the first week at home

I can't believe Brooklyn is already 10 days old.  The time is already going by so quickly and it makes me sad how fast she is growing. 

This first week at home has been great!  My mom left yesterday to fly back to Russia.  She was the BIGGEST help and I don't know what I would have done without her.  I hope things go as smoothly as they did when she was here.

Here are some pictures of the first week:

 sleeping with Dad

Brooklyn is a good little baby - very calm and content.  She is a great nurser and will usually sleep 3-4 hours stretches at night.  She does not like to be swaddled and sleeps with her hands up by her head...just like I did when I was little.  I think she looks like a mix of both of us...but we'll see as she gets older.

more hospital pics/first bath at home

Here are just a few more pictures from the hospital that I got off my mom's camera before she left.

And her first sponge bath at home:

Brooklyn Jane

She is finally here!!

Brooklyn Jane Mortensen was born on January 19th at 2:33 a.m.  She weighed 8 lbs 2 oz and was 19 1/2 inches long.  She is absolutely perfect.

I always love hearing people's birth stories and I don't want to forget Brooklyn's - so here it is....

The Birth Story

I was scheduled to be induced on the 18th.  I called the hospital that morning at they told us to come in at 7:30.  We got all checked in,  I got my IV, and they started the pitocin.  John and I watched "Dumb and Dumber" and "Hercules" that morning.  My doctor came back to check me at noon and said I had only dialated half a centimeter.  I was disappointed that we had already been there 5 hours and I was progressing that slow.  My mom and sister came by the hospital that afternoon and kept us company, which helped pass the time a lot.  My doctor came back at 5 o'clock and broke my water (I was now dilated to a 2).  Once he broke my water the contractions started coming faster and stronger.  I asked for an epidural around 7:00, but the anethesiologist was called into a c-section and then had another woman to help first.  I finally got the epidural at 9:00 and I was ready for it!  He was going through the risks of getting an epidural (like 1 in 20,000 of permanent paralysis) and I just didn't care :)  It was SO nice to be able to relax and rest once the epidural kicked in.  I slowly continued to progress and once I was dilated to a 5 everything went quicker.  I started pushing at 12:30 a.m.  When the doctor came in to deliver her he pulled out the forceps and said he would have to use them if she didn't come out soon.  And if that didn't work he would do a c-section (I think he only said this to motivate me to push harder).  I pushed a few more times and she was out.  It was the biggest relief to have her out!  I was so tired and hungry (I had not had anything to eat or drink since Monday night).  John cut her cord and the newborn intensive care unit quickly took her because she had pooped in the birth canal.  The suctioned over an ounce of poop out of her stomach and lungs.  Once they cleaned her off, measured and weighed her, I held her for the first time.  I was instantly overwhelmed at how much I loved her and how perfect she was.  I am so thankful to have had John by my side the whole time, as well as have my mom and sister.  They were quite the support group!

that is one proud Dad :) 

going home from the hospital

John and I still can't believe she is ours and can't stop staring at her.  We love her so much and feel so blessed to be her parents.   

It is almost time!

I had another doctors appointment today. 

The date is set.

January 18, 2011

I am being induced next Tuesday if she doesn't come before then (which I HIGHLY doubt she will).  We are scheduled and pre-registered at the hospital...all we have to do is call @ 6 am to find out when we go in.  

My doctor said she is head down and in good position.  

We are both nervous and anxious, but VERY excited to finally have our little girl here!     

A baby update..

I still don't have a set due date.  It has been frustrating hearing a different due date every time I go to the doctor.  I have been told Jan. 2nd, 6th, 11th, and 18th.  I know she will come when she is ready and supposed to...just anxious to meet her!

Here are a few recent pregnancy pictures....I am guessing I am about 38ish weeks:

 my feet are disappearing quickily!