair!) coming through. It was the craziest feeling when she slid out and was put right on my chest, so many emotions! First thing I asked was, it's a girl? I don't think I stopped smiling at the perfect baby in my arms. The doctor and nurses kept asking her name, which was still undecided. They asked how I felt, all I could think was how exciting and fun that was! Call me crazy, or judge that I had an epidural, but delivery really was fun!