After I was settled in the tub the kids came in looking all sleepy in their pajamas. Somehow we managed to fit everyone into the bathroom in the labor room. The very warm water in the tub felt really good on my back. After a few contractions in the tub I felt like it was time to push so the midwife came in. I wasn't sure I could do it because I was so tired, but it only took about 5 pushes and she was in my arms.
It was 5:19am on the 29th. I just held her in the tub for awhile and stared at her and checked out her fingers and toes and the little dimple in her chin until she looked hungry and then Eric cut the cord and I passed her to the nurse so they could check her out while I made my way to bed. She weighed 8 pounds and 6.6 ounces and was about 20 inches long and perfect in every way. Her big sisters followed her from the tub to the bassinet and watched everything closely. Anika came to the bed with me and had an interesting discussion with the midwife about the purpose of the placenta and the cord as they looked at it.
As soon as she was back in my arms we started to breastfeed and she took right to it. Latched on well right from the start.
After 12 hours of resting and monitoring at the hospital we got to go home.
At 5 days old she is already back up over her birth weight. She has several alert periods a day where she just looks at all of us and makes the cutest faces. I swear she even smiled at me once, but I know it's too early for that. She's a wonderful eater and sleeper and is adored by all. Her big sisters love to hold her and push her in the swing and play music for her.
She loves to hang out in the sling when we run errands and sleeps great in the car. She's had a busy first week with check ups, taking sisters to the dentist, getting a few groceries, picking up Anika at school, and even her first visit to a park.
