Welcome to the World Little Dumpling

Having a baby is an experience unlike any other. I think I read somewhere that there is this unspoken bond between mothers, like a club so to speak, once you have a baby you're in. We just know without actually discussing it exactly what childbirth entails. I feel like now is a good time to mention that I know a lot of you who read this blog are moms and so I feel like we share this bond. Can I also just say thank you to all of you? Some of you I know well, others I don't, but through this blog you have truly become friends and all of your comments, well wishes, and congratulations truly blessed my heart.

I was induced Tuesday morning about 7:00 am. I'm going to go ahead and stick with my original theory that pitocin is from hell. I had tried to convince myself maybe I would feel differently the second time around...I didn't. They broke my water about 10:00 and that's when things got a little hairy. Let's just say that for about an hour in there I probably looked a lot like a lady on the verge of losing it. I am pretty sure not much was coming out of my mouth other than, "I can't do this..." and "Somebody please help me..." The thing about pitocin is (for those who haven't had the pleasure of experiencing it first hand) you get no relief. You go through one majorly intense contraction only to move right into the next one. Thankfully in those last moments where I was pretty sure I wasn't going to survive without passing out my savior, aka the anesthesiologist, arrived. I was supposed to receive an epidural, but long story short wound up with a spinal block instead. No sooner had I received some much needed pain management, and Nate and my sister had headed out to get some Taco Cabana, then I started feeling some major pressure "down there". Being that they had checked me about an hour ago and I was only 5 cm. I was sure it was nothing...but, then I started feeling like I might need to push. Another check "down under" revealed I had jumped to 9.5 and would be having this baby SOON! Nate came running up from the parking lot just in the nick of time. There is nothing like welcoming a new life into the world...especially one that weighs approximately 9 lbs. (as a side note I've been searching for the perfect loving term for describing our "large for her gestational age" baby and chubby just doesn't have a nice ring so I've decided dumpling it is)!

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I'll let those tell the rest of the story. After months of anticipation she's here...

We were all pretty excited...

and she was pretty adorable...

Service with a smile was delivered along with our sweet baby...

and one very proud dad may have shed just a few tears...

He wasn't the only proud member of our family, we had one very proud big sister too, and for her it was love at first glance...

She's been waiting for this moment for quite a while now...

and it was such a sweet one...

one of my favorite from the day...

because her sweet smile...

and excitement...

showed exactly how we were all feeling about this sweet new addition to our family (who just happened to find her thumb shortly after birth)...

First bath...

First night at the hospital with mom and dad...

second time my heart has felt this in love with a little person...

The next day brought more time with a very happy big sister...

Speaking of big sister, Monday Carter would like to share this photo that she took of Emme...

These two are already sweeter than sugar together...

and somehow we feel more like a family than ever...

funny how someone so small can make you feel things so big...

By the next day there was just one thing that would make us smile...

we were FINALLY getting to go home...

and someone was looking quite adorable in their car seat...

almost as adorable as her big sister who had set up camp at the front door with a few books while she waited for us to arrive...

and with a little help from her Nonna and Roxi had made our house a very sweet place to come home to...

and one thing is for sure, there's no place like home...

it's the perfect place for snugglin' (which Aunt Kimmi is getting really good at)...

sleeping (which Emme is very good at)...

and spending time with the two most adorable girls on the planet (okay, so I'm just a little biased)...

This is one great life!

And, speaking of great I just have to say our family is above and beyond. This experience would not have been the same without all of your love, support and help. We are truly blessed and so thankful for all that you did. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.