Phoenix Irene Lord arrived on Monday, October 11 at 2:44 after just 9 minutes of pushing. The labor experience was amazing...I had a successful vbac (vaginal birth after c-section) and did so sans any drugs! I went so quickly that I was told I had to wait to push until the doctor arrived (she had left the hospital thinking it would be hours before I was ready). That was the most painful 15 minutes of my life! It felt so great to experience labor naturally that I thought if it weren't for the 9 months of incubating time I'd do it again. So these pictures are a bit out of order as they uploaded in the opposite way that I intended. I'd start at the bottom and work your way back up here.
We're sending this picture into the babyGap contest. I think he's a shoe-in.
A few weeks before the baby was done cooking, Fisher and I made pine cone birdfeeders.
The mayor was out when we brought Phoenix to City Hall to show her off, so Fisher decided to take over running the city for a bit.
She looks almost identical to Fisher when he was her age.
Nana saying good-bye.
Nana came up for the week to stay with Fisher and help us out when we brought Phoenix home.
He asks to hold his sister every day...so far.
Her first bath at home.
Derek's heart will forever be filled with worry over his daughter. Well worth it though.
Just home from the hospital, together as a family at last.
Enjoying some quiet time in the hospital, as things are not so quiet at home with Fisher these days. He's become very spirited.
Fisher checking out the baby nursing.
The first time he got to hold his sister.
Derek introduces Fisher to his sister, and the first thing he said to her was "no cry baby."
Sleeping in the hospital.
The weigh in. She came in at 7 lbs. 8 oz and was 20.5 inches long.
Finding some calm between contractions. I spent most of my labor sitting on a birthing ball, squeezing the mattress of the bed and moaning.
Our first photo as a family of 4.
Check her out! She's getting cuter and chubbier by the minute. As of her 1st month check up she weighs 9 lbs 8 oz (53rd percentile) and is 22.5 inches long (85th percentile)--a 2 lb and 2 inch gain. She's long and lean like her brother and I think she has a thing for 2s: she was born in room 222 at 2:44 with a double rainbow in the sky. She's still pretty good at night and usually gets up just twice, though we've definitely had our share of long nights! We're getting there...
Getting ready to go out for dinner, which is still fairly easy to do since she usually sleeps whenever she's in her car seat.
Us girls.
Derek's mom and sister Kelly came up last weekend to meet Phoenix.
And of course hang with Fisher.
Phoenix and aunt Kelly.
Phoenix and grandma.
She slept through most of the visit.
Another family shot. It feels great to be a family of 4.
She's starting to smile and coo now (when she's not sleeping, or crying, or pooping)!
Fisher is all ready for winter. I can hardly get him to take off his boots.
