Snapshot #1191: Movie Please

April 30, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  She has worked so hard for us--doing the shopping and the cooking, it was almost impossible to get her to sit down.  Here's proof she sat at least long enough to get this photo.

Snapshot #1190: Feeling Loved

April 29, 2015.  Vancouver, Washington.  Having a baby is like starting over with establishing routine and daily life.  The support we've received from family and friends has been a tremendous blessing.  My mom was here the first week, the second week my dear Relief Society Sisters provided meals, and this week we get Nonnie and my sister Tracee.  This evening we escaped the rigor of Eat, Play, Sleep to enjoy some ice cream.    

Snapshot #1189: Off the Chart

April 28, 2015.  Emily had her 2-week well-check yesterday.  She's sitting at 97% for her weight and head circumference, but her length is off the chart.

Snapshot #1188: Emily's Newborn Photo Shoot

April 27, 2015. Camas, Washington.  Life is Good.  

Snapshot #1187: Sister to Sister

April 25, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  I find them in this position a lot.  

Snapshot #1186: Fencing Reflex

April 24, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  Technically, the asymmetrical tonic neck reflex or ATNR.  But why do all babies do it?

Snapshot #1185: "Who Will Play With Me?'

April 23, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  Before Dave went to work this morning Hazel said, "But Dad, if you go to work, who will play with me?"  Ahhh...if only paternity leave could last forever.

Snapshot #1184: Sleeping Baby

April 22, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  Lots of cute sleeping pictures; because that's what she mostly does.

Snapshot #1182: Scrub-a-Dub

April 21, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  Hazel thought it was so fun to wash Baby Emily's hair.  And believe it or not, I got 8 hours of sleep last night!!  Emily slept from 11PM-4AM and then again from 5AM-8:30AM.  If only we can keep this schedule up!

Snapshot #1181: Sisters

April 20, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  My heart couldn't be more full. 

Snapshot #1180: Daddy Dave

April 19, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  I cannot say enough about this amazing man by my side.  None of this is possible without him.  He physically supported me throughout labor, supported me emotionally throughout pregnancy and is always there for me.  It's an incredible journey we get to share.  Love you, Dave.  

Snapshot #1179: Welcome Emily Jayne Wood

April 18, 2015.  It's official, she has a name.  Emily Jayne Wood.  Born Sunday, April 12th,  9lbs 3 oz and 22-1/4" long.   

Snapshot #1178: Together at Last

April 18, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  We are on the mend over here.  Hazel has been on antibiotics for 24 hours and is no longer considered contagious.  I am slowly healing and able to move around a little more every day.  Our little family can finally be together in one room and coo and gawk over our newest little creation.

Snapshot #1177: Scarlet Fever

April 17, 2015.  Vancouver, Washington.  Came to the doctor's office today for lactation consultation.  While here, Hazel's fever spiked again so I got her in to see a doctor too.  I was an emotional wreck, sitting in the waiting room with Hazel crying in my lap, tears running down my own cheeks whilst I listen to my screaming newborn down the hall who needs to be fed, scared I'm going to pass Hazel's fever to her.  Finally the doctor came and diagnosed Hazel with Strep Throat & Scarlet Fever.  I was crushed.  But SO grateful for modern medicine.  After 24 hours of antibiotics she should no longer be contagious.

Snapshot #1176: Baby Faces

April 16, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  Cute little baby faces.

Snapshot #1175: Quarantined

April 15, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  We were discharged from the hospital this morning.  But Hazel also woke up with a fever this morning.  So we've decided to quarantine me and the baby in my bedroom.  It is breaking my heart.  Hazel will come to the door every now and then with tears in her eyes and say, "It's OK Mommy, I won't touch my baby sister."

Snapshot #1174: Newborn IV

April 14, 2015.  Vancouver, Washington.  Because I spiked a fever during labor and our baby daughter was born with an elevated heart rate she has to be on antibiotics for 48 hours.  They put the IV in her left arm only to find out she keeps reaching for that hand to suck on, but it's completely covered.   Ohhhhh...

Snapshot #1173: Grandma

April 14, 2015.  Vancouver, Washington.  Grandmas are so, so special.  

Snapshot #1172: Big Sister

April 13, 2015.  Vancouver, Washington.  Hazel came to the hospital today to meet her baby sister for the very first time.  Sweet, sweet moments.

Snapshot #1171: First Moments

Vancouver, Washington.  Our first moments together--Sunday night, April 12th.

Snapshot #1170: 24 Hours Old

April 13, 2015.  Vancouver, Washington.  Having exhausted our 'natural' options with no success of labor, we chose to come in for induction on Saturday afternoon rather than wait until Monday night.  I was 41 weeks, 0 dilated and experiencing no braxton hicks contractions.  After two misoprostol tablets I was dilated to 4 cm and in hard labor by 3AM.  I hit 9 cm before noon and everyone was setting up and preparing for Baby's arrival.  I then labored at 9 cm for the next 9 hours; my cervix refused to move completely out of the way.  By 5PM after 14 hours of hard labor I accepted an epidural to see if being more relaxed would move things along.  By 6:30PM I accepted pitocin to make the contractions stronger.  Nothing got me past 9 cm.  By 9PM I was vomiting, had spiked a fever, Baby's heart rate started to rise, her skull bones were starting to overlap due to inadequate room and infection had begun--so she was born via c-section at 9:32 PM on Sunday, April 12th: 9lbs 3 oz, 22-1/4" long with a head circumference of 15".  I always said I wanted the birth experience and well, I got it.  Natural labor to epidural then c-section and now I get to recover from all three at once.  Haha.  We're just happy to have another beautiful baby girl.

Snapshot #1169: Castor Oil

April 10, 2015.   Camas, Washington.  I am 40 weeks plus 5 days.  Now is as good a day as any to have a baby.  I couldn't be more ready than I am right now--there isn't another room in the house I can clean.  The doctor has scheduled induction for Monday and I figure if it's going to take induction to get this baby out, then I may as well try the natural kind before the drug-induced kind.  So...here I go...

Snapshot #1168: Smokin'

April 8, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  Dave bought me some hot salsa, says we're going to "smoke her out."

Snapshot #1167: Errands

April 7, 2015.  Vancouver, Washington.  It's Tuesday again.  We're out running errands.

Snapshot #1166: No Baby Yet

April 6, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  

Snapshot #1165: Egg Hunt

April 4, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  She's getting good at this little annual tradition.

Snapshot #1164: The Nursery

April 3, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  It's Good Friday, so Dave didn't have to work.  Instead he helped me hang the mirror, picture frames, and the curtains for the nursery.  It's a surreal thing looking at this room; knowing that our world is about to change, completely.  

Snapshot #1163: Date Night

April 2, 2015.  Vancouver, Washington.  I had a perfectly lovely evening.  Dave took Hazel and I out to dinner and then ice cream.  As we were leaving the restaurant Hazel looked up and said, "I was just thinking that I want to get in a space ship and fly to a star and put it in a cage and bring it back and put it in my room."  This girl absolutely loves stars.

Snapshot #1162: Nesting

April 1, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  I have re-arranged the entire downstairs--no fooling.  I must be 'nesting' or something.