Baby Olivia Arrives!!

Our baby girl decided to arrive a little early. We had a scheduled C-section for September 2nd but instead she decided Saturday August 27th was a better day for her. The day before CK flew the Baron to Arizona to be repainted and I had lunch with two of my favorite girlfriends, Michelle and Thelma, with both of them remarking that I wasn't "acting" like I was going to have a baby in a week....I felt great and had a lot of errands and odds and ends planned for that final week. Instead, I picked CK up at the airport that evening and we ended up spending the night in our guest bed since our A/C compressor decided to die around 6pm that evening and only pumped hot air.

I woke up, as usual, around 4am to go to the bathroom and then lay awake trying to will myself back to sleep. Just before 5am I felt a strange dampness and jumped out of bed to realize that my water broke and was thankfully it wasn't coming out at once! At first I honestly had no idea what was happening and felt fine. I called the OB on call and he told me to pack a bag and get to the hospital within an hour or so. Then the contractions started, which were light at first. CK and I both took showers and while I was frantically packing and trying to remember everything I could possibly need, CK reminded me that we still didn't have a name! That was something we were going to decide over the weekend and coming days....we had it narrowed down to about seven names, but hadn't gotten any further. I requested that her middle name be Sulie after my Mom, but after some reflexion we decided it didn't work with our last name.....and Sue or Ann (my Mom's middle name) didn't have any meaning to me. So, we finally decided to go with two of our first name favorites....Olivia Grace. Plus, although it isn't part of my Mom's name I think Grace very much brings my Mom to mind and I hope she gets a portion of my Mom's grace. Sofia rejected the name since she wanted "Ava" but by the time we made it to the hospital she was a fan of her baby sister's name.

Once we were ready and the contractions were getting a bit worse, CK woke Sofia up and we headed out. First we stopped at Krispy Kreme so they could get a donut, then we continued. Ironically, we were scheduled to take the hospital maternity tour that morning, so we had NO idea where to go! We made it to the maternity ward, checked in and they got me into a temporary bed and hooked to monitors for me and the baby. Luckily there was a white board on the wall, so Sofia got busy drawing family portraits that included her "baby sister." Around 8:30am our neighbors picked Sofia up to spend the morning with them while baby sister arrived into the world.

Finally at 9am they hooked me to an IV (the most painless I've ever experienced) and wheeled me back to the surgery room. The anesthesiologist did the spinal, which also went smoothly and they were ready to begin. CK came into the room and sat by me throughout and my OB, Dr. New came in to perform the C-Section even though he wasn't on call, which I really appreciated! I didn't have any pain, but could feel tugging as they worked which was very odd.

At 10:01am little Olivia Grace was born behind first since she was breach inside me. They showed her to me before she was taken over to the table, cleaned off and weighed and then swaddled and given to CK, who brought her back to me. She was 7.3 lbs and measured 19 3/4 inches and is perfect!

After about an hour in the recovery room, I was wheeled to my regular room where I'd spend the next three nights. It was just after lunchtime, so CK left to pick up Sofia, have lunch with her and bring her to the hospital so she could meet Olivia for the first time.

Checking in at the maternity ward...


Getting hooked up to all the monitors


Sofia drawing pictures of her and her baby sister


A "family portrait" by Sofia. I love the look of excitement on her face!


Sofia was very concerned while I grimaced through each painful contraction. I tried to pretend that it was fine, but it was hard at times.....


Giving me a hug of support


CK's text to our neighbors


Sofia with our neighbor, Ms. Stacy. Just before she left, Sofia gave CK a hug and said "Take care of Mommy" which was so sweet.


Olivia right after birth. That's how she was positioned inside me too.


Getting swaddled for the first time.


Holding my sweet baby girl for the very first time!


So precious!


The three of us in recovery


Proud Papa!


Meeting baby sister for the very first time - Sofia is so enamored with Olivia


Holding Olivia for the first time.


Sisters!

Take Me Out to the Ball Game.....

On Monday night we went to our very first Rangers' game!! They played the Boston Red Sox and won (although we left after the 7th inning). CK's firm invited a bunch of CK's coworkers to enjoy the game at the box of a friend of one of CK's partners. It was great to have an air conditioned area to relax in along with fajitas and snacks! The balcony outside offered a great view and Sofia and I spent most of the time sitting out there watching the game (and people watching). It was "only" 100 degrees while we were there plus we were in the shade so it wasn't bad. It was our first visit to the stadium and it's a beautiful building and grounds!

CK and Sofia just outside the gates


Sofia tries on a Rangers hat....we had to buy Rangers' hats so we could fit in! No, we didn't end up buying that one for Sofia....


The inside of the box! It was very comfortable and the great food didn't hurt either!


CK and Sofia on the balcony


Sofia and me on the balcony


As the game was played, we explained what was happening to Sofia and she watched it pretty well, but after a while she ended up playing "baby bird" and used my water bottle and our plates as "nests" etc...


CK and Sofia at batting practice - she was pretty good at it!

Sofia's First Day of School

I can't believe how quickly summer flew by (or how EARLY in the year school starts)! Spanish Schoolhouse starts a week before the rest of the area's school district for some reason, and so Sofia headed back into the classroom on Monday August 15th. She and I visited the school on Friday for the "meet the teacher" and met her new teachers Ms. Lorena and Ms. Sandra. I originally thought she'd be with her class from last year, but was surprised to see a lot of new faces! There are ten kids in her Monday and Wednesday class and she'll still be in class with Mya, Avery, Maggie, and Colin, but all the others are new. Her other friends from last year's class are across the hall because they will also be going to class on Friday. Sofia was a little apprehensive at the "meet the teacher" and kept asking if I was going to leave her there. We ended up staying for maybe 45 minutes.

On Monday, Sofia wanted french toast for breakfast (her new breakfast favorite) and then I took a few photos of her. After, we headed to her first day of school. She immediately fell into her routine - picking out her name tag, adding it to the board and finding a seat to start on the morning craft. I literally had to request a hug and kiss from her! Guess the apprehension was gone! After school, I asked what the best part of her day was and she said "School." so I guess she's having fun!

Yum, French Toast!


Our school gal - she really wanted to wear the pink flower in her hair and it stayed in all day surprisingly!


With her backpack





Such a beautiful school girl!


Walking down that familiar hall....


and in her classroom ready to play!

Baby Shower

On Saturday August 13th, the ladies from Meeting hosted a fantastic baby shower for me! It was hosted by Jill and Marie and was absolutely spectacular - it felt like it should featured in a magazine, it was so perfect!!! First, the food was all just beautifully displayed, and delicious, and the party flowed so well. We started out with a few games, and had to "baby sit" our individual egg for the entire party. The first game we had to match candy names to what they could apply to in "baby terms" and then we each took turns trying to pin a cloth diaper to a balloon (I was terrible at this!). Also, we did the measurement of my belly with toilet paper (everyone was over my true size, so I must look bigger than I am!).

After the games, we finally got to enjoy the delicious food, including finger sandwiches, fruit salad, lemonade cupcakes, cake balls, and punch! It was wonderful! After, I opened gifts and am certain this little girl will not lack a thing! I received a lot of adorable, one of a kind clothes, decorations for her room (much needed), a handmade scrapbook that is a piece of art, and matching pillowcase dresses for the girls to wear next year. I can't believe how soon this little one will arrive and be enjoying all of these beautiful things! It was such a fun day and it was special to spend the day with such lovely ladies.

Presents


The amazing diaper giraffes made by Jill! They are now in the baby's room on display and are SO cute! I don't know how in the world she made them!


The party!





The delicious food (and amazing presentation)!!


Marie, Jill and I


A close up


Our "baby eggs" we had to baby sit throughout the party - they came home with me and are now a favorite of Sofia's.


Opening presents - one of the many adorable outfits!


The matching pillowcase dresses from Jill! Beautiful!!

Sofia's 4 year old pictures

On Friday August 5th, Sofia and I headed to Sears for her annual photo session. We've done this every year for her birthday and it's been great having photos of her that mark such a big change. The session went well, although she was done smiling after about an hour so the photographer didn't get as many photos of her as usual, but they did turn out well. We should get the prints and the framed photos of her in a few weeks and can't wait to send them out.

Writing Thank You Notes

I really want Sofia to understand the value of saying "Thank You" but also know that she can't exactly write out thank you notes just yet, so figured I'd strike a good compromise. I had her finger paint note cards and then wrote the thank you notes inside them. I also had her sign her name at the end of the notes, but then gave up after so many cards! I keep trying to explain to her how thankful she should be for the many new gifts she has and hope that this makes an impression as she grows up. It was a fun project for her to work on and she was really spoiled with gifts this year, so I'm looking forward to the time when she can sit down and write out her own thank you cards!

Getting started....she eventually ditched the paint brush and went for the fingers


Finishing up her first card


She kept telling me that every section of the card had to be covered by paint...


Having fun!