Flashback Friday: The First Days

Please welcome the fifth addition to our happy, healthy, blessed family. We are so honored to share our LO's arrival. And now our family is complete!

Annalie Athena

Welcome to the world, beautiful, unique, precious, darling daughter. I didn't know I could have so much love fill my heart. I wasn't fully aware how much I needed you, until the day I laid my eyes on you. You were so tiny, the tiniest baby I've ever held. When the nurse placed you in my arms I could stop staring at your beautiful face. A face I had been dying to see. I yearned to see you. I had dreams of your sister's face, even before I was aware I was pregnant. But with you, everything is new. Everything about the announcement of your soon to be debut. And your surprise arrival to top.

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Independence Day Surprise!

Your arrival was quite the debut. I was 37 weeks pregnant, and being I had experienced Braxton hicks contractions before with my previous pregnancy with Julessa. I though nothing of it leading up to the week of your arrival. That morning I woke up feeling as rested as ever, which is rare lets be honest in your third trimester of pregnancy. Yet I felt like the Calm before the storm, as I opened my eyes looking at my fiancé. And he asked me, "Calm before the storm, you say?!" "Yes!" I replied back to him. So we got out of bed, and got on with our day. Anthony had left the night before with his uncle to visit (Grandma) Abuela and (Grandpa) Abuelo. So I made breakfast for the three of us (Alex, Julessa, and myself). I made a cheesecake red(strawberries), white(banana), and blue(blueberries) cake for after our bbq. We had bought meat & veggies to grill the day before. And I marinated that as well. We fired up the grill, ate very little, and I was so thirsty. Couldn't drink enough ice water with lemon. So tasty! Remember it was the Fourth of July, Summers are hot in the Spokane. I then felt the first contract.

Oh yes, this was it! This was the day I would be able to finally hold you in my arms and smell your head. The pheromones that you get from your newborn baby is intoxicating. I was absolutely socked to say the least. I was not prepared to give birth today I thought. I didn't end up delivering my first daughter till 42 weeks to the day, pushed for hours, and ending up in emergency c-section. This was such a different situation, that I almost felt like I was dreaming it all of this right before my very eyes. This time around I was to have a scheduled cesarean, followed by a tubal ligation. I had my hospital bag & baby's diaper bag packed, the second I scheduled the appointment. Just to have things in place and ready to go. (The thought of going into labor early and trying to explain to hubby What you NEED! And in what drawer or in what cabinet, "pack me this please!" No. Wasn't going to happen. He'd never be able to complete the task at hand. And being stuck in a hospital an just having had surgery, and breastfeeding an infant with sore & leaking nipples on top of that. Not too fun. If I do say so myself.

A few essential Items that I included in my bag were: charger for my phone (as well as my phone), it was my entertainment (Netflix) and camera to capture those first couple of days together. Extra Hair ties, they break easily having thicker hair and then you're left with hot sweaty neck or in your face as you try and nurse it makes a girl crazy. Coconut Oil! It's great to use during those first few diaper changes full of meconium. Wipes nearly right awa While also help prevent any rash. Newborn skin is so delicate. As well as a special gift for Julessa, from her new baby sister. A little toy, something to make the transition to 24/7 mommy's full undivided attention, to "Would you please go play for a while so I can rock sissy to sleep," "SHHHH!!! You're too loud!"- I shout! O_o Just a little more smoother. Also I had never been away from Julessa for more than a two hour Target shopping trip once a month, if I'm lucky. So the shift of my undivided attention towards Annalie now. And Julessa has grown to love and nurture her little baby sister for better or worse. They bicker throughout each day, but they're also best friends!

We arrive at the hospital, I check myself in at triage, and Alex and Julessa go and have a seat in the waiting room. Alex is frantically calling each person we know whom could take Julessa for a few hours (possibly the night) I had packed an overnight bag for two days worth of clothes and her favorite stuffed toy to snuggle, just in case. Yet it's Independence Day! Everyone either of us could think of was camping, visiting family, or getting settled in to watch the fireworks downtown. Luckily, we managed to catch my SO's brother and his family before leaving to Coeur d'Alene , he came and picked her up and they all went to enjoy fireworks over the lake. Where we planning to visit that very night. Thank goodness for mother's intuition. Or who know what sort of situation or birth story I would have in that case.