First 3 Weeks with Laney

I really planned to pick up the pace on blogging after Laney was born because babies "sleep so much" and I just knew I would have time and be really motivated to post lots of pics. Ha! I hardly have time to check my email without her waking up or getting hungry again. I think she can sense when I'm not giving her my full attention. I do have lots of pics to post, but I've been putting off sorting through them for the blog. I will get better once we start getting on more of a schedule and start venturing out of the house. 

Labor and delivery went very smoothly, but it was not how I envisioned it. I thought I would go into labor at home and stay at home for as long as possible before heading to the hospital. I was actually going to attempt a non-medicated birth. But with Laney approaching 10 days late, we went ahead a scheduled an induction for Sunday, June 20th while my doctor was on call. What a great Father's Day gift for Donald and the grandfathers! We arrived at Baptist Medical Center East in Montgomery at 5:00 am and was in a hospital gown with IVs hooked up by 5:30. I had actually started having mild contractions earlier that morning and they were five minutes apart by the time I got hooked up, so the nurse said it was more of an augmented labor rather than induced labor. My doctor broke my water at 8:30 am, and I wasn't allowed to get out of bed after that. Contractions got really painful about an hour later and I got an epidural around 10:30 am. The day went by really quickly after that with visitors and nurses coming and going. I wasn't completely pain free the whole time though. At one point I had a lot of pain on my left side and got nauseous right before it was time to push. But then pushing was the easiest part! I started at 3:45 and she was born at 4:24 pm. The doctor and nurses said she looked big, probably 8 pounds, but we didn't find out her official weight until she got her bath and stats done in nursery. I couldn't believe she was 8 pounds 11 ounces! She must have really packed it on in the 10 extra days. The family was so excited that when she went to the nursery everyone crowded ran down there and forgot about me! :) 

Mom and me in the early stage of labor

Big girl! 

I think Donald felt like a celebrity with all the cameras pointed at him and Laney through the nursery window

My twin brother Russell checks out Laney Russell

Laney and her cousins Miller, Peyton and Laura Brittain

Proud parents. We were amazed at what we created. 

We were smiling but we were nervous about taking Laney home. Thankfully my mom stayed with us that first night. And my pediatrician brother Wes was just a phone call away! 

Millie met Laney a week after we came home. She had a vacation with Donald's parents. She still doesn't know what the baby is doing here. 

We've played dress up and had photo shoots a few times.  Our plans to bring Laney home in her Feltman dress got squashed when our hospital discharge was delayed and she was sleeping soundly after being upset from her heel stick. First of many plan deviations I'm sure! 

First bath!

Laney's favorite way to sleep. So much for swaddling. 

As all mothers know, having a newborn is all-consuming and sometimes overwhelming. We're still learning how to calm her when she screams (and the girl can scream) and how to interact with her. But really she is a good baby and we are so blessed that she is healthy and normal. I heard a good quote this morning...you can never be truly "ready" to have a baby. You just do it and get through the best you can when the time comes. You take it day by day!