Welcome to the World, Hazelnut.

A week ago we welcomed our little girl into the world.  Words can't describe how awesome this week has been.  All the cliches are true-- I can't imagine loving anything more.  Josh & I were trying to describe it to each other the other day.  It's a lot like the love we have for each other.  It doesn't matter what the other person does... we still love them with everything we've got.

Looking at her grow over this past week it makes me really sad.  I don't want her to grow up-- I want her to stay a newborn forever!  But grow up is what she must do, so we are soaking up every single second with her.

Labor was long... started around 1:30pm on Friday, January 20th, and our little Hazelnut was born at 9:41pm on Saturday, January 21st.  32 hours and I felt every single contraction.  The pain... well, it's really indescribable.  And unlike what a lot of people say, I haven't forgotten it.  But she was definitely worth it.

I have, of course, turned into an emotional mess.  Anything and everything makes me tear up lately.  She's just so tiny & innocent that I don't want anything in this world to mess with her.  She is perfect.  Completely perfect.  Not to mention absolutely adorable!

I may write more about the birth later, I may not.  We had a photographer there, which was out of this world amazing.  She captured moments that we will never be able to re-take.  First moments of life... and it is so amazing!

Also, we had a doula there.  I truly don't even want to think about what our labor & birth experience would have been like without her there.  She was amazing to help & show us what was normal & what was not.  I am totally unfamiliar with hospital situations & birth... but it's everyday for her.  She was a huge source of support & took a lot of pressure off of Josh.  He doesn't know how to be a labor coach, but he does know how to be my husband.  So our doula allowed him to be just that-- my husband.  He didn't have to make sure I was comfy or any of the other things that come up in labor.  He was just able to be there to support me in whatever way he could.

Finally, our doctor.  It was a long, hard road with our doctor, but in the end I couldn't have imagined a better outcome.  He was amazing.  He showed that he cared.  So much, in fact, that we may very well go to him for our next child.  I know that sounds crazy considering the things that went on (most weren't written about on this blog, though).  But Josh & I, as well as our doula agree... he truly cares & worked hard to learn a different way of looking at things-- a way that would be beneficial to us and our baby.  And for that, I am incredibly thankful.  I am doubly thankful because his name is all over documentation, and when I look at that, I smile instead of cringe.  I smile because it reminds me that we worked really hard to have the birth experience we wanted.  To have the medical care we desired... and we got it.  In a way, we paved the way for others to be able to get the birth experience they want as well.

I look back on these pictures and I can't believe I've had her in my arms for almost a week now.  I can't believe that a week ago I was in the most unbearable pain of my life.  They kept reminding me that at the end of it I was going to get a baby, but if I'm going to be very honest, I really didn't care at that point.  I didn't truly understand what wonderful things awaited me.

She is perfect.  She is wonderful.  She has the cutest little chubby cheeks and button nose.  She is a mixture of both her mom & dad.  And she sleeps like... well, she sleeps like us!  She sleeps like a champ and doesn't wake up for much.

Things I want to remember:
You weighed 7 lbs 3 oz at birth, and 7 lbs even when we left the hospital.  20 inches long, and born at 9:41pm.  You sleep with your mouth open just like your daddy, and your chubby cheeks are definitely from me.  I love the steel gray of your eyes right now.  I know they'll change, but I really enjoy the mystery that is within them.  I love it when you look at me, when you snuggle with your daddy, and when you make the most adorable little faces. I was scared before... scared that you may take away from the amazing marriage that me & your daddy have worked so hard for.  But I've learned that you have only added to the awesomeness.  You are absolutely amazing & wonderful and I am so thankful that God trusted us to be your parents!

Welcome to the world, Hazelnut!

Who is HOW old?

Saw this the other day on Failbook.

I have to say... forget the bigger issue... that dude is 34?!?!

To be fair, he was probably only in his late twenties when the picture below was taken:

Yup... I'm not over it yet.

Pregnancy Confession

I carry a bottle of Maalox in my purse.  When I get heartburn, I shake it up & take a swig.  I must look ridiculous, but hey, I'm pregnant... it's one of the few times in life you can do pretty much anything & people won't question it.

I prefer the mint flavor.  It's instant relief.

A peek into the nursery...

Nope, no baby yet.  Not even so much as a hint of a contraction on Friday!  Oh well... I guess this could be a sign that she's stubborn (or always late) like her momma.  Or... it could mean that she's a baby & isn't fully developed yet, therefore not ready to be born.  You know... one of those!

Happy to report that things are going better with our doctor & we feel more comfortable about everything now.  I didn't write much about it on here, but it has been quite a wild ride with our doctor's office.  My #1 piece of advice to those planning to get pregnant, or who are newly pregnant... think about where & how you want to give birth.  Read up on some stuff, educate yourself, and then actually seek out a care provider that thinks along the same lines.  It seems so silly to think about your birth plan before you even get pregnant, but trust me, it will be worth it, as it is very difficult to change providers once you go with one.  Just like everything else in life, begin with the end in mind!

And finally... we are almost done decorating the nursery!  Wahoo!!  My nesting urge hit around the 6 month mark & hasn't been back since, which is unfortunate since we moved into a new apartment & everything I worked to organize before is completely useless & gone now.  But we are making progress in the new place & it sure is a lot easier to make things look nice when they are nice to start with!  Going from all white walls to cream colored walls is just awesome!  It makes everything look better!

Here are some shots of the nursery:

We have truly been so blessed!  I love how everything is coming together!

The mobile was really hard for me to decide on.  I wanted something with black & white & red, as well as music.  Those were the qualities that seemed to really make a mobile effective in encouraging Hazel to learn & respond.  But I couldn't find any mobiles that had the black & white on them that matched... and of course red wouldn't really match either.  So I found this at a consignment shop for $8 or $15 (can't remember).  It plays classical tunes, has the black & white that moves around to pique her interest, and also perfectly matches the colors in her room!  I snatched it up so quick it would make your head spin!

Also, above the crib will be a wall decal with Hazel's name on it.  Some friends got it for us at our baby shower & I can't wait to put it up!

Josh & I made this canvas together.  It's close to being finished.  The lyrics are some of our favorite Cat Stevens lyrics, and the music notes are to remind her to be lively, and the musical rest is to remind her to rest.  The music notes were Josh's idea, and I love it!

Our diaper stash.  On the left are all the smaller cloth diapers, and on the right are the gDiaper refills (we'll use until they run out-- especially helpful for the newborn stage!) and our wetbag.  I figure we'll adjust the flow of things as we go!

And finally, the closet!  I picked up these hanging organizers at Wal-Mart for $7 each.  The green one is a shoe organizer and I think it was more like $5!  They all have side mesh pockets as well- lots of places to store things!  Then the canvas bins are from Ross for $6 each.  I'm still working on the organization in here, but I like the direction it's headed so far.

So that's our nursery to date.  There are a few things still left to add, but I'm pretty pumped about it finally coming together, hanging things on the walls... it's making it all very real!

It's that day again!

January, April, July... all have a Friday the 13th this year!

I wrote about it before here, but I really want a Friday the 13th baby.  It just feels right.  10 days before my due date-- that would be perfect timing!

So here's to hoping I have some pictures to share of my newborn baby soon!  Please send some baby-having mojo vibes!