September 2013 - 1 month old

Grant - September 2013 - 1 month old and so snuggly!

These are my favorite moments with you - you are so snuggly after you nurse!

Your Arrival - 8.25.13

Dear Grant,

On Saturday, August 24th, 2013 around 4:30 p.m. I started having contractions and was so hopeful and excited that you might be about to arrive!  We spent the afternoon going for walks with Griffin and Grace and the contractions continued, so around 8:00 p.m. we left for the hospital.  Labor was going well with contractions every 5-6 minutes apart.  Around 11:30 p.m. I was 4 cm dilated and got an epidural.  We tried to rest throughout the night and I just couldn't stop thinking about how excited I was to meet you!  Even right before you were born, your little feet were still wedged up under my rib cage and you were still kicking me.  The nurse kept coming in to tell me to change positions, as your heart rate would drop if I laid on my back or stayed on one side for too long - she said you were quite particular (since you've been born, we've decided you're pretty easy-going though!).  Dr. Moison came around 5:00 a.m. to break my water and I was 9.5 cm.  You were born at 6:20 a.m. on August 25th, 2013, after two pushes and a laugh - the doctor said, "You could actually laugh this baby out," which made me laugh and out you came!  We were absolutely elated to finally hold you!  You stayed on my tummy for about an hour wimpering a little bit and trying to find your way to nurse.  You were immediately perfect and won our hearts over!  You're the perfect addition to our family Grant, we couldn't be more in love with you or more proud of you!

Here I am a few minutes before heading to the hospital ... you were born 11 days earlier than your due date of September 4th.

In labor before getting the epidural

This is just moments after you were born ... I was so excited to hold you!

Can you see how long your fingers are?!  We were impressed by them.  But in these first few moments after you were born we were just amazed by the miracle of you!

I hope you can see the joy in my face Grant; I am over the moon in love with you!

Love you buddy!

So sweet.

You actually didn't cry much, but this was when the nurse took you from me to get you weighed

I was shocked that you were only 7 pounds 2 ounces; you felt so big inside me!  I knew you'd be long, as your feet were wedged up under my lungs for the last few months of pregnancy.  You were 21 1/4th inches long and the nurse said, "wow, that's a long baby!"  

Griffin, Grace, and Grammy came to see you around 11:00 that morning ... Grace was thrilled to meet you!

Griffin was so excited too; he is so gentle with you!

Our first picture as a family of five!

We just couldn't stop admiring you!

We love you so much!

Around 5:00 that evening BeBop came in town - she had driven from Gabby's house in Iowa.  She was so excited to meet you.

Grammy and you

This is the 2nd day in the hospital.  You did wonderful - you ate every three hours, nursed well, and slept well!  You look so little all wrapped up; which Daddy did so carefully after each feeding.

We took these pictures before leaving the hospital on August 27th:

I love your feet so much!

Look at those cute feet!  We noticed right away that you have really long toes : )

A rare moment with you awake in the hospital

I could not stop kissing you!

And I was just so amazed by you!

This is right before we left the hospital to go home, 8.27.13 - you weighed 6 lbs. 11 oz. when we left the hospital

All dressed and ready to go!

Grace is so proud of you and wants to hold you as often as possible!

BeBop took this picture of you on the changing table and we all love it!

Look at those long toes!

A fun moment during dinner one night after coming home: Griffin and Grace just couldn't get enough of you and were so excited that you were awake - in the first week you've been sleeping tons!

Griffin was trying to make you laugh before he headed off to school one morning

Can you see the joy and pride in his smile?  They love you!

It's only been a few days since you arrived and already our family seems complete ... you are loved Grant!