Kate's hospital stay

This was the picture I sent to family and friends and put on social media announcing that Kate had arrived.  We named her Kate Olivia.  I have loved the name Kate for a long time and it was one that John and I could agree on - plus I love that the name is so sweet and simple. I wanted to do Kate McKinley or Kate Harper, but John vetoed both of those.  John suggested Kate Olivia and I fell in love with it.  

I LOVE my hospital stay after having a baby.  There is never a time again when it is just me and my new sweet baby - perfect bonding/quiet time together.  Plus, I really like the hospital I delivered both Remmy and Kate because it is smaller, meaning not as many staff, so they leave you alone.  They don't keep the babies in the nursery for you either, so you have them in your room most of the time unless they are being tested for something.

Kate was born at 9:17 p.m.  My mom left a little while after to go back home and relieve my friend Alison who had been at the house with the kids.  John and I had that first hour of Kate's life together with her, just the three of us.  The doctor and nurses left and we were alone for what seemed like quite awhile.  I will never forget that time together - it was perfect.  I nursed her and then John and I took turns holding her.  After an hour or so John went with a nurse to give Kate her first bath.  I got cleaned up, used the bathroom, and was moved to my room.

Finally around 1 a.m. John left for home to get some sleep.  I slept ok that first night - I was SO hot and sweating like crazy.  I kept buzzing the nurse to turn the air up, which she did twice, and finally told me it was up all the way and that I better bundle my baby up real good because it was so cold in my room.  Hormones I guess were going crazy because I couldn't stop sweating! :)

John and my mom brought the kids the next morning to meet their new sister.  Brooklyn and Jake were SO excited.  Remmy thought Kate was cute and held her once and then was back to her busy self climbing up and down on my bed and curious about what was on my breakfast tray.

first picture of our family of SIX (sounds crazy to me still)

Brooklyn and Jake were really curious and excited about Kate.  They watched me change her diaper, I showed them her fingers and toes, and they took turns holding her.

PROUD big brother.  Jake has adored her from day one.

A very happy big sister!  Brooklyn asked me almost daily for the longest time when her new sister was coming.  I was so glad when the day was finally here for them to meet.  (Notice the white stuff on Kate's head...when she was born, that white stuff was CAKED on her head.  Tons and tons of it!  After John gave her a bath I jokingly said that he missed her head because she still had so much of that white stuff on it.  He said he scrubbed her good and there was still plenty on there.  The nurse told him to leave the rest on and it would eventually come off)

Remmy's turn...she pointed out all the features on her face..."eyes".. :) 

My friend Kayla is a photographer and came to the hospital to take some pictures.  I love how they turned out!

proud/happy/excited siblings

all ready to go home

We went home from the hospital on Sunday afternoon.  Our stay couldn't have been better...and on a side not...the hospital had THE BEST ever chicken salad sandwich.  I got it twice, both days for lunch and still think about how good it was.