Sweet Baby Girl

We are officially adjusting to life at home. Zola is a really great baby...I hate to say it but I never would have guessed this whole parenting thing could be so easy! But it's all due to Zola and her easy nature. This last weekend she started sleeping for 5 and 6 hour stretches so it is a total treat to get some extra sleep. Eric is a great Daddy...he enjoys cuddling her, bathing her and showing her off to our familiy and friends. We have been on lots of walks testing out the chariot and the ergo carrier. We have totally appreciated all of our visitors and especially all of the meals, people have been so generous and kind. I can't believe how fun it is to get the mail after you have a baby! There is always a cute card or two! My mom has been a lot of help, she helps with meals, laundry and cleaning and of course watching Zola so Eric and I can slip out for a few errands or two. Nana and Poppy have been up to visit several times and snuggle with Zola.

Getting ready to go home..

We got our baby girl all dressed to go home. I was excited to sleep in my own bed and start "playing house" However, I have never been so tired. But I got lucky, Zola is such an easy baby..she sleeps well, eats well...stays awake and keeps us company during the day...a really great baby!

The stats..

Labor officially started at 2:30 in the morning..on Jan. 5th. About 12:30 contractions started getting strong...At 7-8cm I had an epidural...ahhh the relief was incredible. At 7:20 I pushed..at 8:02 Zola was born. It took me 25 minutes to birth the placenta...She had quite the cone head at birth but I wasn't suprised after how low I carried her for so long! She weighed 7lbs 8oz.. 13cm head, 20" long.

Meet Zola Gabrielle

Our precious baby girl finally made her appearance on January 5th at 8:02. I broke my water unknowingly during the night...I thought I was just "peeing" myself because there was no "gush" Little did I know that it didn't have to be a gush. I went to work and about half way through my first class I figured out what was going on. Low "period like" cramps...coming and going and continued water loss...little did I know I was in for the best surprise of my life! We named our baby girl after my Grandmother Zola who passed away on Christmas 2008. Gabrielle, her middle name is named after Eric's Aunt Gaby.

Babywatch Update #1

To all waiting for the great arrival of our little lady...we are still patiently waiting..sometimes more patient than others! Today is our official "due date" even though we have had a lot of indicators that I was a good candidate to go early. As of last tuesday the 30th, I was 90% effaced and 3 cm dialated. Baby girl is head down and low in the pelvis...she is just waiting to make her entrance. She did not want to compete with holidays or anyone else's birthday apparently! So far she still needs to avoid the 9th, Donnie's b-day (Eric's brother) or the 15th, Heather's b-day (my sister). However, I don't think any of us would mind!

Grass or Tree?

Eric was expereimenting with his camera abilities. We through our tree out in the yard two days after Christmas...and believe it or not it snowed again! Eric chopped up the tree and put it in our compost...this was the design left in the snow...a grass shaped tree!

Surviving the Arctic blast!

The two week arctic blast was a little trying on my patience.... This is pretty much what it resorted too..a lot of napping...

Let's just say I don't miss the snow!