Monday, April 25, 2011
Easter 2011
This Easter was a very special one as it was our first as a bigger family. We all got dressed up and went to our church for a wonderful celebration of Jesus' resurrection. Then we enjoyed a quiet ham dinner at home (with a little sadness that our extended families were so far away from us). After lunch we spent some time outside 'playing'. Happy Easter!
One Month Photo Shoot
Our little girl turned 1 month old last week and we decided to have her pictures taken to honor the occasion. Grandma Sue and Rebekkah helped Emma with her wardrobe changes during the shoot. Emma had just woken up from a nap, so she was a very good and compliant model.
The pink dress is very special as it was worn by Grandma Sue and Rebekkah and has now been passed down to Emma. The purple dress is Emma's Easter dress for this year. The last outfit is Emma's birthday suit, proudly given to her by God.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
The First Few Weeks
Some of you might be wondering why it has taken us SO long to add another post. I am learning that there are many things that can be done one-handed, but making a blog post isn't one of those that I have learned yet! The past few weeks have flown by and Emma is 3 1/2 weeks old now.
I must say that the first week was definitely the hardest. Along with healing from the labor/delivery process, Emma and I had to learn about each other too. Between feedings and attempting to get some sleep where we could, there didn't seem to be any time for much else. It was a very big shock to me not to even be able to keep up my own house....folding a load of clothes seemed impossible! Thankfully, my Mom was able to stay with us that first week and help out tremendously. From cooking dinner to cleaning to staying up with Emma for a few hours so we could sleep a little...she helped with anything and everything. And to top it off, she was a great encouragement to me during this steep learning curve. What a priceless gift!!
Week 2 was just Me, Eddie, and Emma at home. We had help from friends with meals and we tried to settle in to being a family. Our biggest outing was a trip to the new outlet mall...we managed 1.5 hours and enjoyed doing something 'normal' for the first time with our precious little girl.
Eddie had to return to work at Week 3. I was a bit nervous and we definitely missed Daddy very much, but it was good for everyone to start a schedule. I can't say I have things all figured out, but I am starting to see patterns to what Emma wants to do every day. There are certain sleepy times, fussy times, and eating times. We have ventured out to quite a few places together: grocery store, mall, library. We have also made it to church 2 Sundays in a row!!!
Each day we see something new in her. She is starting to make a few sounds this week. And, all of that dark hair at birth is growing in from the roots a different color....we think it might be auburn...that red is coming out after all!!
I must say that the first week was definitely the hardest. Along with healing from the labor/delivery process, Emma and I had to learn about each other too. Between feedings and attempting to get some sleep where we could, there didn't seem to be any time for much else. It was a very big shock to me not to even be able to keep up my own house....folding a load of clothes seemed impossible! Thankfully, my Mom was able to stay with us that first week and help out tremendously. From cooking dinner to cleaning to staying up with Emma for a few hours so we could sleep a little...she helped with anything and everything. And to top it off, she was a great encouragement to me during this steep learning curve. What a priceless gift!!
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| Grandma Sue & Emma |
Week 2 was just Me, Eddie, and Emma at home. We had help from friends with meals and we tried to settle in to being a family. Our biggest outing was a trip to the new outlet mall...we managed 1.5 hours and enjoyed doing something 'normal' for the first time with our precious little girl.
Eddie had to return to work at Week 3. I was a bit nervous and we definitely missed Daddy very much, but it was good for everyone to start a schedule. I can't say I have things all figured out, but I am starting to see patterns to what Emma wants to do every day. There are certain sleepy times, fussy times, and eating times. We have ventured out to quite a few places together: grocery store, mall, library. We have also made it to church 2 Sundays in a row!!!
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| Daddy and his Emma Belle |
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| Bath Time |
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| Tummy Time |
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| Showing off for her Grandmas!! |
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Back to the Homestead
Imagine the time when you were away from home and most wanted more than any other time in your life to just go home. That was us, Monday morning 3-21-11. Hospital rooms are what they are--hospital rooms--and cannot in any way be expected to be a stay at The Bellagio or anything else other than a necessary evil.
After the delivery, the nurses came in and took care of all the standard protocols of washing, weighing, measuring etc. Within an hour and a half we were whisked away from the relative comfort of the private room in the spacious labor and delivery ward to the confines of the postpartum wing. Here is a shot of our room:
There isn't much more to it than that. Rebekkah was recovering in the bed and I had a recliner over by the window. Baby slept on our chests when she slept. She was a little irritable the first day and night and needed a lot of feeding and comfort. We were happy to oblige. The first night she slept on and off for about a half hour at a time with feedings and cryings in between. Family and friends were there in full force to see little Emma and welcome her to the world. She is very loved and lucky to have the extended relatives and friends that care for her.
The second (Monday) night in the hospital was no different, not a lot of normalcy and I think the baby was feeling that. She didn't sleep much better and seemed to only be comforted when she was feeding. Daddy learned that laying Emma on his chest and giving her his pinky worked very well for getting her to sleep. At about 3 am, when all were finally fast asleep, we were awakened to a nurse busting in and asking where the baby was. Rebekkah panicked, because Emma was sleeping on my chest in the recliner. The nurse was hovering over me trying to take her for her lab blood draw, but half-sleep daddies hold their babies in kung-fu grips and don't give in very easily. Quick-witted Rebekkah noticed she had no credentials and asked her for them. Apparently she left them at home and followed the proper protocols of going to get another member of the staff to come get Emma and take her to the nursery. We then fell asleep again and were awakened when they brought Emma back.
At that point, it was getting close to daylight so we just got up because there was no use trying to sleep again. Nurses and staff were in and out and we saw the pediatrician and attending OB who promptly discharged us. After the standard state-compelled counseling session (my own description), we were free to go.
The drive home was apparently the most soothing thing Emma had experienced up to that point. I was expecting her to scream the whole way home, but she zonked out as soon as we got going. I noticed that I was driving like I was in my truck with a glass shower standing up in the back that I was trying to keep from tipping over.
We finally made it home and what a relief it was!! Emma was the guest of honor, and Grandmas Shirley and Susie were there waiting to capture the moment:
Otherwise, the rest of the day and night were about what you would expect. We spent our time resting and caring for Emma and reflecting on how quickly life has changed and will continue to change.
This is her Robert De Niro face..."You lookin' at me? No? Well who else you lookin' at?"
After the delivery, the nurses came in and took care of all the standard protocols of washing, weighing, measuring etc. Within an hour and a half we were whisked away from the relative comfort of the private room in the spacious labor and delivery ward to the confines of the postpartum wing. Here is a shot of our room:
There isn't much more to it than that. Rebekkah was recovering in the bed and I had a recliner over by the window. Baby slept on our chests when she slept. She was a little irritable the first day and night and needed a lot of feeding and comfort. We were happy to oblige. The first night she slept on and off for about a half hour at a time with feedings and cryings in between. Family and friends were there in full force to see little Emma and welcome her to the world. She is very loved and lucky to have the extended relatives and friends that care for her.
The second (Monday) night in the hospital was no different, not a lot of normalcy and I think the baby was feeling that. She didn't sleep much better and seemed to only be comforted when she was feeding. Daddy learned that laying Emma on his chest and giving her his pinky worked very well for getting her to sleep. At about 3 am, when all were finally fast asleep, we were awakened to a nurse busting in and asking where the baby was. Rebekkah panicked, because Emma was sleeping on my chest in the recliner. The nurse was hovering over me trying to take her for her lab blood draw, but half-sleep daddies hold their babies in kung-fu grips and don't give in very easily. Quick-witted Rebekkah noticed she had no credentials and asked her for them. Apparently she left them at home and followed the proper protocols of going to get another member of the staff to come get Emma and take her to the nursery. We then fell asleep again and were awakened when they brought Emma back.
At that point, it was getting close to daylight so we just got up because there was no use trying to sleep again. Nurses and staff were in and out and we saw the pediatrician and attending OB who promptly discharged us. After the standard state-compelled counseling session (my own description), we were free to go.
The drive home was apparently the most soothing thing Emma had experienced up to that point. I was expecting her to scream the whole way home, but she zonked out as soon as we got going. I noticed that I was driving like I was in my truck with a glass shower standing up in the back that I was trying to keep from tipping over.
We finally made it home and what a relief it was!! Emma was the guest of honor, and Grandmas Shirley and Susie were there waiting to capture the moment:
Otherwise, the rest of the day and night were about what you would expect. We spent our time resting and caring for Emma and reflecting on how quickly life has changed and will continue to change.
This is her Robert De Niro face..."You lookin' at me? No? Well who else you lookin' at?"
It's Time!
Here is a short account of the last day and evening leading up to the birth of our sweet little Emma Belle...
Rebekkah's mom came in to town on Saturday afternoon, and are we ever thankful that she did! Rebekkah had been feeling decidedly different the entire day and started to show some signs of progression into labor by the early afternoon. We knew it would be soon, but not how soon!
Things really started about midnight and after a call to the OB office, several walks, telephone calls to family and a mass email, we were on our way to the hospital at 3 am. The staff at Durham Regional was wonderful and really accommodated us and our families during the whole process.
Being that it is a personal matter with lots of medical details, it will have to suffice for me to say that after another 12 hours of labor and one short but powerful surge, we had a new baby at 9:47 pm! Little 8 lb, 1.5 oz 20.5 in long Emma Belle Brown:
Thus ended the long sleepless night and day, and the realization of the beginnings of a new sleepless night and day.
Rebekkah's mom came in to town on Saturday afternoon, and are we ever thankful that she did! Rebekkah had been feeling decidedly different the entire day and started to show some signs of progression into labor by the early afternoon. We knew it would be soon, but not how soon!
Things really started about midnight and after a call to the OB office, several walks, telephone calls to family and a mass email, we were on our way to the hospital at 3 am. The staff at Durham Regional was wonderful and really accommodated us and our families during the whole process.
Being that it is a personal matter with lots of medical details, it will have to suffice for me to say that after another 12 hours of labor and one short but powerful surge, we had a new baby at 9:47 pm! Little 8 lb, 1.5 oz 20.5 in long Emma Belle Brown:
Thus ended the long sleepless night and day, and the realization of the beginnings of a new sleepless night and day.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Baby Shower
I feel overwhelmed with love this week after attending my beautiful baby shower on Saturday. I keep telling little girl how blessed she is even though she doesn't even know it yet. It was such an enjoyable weekend, starting off with a vacation day on Friday for both Eddie and I. Mom, Chris, April, and Bella came to visit Friday afternoon from Virginia bringing along a Case tractor and bush hog. I think this was Eddie's favorite part of the weekend!! This tractor was my Dad's and he wanted so much to bring it to us while he was alive but he was just too sick to get it down to North Carolina. Every time I look at it, I think of Dad and how much fun he and my nephew Cole had working on it over the past few years.
My Aunt Amy hosted an amazing shower for me and baby girl at Four Square Restaurant in Durham. It was such a special time. I am honored that friends and family took the time to attend and also blessed us with very nice gifts for baby girl.
My Aunt Amy hosted an amazing shower for me and baby girl at Four Square Restaurant in Durham. It was such a special time. I am honored that friends and family took the time to attend and also blessed us with very nice gifts for baby girl.
The theme was birds/nests and you can see that it was tastefully woven throughout the shower from the invitations to the floral arrangements even to the baby gifts that we received.
The lunch menu was fabulous and we played a game of finishing the nursery rhyme. I realized that I need to brush up on these with baby girl!!
I also received many wonderful gifts and had a great time opening them all!!
Eddie also made an appearance and was rewarded with his own gift to open...I think these will be his favorites for baby girl. Go Tigers!
What I enjoyed most of all was spending time with the my friends and family on this special day!
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| Back Row L-R: Aunt Amy, April, Jamie, Janelle, Grandma Sue, Debra, Jenna, Mary, Virginia, Kristen Front Row L-R: Allison, Manda, Rebekkah |
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| Babies in progress: Baby Girl Brown and Baby Close (4 months apart!) |
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| Grandma Sue patting baby girl |
Baby girl is getting bigger by the minute and so his her Momma! Only a few weeks left....the countdown has begun.
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