Tonight you had your first encounter with your puppy Yeti. Grandma and Grandpa K took Yeti for a little vacation so that your first few days home would be as calm as possible. We were worried that Yeti might be jealous of all the attention that you were getting, (deservedly so, since you are getting more beautiful by the day!)
As it turns out, we didn’t need to worry. Yeti was just interested in getting a smell and a lick, and you didn’t seem to be bothered by her at all!
The Look
The Approach
Yeti Turns Away
We’re looking forward to see how you and Yeti play when you get older!
We all woke up a bit earlier this morning, and while your mom was getting dressed, I got to hold you and watch you for some uninterrupted daddy-time. Your eyes were wide open at first, and you were looking around the room. The sun was streaming in through the window, and you seemed to be alternatively very interested in the light, and sort of bothered by it. I can imagine that your eyes are still adjusting to all of this light, and it’s pretty hard to see anything. At one point, though, you stared straight into my eyes for nearly a minute. I smiled and laughed since even though I know I probably just look like a big blur, you seemed to be checking me out.
We moved downstairs, and then you gave me a few little smiles. Luckily I was able to catch one on the camera.
Then, just a little bit ago, we had a home visit from an RN. She came by to weigh you on the scale, check on your skin, see how much you’re eating and growing. She said that everything was looking great!
Since she left, you’ve been hanging out in your chair, which, as it turns out, is a vibrating chair. You absolutely love it. As soon as your mom turned it on, you relaxed and went right to sleep. It may be your new favorite chair.
It’s amazing to watch you and think about how you came from your Mom and I. Everyone likes to pick out little parts of you here and there that look like us. It’s still hard to tell what color your eyes and hair will be, but it seems like traits become more apparent by the hour. One thing that we know for sure is that your eyebrow muscles are all mine:
I’m sorry for the display of incompetence and general lack of preparedness that I just put you through. At approximately 6:55Pm, we discovered a poopy diaper. Grandma had just left, so we will have to question her knowledge of the situation later. Anyways, this was your first big diaper change since arriving home, so I went for it.
The situation was worse than I thought when I opened up your layers of clothing (fleece suit, onsie, diaper). Yep, there was a lot more than I had prepared for (one moist baby-wipe). In my defense on the baby-wipe, we are currently using the non-pre-wet variety, as that was recommended by the hospital to prevent diaper rash.
You had your first big car ride today! Everything was going perfectly at the hospital, so they gave us the option of taking you home. Hard to believe that you are just 36 hours old right now. (literally… right as I type this and look over at you!)
You are already more alert to the world, and we’re so happy to have you home so you can investigate the place.
Earlier today, we packed up the hospital room, and your mom got a ride in a wheel chair while I carried you in your car seat. Someone in the elevator asked about you, and I said, “Yep, this is her first elevator ride!” The woman helping us out reminded me, “Second ride”. Whoops! I forgot that we had just taken a ride.
I made a joke about how time was passing so quickly, and it seemed like only 45 seconds ago that you were taking your first elevator ride, which got a good laugh from the other elevator riders.
It’s true though. This is already happening so quickly. We’re just enjoying every minute of it.
Every other dad I know had told me how you would change my life. Some dads went through detailed arguments, point by point, on how the world would change once you came in to it. Other dads would simply say, “Your life will change, you’ll see,” without offering any explanation other than a simple nod.
After your mom worked for hours and hours to bring you into the world, I understood all of the dads immediately when I first held you in my arms. You looked into my eyes, and my world changed. In thousands of enumerable ways, my world changed, and in one big unexplainable way, my world changed.
And now, it’s our world. We can’t wait to show it to you.
What a day the three of us have had. It started at about 5:45 yesterday morning when I woke up feeling a little crampy. I didn’t want to wake your Dad yet, in case it was nothing, and he would need to get up to go to work. As I laid there the crampy feeling continued. I couldn’t help feeling excited that this might be the beginnings of your entrance to the world.
Daddy’s alarm finally went off and I let him know that he should probably stay home. He looked at me with a disbelieving smile and asked, “REALLY?!” We got up, dressed, and decided to go for a walk since we had been told that this could help move things along. It was about 20 degrees outside but sunny with snow covering everything. Just the kind of day I imagined you were waiting for . We tried going about our day as contractions came and went. By 2:30 pm the contractions were coming about every 4-5 minutes, and by 4:30 pm we decided it was time to go to the hospital.
I wanted to walk in, but had to stop a few times for contractions. There were mostly funny smiles from everyone we passed, since it was pretty clear what we were doing there. By the time we got checked in, I was dilated to 5 cm. We passed the next several hours walking the halls, sitting on a yoga ball, and trying to relax in the tub. It was 12:00 am on December 2nd when I started to push you out and into our arms.
The next couple hours were tough for both of us, and Daddy helped us through with coaching and lots of hand squeezing. At 2:14 am (one minute before nurse Mindy predicted) you entered the world with one tiny cry and then eyes wide open to examine your new surroundings. Daddy cut your cord with the help of Dr. Harris, before they dried and weighed you.
After waiting and wanting you so much- you were finally in our arms. We could not believe that we had created such a miracle. I wish every moment could last a lifetime as we watch you change and grow. Welcome to the world Emilia, we are here to give you all the love we have.
by
dad
by
mom
