Introducing Aubrey Claire

In summary: Aubrey Claire was born Sunday December 12, 2010. She weighed 7 lbs 12.9 oz and is 19 inches long. Delivery went great and she is a beautiful little girl. The rest is a more detailed version more for me to remember for my journal. Pictures are in reverse order.

My two girls all wrapped up.

Cute wrinkly feet.

5 days old, wearing her blessing dress that my mom made.

5 days old, wearing her blessing dress that my mom made.

5 days old

5 days old

5 days old

5 days old

5 days old.

My two cuties, Morgan loves to hold her sister.

Leaving the hospital.

Mike holding his little girl, both sound asleep. First of many pictures like this to come I'm sure.

Mommy with her little girls.

Daddy and his little girls.

First bath at the hospital.

First picture with her big sister.

First picture with the parents.

Aubrey, seconds old.

Aubrey Claire came today December 12, 2010, right on her due date. Thursday night, before my due date, we had a false alarm and thought that I was going into labor, but by the time we got to the hospital my contractions let up. So, of course we were disappointed and a little frustrated because we were sent home. I was a little over 3 cm dilated at that point but that wasn't enough.

Saturday night there was a huge blizzard and the roads were completely icy.

Sunday Morning I woke up and I thought that my water my be leaking, so the doctor instructed us to go ahead and head into the hospital. It was about 9 in the morning when we decided to go to the hospital that was closest to our house and not go to the hospital that was downtown, just in case I was to be sent home again. Also, we didn't want to drive on the slick roads.

After entering the hospital, it was determined that my water was in fact not broken but the doctor wanted to keep us a while to monitor me. So, we were very pessimistic that we would be staying, but the nurse suggested that we walk around the labor and delivery floor to see what happens. So, we walked around for 10 minutes and the nurse checked me again and I had dilated to a 4. After calling the doctor, who was downtown, we were admitted to the hospital. The doctor informed the nurse that she would be coming to break my water in 20 minutes or so to start my labor.

Two hours later, around noon, the doctor still had not shown up, but I was having regular semi painful contractions. The nurse decided to check me and I had dilated to a 5. Strangely, I had gone into labor on my own. The doctor that was going to break my water was not on call anymore and we were told that another doctor would be coming to break my water. So, we walked some more around the hospital floor and I was having some pretty painful contractions. Since I was planning on having an epidural, and we were told it would take 30 minutes for the anesthesiologist to get there, we decided to let the nurse know that I would like to have my epidural soon just in case.

The anesthesiologist came a little while later and while he was giving me my epidural he was teaching Mike about what he was doing. I was having very painful contractions by that time and I was about 6 cm dilated. The epidural helped a lot but, unlike my epidural with Morgan, my contractions were still painful and I felt a lot of pressure. I was still very grateful and still can't imagine how women do it without one. :) I guess I'm a wimp. The doctor came a little later to check me and he then broke my water.

Around 8 p.m. I was almost completely dilated and the nurses were helping me prepare to push. I started pushing around 8:30 and after a lot of pushing the doctor came in. After 30 minutes of exhaustive pushing, Aubrey was born at 8:57 p.m. She was beautiful and we were so happy and very emotional! I was so happy she was out and that everything was okay. I couldn't have been more happy to see her. We all love her very much.

Morgan and my mom came to see her the next morning. Morgan held her, but was a little hesitant about doing so. Now she loves to give Aubrey kisses, help with diaper changes, burping and everything else. Morgan loves her little sister and I just know they are going to be great friends.