Andrea Lyn Lee finally decided to arrive on February 9th, 2009 at 12:36 p.m. After being sent back home Saturday night and suffering all Sunday through contractions, we thought we would try going back to the hospital again Monday morning around 2:00 a.m. Thank heaven that I had reached "admittance criteria"! And can I just say that the epidural is the greatest invention known to man! Sleeping through contractions and pushing absently when it was time to deliver was heavenly! Although the intitial insertion for the epidural wasn't all that pleasant, it was well worth it and made labor seem like a day in the park! And although I couldn't feel exactly where I was supposed to be pushing, I only had to try for 30 minutes before she was out.
What an incredible experience to see the miracle, who has been kicking and proding and doing her best to make me uncomfortable, finally laying on my tummy! She was a big girl, weighing 8 lbs 12 oz, and 21 inches long. But why shouldn't she be? After being nearly a week late!
She has been such a joy ever since her arrival and so well behaved! Nursing and dealing with the after pains has been a struggle, but she makes it all worth it! I love staring at her and getting to her know her personality.
Ryan was great through the whole thing, he never wanted to leave my side and suffered through two nights of an uncomfortable couch for a bed. He was first to get to hold her and went with her for her first bath (in other words he got to have all the fun, while I got to be stitched and kneaded). He has been so good to get me anything I need and take care of the household chores. How lucky can one girl get to have such a wonderful husband and now such a beautiful daughter?!
A lot of "firsts" have already come and gone with Andrea, which is both exciting and sad. She had her first bath at home, she's had her fingernails cut, and I think she may have already outgrown her first outfit. Even though these ducky PJs have been our favorite, she is maxed out in them now :(
Ryan is under the impression that we need to take a picture of her everyday, and it really is amazing how much she changes!
