one day old!

Ella-Lorraine made her grand arrival yesterday! She is just beautiful and we are beyond thrilled. I think she sort of resembles Langston when he was so fresh - but as Hunny says, she looks like herself! Her features are more petite and her little face isn't as round as Langston's was. But, wouldn't you know it - she has dimples!

I started getting contractions on Sunday morning and we all headed to the hospital. Because of the risk of having a "regular" delivery after a C-section, they admitted me even thought my contractions weren't that strong and I hadn't really started serious labor yet. They DID however give me an epidural pretty early on as they wanted to start me on ptocin to help get me into labor. I, of course, did not object.

Gene and I spent some of the evening playing scrabble much to the nurse's delight. I felt a little like I was cheating, but everyone assured me that I was not. Mom spent most of the day with me in the room while Dad kept Langston busy and occupied with food, tv and naps in the waiting room. Langston did come in and out to see me a few times - he was very keen on wearing his "heart" guest pass and asked a lot of questions when he saw me, "Mommy, what are you doing?" I think he was also a little concerned when he saw me wearing the oxygen mask, but he was less concerned about the IV since he has had those himself. At around 8 PM, Mom, Dad and Langston headed out. The night shift nurse estimated that we would be looking to deliver the baby around 5 am, so Mom decided to get some rest and then come back in the wee hours.

Gene "slept" on the pull out couch. "Slept" being a tricky word because who can really sleep with the beeping of the machines, the baby's heart monitor, the hourly blood pressure checks and the constant coming and going of virtual strangers? We called Mom around midnight to let he know that the nurse said we might begin pushing around 3 AM. I, in fact, didn't start pushing until 4:15 AM. They wanted the baby to drop as much as possible on her own so I wouldn't strain too much. She made her big debut at 5:39 AM which was just perfect since when she was in utero she seemed to be her busiest late at night and around 5 AM when she would wake me up with twists, turns, kicks and bumps.

Hunny and Pop are over the moon! Not only did they get to spend an entire month with their youngest grandson while we waited for and then celebrated Ella-Lorraine's arrival, but they are excited about the debut of their first and only granddaughter to date. They would have been happy either way - we all just wanted a safe delivery and a healthy baby.



Langston will enthusiastically tell you his baby sister's name if you ask, "Ella-DoRaine" is what he shouts. He wants to hold her and comfort her. He insists she needs a "fire" (his word for pacifier) if she cries. He can tell you who lives in our house, where her room is and which seat is hers in he car. He still insists that Mommy and Daddy are "his" and not "Ella-DoRaine's" mommy and daddy, but he'll learn. He was super great at the hospital and well also showered with gifts including clothes, books and toys from the baby. Hunny and Pop also bought him AND Ella-Lorraine balloons and he will emphatically tell you which is his, which is hers (and he wants her to hold it) and that you don't have one. He is a funny little boy and is already a great big brother!





Ella-Lorraine has a sweet disposition. She mostly just fusses when she is wet or hungry. She is bright eyed and trying to lift her head - so soon! She sleeps when full and is just, in general, a doll. Here are few more shots of her first full day in the world and a couple of her from her first day home - (yes I know this post is from Tuesday and we didn't go home until Wednesday, but through the magic of technology...).