Polly Janene Marcum
August 1, 2017 | 9:13 pm
9 lbs 3 oz | 22 1/4" long
Our darling Polly (her middle name is after Chris's mom) arrived on Tuesday and we're in newborn heaven over here. With the other two girls, my water broke spontaneously (before I had even any signs of labor! It was the best!), but Tuesday morning I woke up to hard contractions and I knew immediately she was on her way and this was going to be a different experience. They were coming every 10-12 minutes at 4:30 am, so I rolled over and told Chris "I think today is the day" and went for a walk at the crack of dawn to see if I could get the contractions coming any faster.
They didn't. All day long, they were 9-10 minutes apart--sometimes even further. But the intensity grew immensely to the point that with each one, tears would pour out of my eyes and I couldn't talk. I could barely breathe. Having never labored this way, everyone kept telling me, "You'll just know when it's time. They'll be one after another and you won't be able to talk or walk." They weren't one after another, but it was all in my lower back. I started having Chris push back on the pain with each one because I felt like my back was going to break. By late afternoon, I was so exhausted and in so much pain, Chris called my doctor and told her what was going on; That the contractions weren't getting closer, but they were so intense and extended, lasting nearly 2 minutes at times, he was getting worried. They sent me up to the hospital, but I was sure they were going to send me home because the timing was so inconsistent. After they observed for an hour, I had dilated to a 5 and with each one building and getting stronger and stronger, they concluded she was in a posterior position, which was causing the laboring inconsistency, and definitely on her way. They gave me an epidural as fast as they could (thank. you!) and she was born less than 2 hours later after just a few pushes.
As soon as they laid her on me, everyone said how big she looked and started guessing her weight and length! (For reference, our other girls were in the low 7 lb range and average 18-20" length.) So we were very surprised to see Polly weigh in at 9lbs 3 oz and over 22 inches long. She has a full head of dark hair, puckered lips and the same, beautiful, dark ivory skin tone as her sisters--but unlike her sisters, she doesn't fit in any of her newborn jammies--those long legs!
When Greta (7) and Faye (3) came to meet her Wednesday morning, the scene melted my heart. It was love at first site. They were absolutely in awe and so proud of Polly for nothing more than being cute and being their sister. They talk about all the plans they have for their trio in the highest voices and Greta keeps looking at me and saying, "Am I going to babysit?!" Faye continues to ask, "Is Polly a boy or a girl?" Haha!
Many of you know, after listening to this week's podcast, I have been rooting for another prime birthdate baby. While one is technically not a prime number, I'm very happy with the 1. Not only is it odd, it's the only number (besides 0, which doesn't even count when you're talking dates) that is neither prime nor composite. It's a very special, unique number--perfect for our girl.
Chris, Polly and I came home from the hospital Thursday morning and we're settling in as a family of five. It's a weird and wonderful feeling to know our family is complete. We're all here. Our home is full. Our hearts are full. Three, perfect, sweet, beautiful little girls--we're truly in heaven.
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Congratulations! Polly is such a beautiful name!
Congratulations on your precious baby girl, she is beautiful!!! I love her sweet little name too!
Congratulations on the new addition to the family - what a sweetheart!
Congratulations!
Congratulations! She is perfect ???????????? x
Congratulations. So happy for your beautiful family.
Sweet baby! Congratulations to your family. <3
This is so beautiful! Polly is just perfection. Congratulations to your happy family and well done Momma!!!
Wow! She's beautiful! Congrats. I had big babies, too (10 and 11 pounders). The benefit is that they are nice and sturdy and healthy!
Congratulations, she is lovely, and the look on Greta's and Faye's faces say it all. I'm happy you are all well. Welcome Polly!
Congratulations! May your sweet family be blessed. :)
Congratulations! Polly and I are middle name twins... and I've never seen it spelled like that anywhere else! Mine is a combination of my grandmothers' names, Janice & Irene = Janene. Thrilled to share it with her!
Congratulations Chris and Julia!! She is beautiful!
Congratulations from one mom of three girls to another. Girls are so fun! And what a lovely, lovely name.
Congratulations Marcum Family! What a beautiful Baby Girl. I love picture of all your girls.
Congratulations! Much love to you all ????
She is absolutely perfect! Congratulations!
Got emotional reading this! I can tell how much you love your girls. We hardly know each other but I just wanted to tell you congratulations. She is beautiful!
Oh my goodness! She is a beauty... just like the others. Perfect. Congratulations.!
BTW.... thanks again for the "new mailbox post"...definately inspired us. We ordered, received and installed it. Loving the new look.
"So whaddya think?" I said to my cat. "Has Julia had this baby, or what?" Then the page loaded and I gasped so loud the cat bolted off the couch while I talked to the screen like a cartoon character. "Oh! Oh my gosh, lookit her she's such a beautiful little burrito!"
All of which is to say, I'm so glad for you and your new human. Thank you for letting internet strangers share in your joy. The picture of Faye and Greta looking at their new sister brought me genuine happiness, and I'm so glad you're all together and well.
Don't usually comment, but the joy and openness in your post moved me, that photo of the girls with Chris brought a tear to my eye. Thank you for sharing such a personal and special part of your life with us readers! Congratulations to your beautiful family and may God bless those precious girls!
CONGRATS! Welcome Polly!
This morning I said to my husband "I wonder if Julia had her baby yet" and then came here to check. You just made my day! So glad you are all doing well. Good job Julia! And I LOVE her name :)
How beautiful your story is! What is more joyous than bringing a little life into the world?! Welcome to the 3 little girls club!!
Three beautiful girls truly is a blessing. Welcome to the club ????
She's beautiful! Congrats to you all for your sweet baby, Polly.
Congratulations Marcum fam!! I'm a longtime reader + podcast listener but rare commenter. Polly is perfect!
Congratulations, she's beautiful!
My heart is so full for all of you!!! She was so meant to be! Congrats again!!
Congratulation! She is beautiful!!
Cutest photo with all 3 girls!
This makes me so, so happy!!! My baby is 2.5 months and this brought up all the feels. ❤️ We struggled with infertility too, and while of course all babies are indescribably special, it feels that much sweeter when you get to meet that little one that's you've waited so long for. Sending so much love and congratulations to all SIZ (Charlie too!) of you!
Fab-tab-u- lus news and that name????❤️????❤️
Congrats to all!
Congrats!! So happy to hear everyone is home and healthy. I listen to your most recent podcast this morning and wondered if your lovely lady had arrived yet.
Side note, back labor sucks dude!! Especially when it goes from your back to you front and then back again..ugh, glad you were able to find comfort!!
Congrats again!!
Beautiful. Just beautiful!
Happy for you!!! What a wonderful blessing!
Congratulations to the whole family! Polly is beautiful!
Congrats! She's beautiful!
The most wonderful picture of the girls with Chris! Congratulations to you all- Thanks for allowing us to tag along in your journey.
Congratulations! She's adorable!
Congratulations!!! She is so beautiful!! Love her name.
My daughter was 11lbs 11oz at birth (!!!) and nothing we brought to the hospital fit her! I found those gowns with the elasticated bottoms worked really well for her long legs.
Beautiful name and beautiful family. Congratulations - now go take a nap!
Congratulations to your sweet family!!! The picture of Chris with the girls is so precious.
She is lovely perfect little Polly! Congratulations! My "little" boy was 10.2 pounds! They're all beautiful, but there's something special about a big baby
Congratulations Marcum family!!! ❤️ Thank you for sharing your beautiful family with us!!! ????
And please find the wonderful book, Of Course Polly Can Ride a Bike, one of my childhood favorites, to read to her! Congratulations, she's just perfect.
Polly and I share a name!!! Well, actually I'm Pollie (my mom wanted my entire signature to be "above the line"), I oft wish my name was spelled with a "y" for simplicity reasons. I have only ever met one other Polly and she was 40 years older. Generally people get a smile in their face when they meet me for the first time. However, forget Starbucks! There I'm - Holly, Molly, Pauley (said like a mobster), Paula, Pauline, or even Colleen. As a kid I got a few "Polly wanna cracker?" jokes, but that was the best any bully could come up with. So, to sum it up, I love that my name is familiar yet unique. I'm certain your beautiful Polly will love it too!
Congratulations!!
What a beautiful trio of names... and little girls. Congratulations.
Welcome to the world, little one! Polly is my mothers name and I have always thought it beautiful and unique. Congrats Marcum family!
I can't wait to meet her!!! And I'm so happy for you guys!
Congrats!
SO much baby love. Congrats on your new addition! What a lovely family :)
Congratulations! I feel for you on the back labor. I had both of my boys natural without epidurals and all of mine was back labor! She is precious!
What a beautiful picture of your girls meeting their sister. Congrats to you and your whole family. What a wonderful time.
CONGRATULATIONS Marcum Family!! She is just darling, and I love her name! That picture of all the girls and Chris completely melted my heart!
A comment for Greta -- As an older sister myself of 6 years to my little brother, be careful what you wish for about babysitting! LOL! It seems like fun now.... :-)
Congrats!! So thrilled for you and your family, my family also has big babies (I was 9 lbs and my dad was 10 lbs) - my oldest was almost 10 lbs and youngest almost 9 lbs (he was to weeks early!) Enjoy these bliss-filled new born baby weeks
She is BEAUTIFUL!! Congratulations.
Congratulations!!
Congratulations and welcome to the world Polly! Blessings to you all!
You're giving me baby fever!! Congratulations! She is such a little darling!
Welcome Polly!!! Congrats! Number one is indeed a very special... Faye is so funny cute...
Congratulations Marcums, she is just beautiful! So so happy for you. Enjoy this beautiful special time ♡
*crying* and seriously contemplating pushing my husband for another baby. Your last bit about your family being complete is just beautiful
Okay totally watery eyes over here! Sweetest post OF ALL TIME!! So so happy for you guys! Dying to get my hands on her but giving you guys some much needed space ???? Love love love you!
She is just lovely... Congratulations to your family! And it looks like the nursery suits her perfectly!!
Ahh, so happy for y'all! Congrats! She is perfect, and I love her name. Hope Mama is recovering well!
So happy for you and what a beautiful name. I hope you are resting and letting dad do all the hard work from here on out!
Congratulations!! I can so relate to your birth story. With my daughter my water broke and then labor started pretty soon after, but with my son the contractions came much like yours--hard and painful, but so spaced out. I was in denial that I was in labor until my husband and I went out to dinner and I couldn't talk to the waiter while having a contraction. It really messed with my head to have a labor so different than my first was!
Congratulations!!! She is beautiful and what a pretty name ????
Yay!!! Congrats to you & your beautiful family! So happy you are both doing well! And super cute name! Good job guys! ????????
Congratulations! She is absolutely adorable.
The most perfect name!! Congratulations you four!
Beautiful! Congrats.
Congratulations. She looks just perfect and I love her sweet, sweet name. Because I'm a nerd and lover of prime numbers - 8117 (8-1-17) is a prime number. That's important, ya know?
Take some time to enjoy your family. We'll be here when you get back.
Can I second this? Thanks for sharing the great news! Now GO, luxuriate in that newborn and don't dare come back here for at least a week or two! Sending love to your whole family, she is just beautiful and I can understand why the big sisters are so proud.
Absolutely! My hope for you is that you can take a "leave" for a bit. We'll be here.
Soak up these newborn days!
Congratulations mama!
I came here to say the exact same thing! Please take a break - no reader worth keeping will be gone before you get back. Babies are only this young once - enjoy some work-free time with yours!
She's beautiful, congratulations to all!!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!! Such a sweet sweet name. So happy for your family! ❤️
She is beautiful and so is your family! Aww, congrats!!!
Huge congratulations!! So relieved to hear that there were no complications with the birth. And thanks for keeping us updated during such a special moment. August babies are definitely the best babies ;)
Could not be more happy for your family!!!:) Love her name!!!:):)
Congrats!! I have 3 girls (10, 7 & 6yr) too! Love it! So excited for you!
Congratulations! She's beautiful!!
Congratulations to all of the Marcum family of five! She is just precious.
Wow - she is just perfect! Congratulations. We are so happy for you and your family.
Congratulations! Such a beautiful family!
Sweet Baby Polly is such a beautiful addition to your gorgeous, sweet family. Blessings to all five of you.
So perfect!!! Labor with my third was the exact same way!!
Yea!!! So happy for you guys! Welcome Polly! What a cute name and the pictures are just precious. Loved the one of the girls with Chris at the hospital! Polly was born on my Anniversary! :) And we have 3 little girls too! Seeing your pictures brought it all back :) Your girls will have so much FUN together!!
Your baby is an absolutely beautiful angel.
Congradulations to you and your family.
God bless.
What a beauty and what a beautiful name! Congratulations!
Congratulations! LOVE her name!!!
Congratulations! The picture of Greta and Faye looking at their new sister is absolutely precious! :-)
Congratulations, enjoy the babymoon. The photo of the girls faces is priceless.
Congrats on the beautiful and perfect Polly! I had to chuckle about your statement about her completing your family. I posted the same about our second. Little did I know that our family would grow thru adoption two more times. Now I've learned to never say our family is complete????
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Congratulations! I could not be happier for your family and I LOVE her name!
Congratulations! She's beautiful! My second daughter was posterior and I can completely relate with your back pain.
Congratulations! I'm so happy to hear you are all home safe and the girls are loving their new little best friend. ????????
She's beautiful! Congratulations Marcum family!
So adorable! My sister is due VERY soon for her 3rd child, 2nd daughter, and I went on right away and bought a similar swaddle. Can you provide the store that you purchased the headband?
Congratulations- she's so so perfect!!!
I laughed at the birth date thing.. my mom sister and I were all born on the first and it is my goal to have my kids on the first... not sure how that'd even be possible- but one can only hope :)
:)
I should Add, May 1st, October 1st, AND August 1st :)
Congratulations! She is darling!
So funny to hear you were hoping for a prime birthday - my daughter was born on 3/19 and I was so happy for a prime brithday too! I thought I was weird!
Cheers!
Congratulations! She's beautiful! And birthdays on the 1st are the best (mine is September 1st)!
Congratulations!!! She's beautiful ❤️
This whole post is so sweet! Congratulations! Such a beautiful baby. That picture with Faye touching Polly's head is so adorable (is she a boy or a girl... hahaha, I love that). I'm so excited for all of you.
Gorgeous! That is the sweetest picture of your girls.
Congratulations Marcum family! Love her name, she's simply beautiful! Enjoy this special time!
I'm weird about numbers too, I'm all about even birthdays, even down to the year!
I was scrolling through instagram, saw a picture of a newborn with those puckered lips, and, without glancing at the instagram handle, immediately knew those lips belonged to the newest Christ Loves Julia baby! Congrats!
Congratulations to your sweet family! Polly is just absolutely precious ????
Congrats! What a great birthday-same as my husband's and the day after mine! My sister's is July 30, so it's a fun way to celebrate. I am one of three girls, they will be so close and the best of friends. All the best. Rest. Enjoy. Go slow.
Congratulations! Polly is beautiful!! I was wondering yesterday why I hadn't seen any posts this week and I was wondering if the baby had arrived:) August 1 is a great day-my husband's birthday is the same day! Best wished to you all. Xoxo
Ohhhhh I wondered.. no stories over last few days! CONGRATS! This entry made my morning!!! So sweet!
Congratulations! I've been waiting all week to read this news. You've chosen a beautiful name for your beautiful little girl. Hope all goes well now that you're home!
Congratulations she is gorgeous! I started reading a book this week with the main characters name Polly and thought it was such a great name. Love it
Polly is delightful! Congratulations to you all. Love Greta's face in the last photo - she is so in awe!
Oh my goodness...congrats! That picture of the girls and Chris with Polly made me tear up and have baby fever for approx. 5 seconds (I have 3 yr old twins and a 6 yr...NO CARA, it's not happening!!). Way to go mama.
Oh my gosh! She is just beautiful!! Congratulations Julia, Chris, Greta, and Faye on your beautiful new baby Polly xx
Happy birthday baby Polly! Congratulations to you all!! And how sweet is the picture of her sisters meeting her?! What a lovely trio!