Week 1: Going home from hospital

Snuggle Bum in the hospital, actually looking chunky. She always slept on her side in the early days.







Going home outfit from Great Grandma Nell - everything is so big on her! We kept mittens on so that we didn't have to trim her nails for a few weeks. I only had a few things in newborn size, so she wore this outfit a lot until we could get to the store a few days later. No pictures of mom in these early days as I was out of commission.



Dorothy and pop-pop (Nick's Dad) came to visit us at home and meet Sophia. Thanks for her first Taggies blanket!










Aunt Krissy held her first newborn when she came over on Sunday with Grandpa Rich.










This is the picture that was printed in the Ridgefield Press for Sophia's birth announcement. Her Daddy discovered that she loves being swaddled in the green cozy blanket!









Look at how small the baby boo is in Nick's hands.











Here is Sophia getting her first sponge bath. Nick is using the kitchen faucet to rinse her hair. She was fairly cooperative, but we think the running water soothes her.

Feb 25, 2008: Birth-Day

Sophia Randilyn (a.k.a. Baby Boo or Snuggle Bum) was born February 25, 2008 at 6:52pm. Nick and I were ecstatic. At about 6:53pm I reached for my first turkey sandwich in 9 months and it was delicious!

Donna was my doula and had me doing lunges -- we know that was what sped up the labor, not the pitocin! Did I mention I was in labor for 27 hours without any pain medication?. .That's right, contractions started at 3pm on Feb. 24th (my due date). At midnight, I thought this was it and told Nick we had to go to the hospital. Unfortunately, I was only 2 cm dilated and we were sent home. We layed on the floor in the family room while Nick applied counterpressure to my back as the labor pains increased. Finally at 8am we went to the doctor's office and I was at 4 cm, my water broke after the doc examined me, and I was admitted to the hospital. I was already exhausted, but that didn't keep me from eating strawberries and grapes, which subsequently came back to haunt me later. . We tried everything to get the labor to progress naturally and I spent most of the time in the bathroom because that was the most comfortable position. I agreed to pitocin at about 5pm and that is when the doctor switched shifts. I had to be on an IV at that point (so uncomfortable) and ended up having an internal monitor (and catheter) because they kept losing the heartbeat. I remember the nurse pushing hard on my belly to try to get the heartbeat to read and I was pushing her away -- she said "we are going to have to give you a c-section if you don't let me check." After the pitocin and crazy contractions that went off the monitor, I went from 8cm to fully dilated and was ready to push. It took about 45 min for Baby Boo to emerge with lots of counting from the doc and Nick and threats to "get the local" -- which motivated me to push because I didn't want an episiotomy. Sophia was finally here and she was precious! She came out holding the umbilical cord in her left hand.

Grandma Cathy, Chuck and Aunt Mary Ann came to visit in the hospital. Also, Pastor Bill and Mikey stopped by but we don't have pictures..