Annie & Mommy: The first picture! Seconds old 4:54amWell, we survived! I think....the first 48 hours with Annie were a complete whirlwind. We experienced every emotion possible in such a short amount of time it's hard to sum it all up. I went from feeling pain, anger, embarassment (don't ask), relief, nothing (think epidural!), joy and exhaustion. I a
m sure that Mason felt a wide range of emotions too and can only imagine what it would be like to experience the whole birth from his perspective.
My epidural smile! Even Jenna and Abi are happy.
m sure that Mason felt a wide range of emotions too and can only imagine what it would be like to experience the whole birth from his perspective.My epidural smile! Even Jenna and Abi are happy.
Our first few hours with Annie were filled with fear more than anything. After the birth, Annie was immediately put on me to promote skin to skin contact. Our midwives left her on my chest flailing, goopy and beautiful for the next two hours. At first neither Mason nor I knew what to do, let alone how to hold her or react to the situation. Annie came to the world happy and willing to let us learn along with her.
After her initial assessment--weight 7lbs 10oz, length 21.5cm etc (not sure what her Apgar score ever was) she was then placed back on me to try and breastfeed. Now, for those of you who have breastfed children before you'll know the first time is like nothing you've ever felt or experienced before. Initially I was trying to relax so that Annie wasn't stressed out but inside I was feeling pretty excited--little did I know I just gave birth to a MONSTER and not a baby. I think my exact words were "Holy Hannah" once I felt her latch on for the first time. WOW is all I can say--except now sounds more like a deep gasp when she initially feeds.
We were then moved into our semi-private suite. Thankfully as we were moving in, the couple next to us were in the process of being discharged. We had a great time getting to know Annie and what each cry and facial feature means. We were also greeted by many guests the first 48 hours of Annie's life. Nana, Auntie M, Uncle Daniel, Uncle Darren, Gramma and Papa Fraser were among the first guest to arrive initially following Annie's birth. It was so nice to see everyone and see their reaction to their grand-daughter/niece. Annie melted each one of their hearts immediately, it was truly something special. A few hours later after getting some rest we saw Gramma and Papa again as well Aunt Mo, Uncle Chris, Cousin Cooper, Friends--Caitlin, Tim and Judy Pielsticker all dropped by to see Annie. Annie was wide awake for each meet and greet and continued to melt the hearts of all who met her.
After our visits were over it was almost dinner time and Annie, Mason and I continued to bond. Our nurse Jane also showed us how to bathe Annie and although it was a very informative lesson Annie was NOT a happy camper. Before we knew it it was bedtime and we all tried to settle in for our first night with Annie at the hospital. It was a rough first night as we could not figure out what she wanted and she would not sleep in her cot in the end she wanted to be cuddled to sleep on my chest.
At about 2am we were greeted by a nurse who informed us that we would be getting a neighbour at any time--great! When we finally did get our neighbour she was LOUD and made it difficult to sleep. She had just had her third baby, a boy (Alex I think was his name) and somehow forgot what it felt like to be disturbed with her first two?! Let's just say, she was on the phone with relatives had the light on at it's brightest setting and talking loudly to her husband at 2am until almost 5am. Annie, Mason and I were tired and not impressed. After hours of crying (Annie and I now) because we were tired and sore I realised I had packed earplugs and a facemask in our bag. Mason got up to get them and we were all able to get some sleep.
Before we knew it the day had flown by and we asked to be discharged. The nurses came by and checked to see if Annie was strapped into her carseat correctly (no tests were performed as our midwives do all this) and I to see if she was feeding and if I was feeling okay--put a check both boxes, we were given some 'reading material' and sent on our merry way, baby in tow.
On the drive home Mason and I were so excited and could also not believe that we now had this little being we were responsible for and that she came without instructions! We were laughing at how much we had already learned in such a short amount of time and yet we still had years.
When we pulled into the driveway it hit me--we're parents! Not sure why it took so long to hit me, but when it did I had my first of many bouts of 'happy tears' walking up the walkway to our front door. Since Mason went around the back to let me in the house he was greeted by his baby and his crying wife--Mason still is wondering why I cry when I'm happy. I think I am wondering this myself.
Mason and I spent the rest of the day trying to figure things out and clean up the last minute stuff we left around the house while departing for the hospital. In the evening we had our first at home visitors--Aunt Meg and Uncle Steve "a.k.a Uncle Eve" who brought us ice cream and good company.
That night seems like a blur, but I am sure it was a lot of crying, waking, feeding, changing and cuddling. We love Annie so much and cannot get over how fast we've become so in love and attached to someone we both just met.
**Pictures will accompany this post tomorrow....we're too tired!** For those blog followers, we plan on getting better with posting, but are running on low in the sleep dept.
Love,
Amber, Mason & Annie
We were then moved into our semi-private suite. Thankfully as we were moving in, the couple next to us were in the process of being discharged. We had a great time getting to know Annie and what each cry and facial feature means. We were also greeted by many guests the first 48 hours of Annie's life. Nana, Auntie M, Uncle Daniel, Uncle Darren, Gramma and Papa Fraser were among the first guest to arrive initially following Annie's birth. It was so nice to see everyone and see their reaction to their grand-daughter/niece. Annie melted each one of their hearts immediately, it was truly something special. A few hours later after getting some rest we saw Gramma and Papa again as well Aunt Mo, Uncle Chris, Cousin Cooper, Friends--Caitlin, Tim and Judy Pielsticker all dropped by to see Annie. Annie was wide awake for each meet and greet and continued to melt the hearts of all who met her.
After our visits were over it was almost dinner time and Annie, Mason and I continued to bond. Our nurse Jane also showed us how to bathe Annie and although it was a very informative lesson Annie was NOT a happy camper. Before we knew it it was bedtime and we all tried to settle in for our first night with Annie at the hospital. It was a rough first night as we could not figure out what she wanted and she would not sleep in her cot in the end she wanted to be cuddled to sleep on my chest.
At about 2am we were greeted by a nurse who informed us that we would be getting a neighbour at any time--great! When we finally did get our neighbour she was LOUD and made it difficult to sleep. She had just had her third baby, a boy (Alex I think was his name) and somehow forgot what it felt like to be disturbed with her first two?! Let's just say, she was on the phone with relatives had the light on at it's brightest setting and talking loudly to her husband at 2am until almost 5am. Annie, Mason and I were tired and not impressed. After hours of crying (Annie and I now) because we were tired and sore I realised I had packed earplugs and a facemask in our bag. Mason got up to get them and we were all able to get some sleep.
Before we knew it the day had flown by and we asked to be discharged. The nurses came by and checked to see if Annie was strapped into her carseat correctly (no tests were performed as our midwives do all this) and I to see if she was feeding and if I was feeling okay--put a check both boxes, we were given some 'reading material' and sent on our merry way, baby in tow.
On the drive home Mason and I were so excited and could also not believe that we now had this little being we were responsible for and that she came without instructions! We were laughing at how much we had already learned in such a short amount of time and yet we still had years.
When we pulled into the driveway it hit me--we're parents! Not sure why it took so long to hit me, but when it did I had my first of many bouts of 'happy tears' walking up the walkway to our front door. Since Mason went around the back to let me in the house he was greeted by his baby and his crying wife--Mason still is wondering why I cry when I'm happy. I think I am wondering this myself.
Mason and I spent the rest of the day trying to figure things out and clean up the last minute stuff we left around the house while departing for the hospital. In the evening we had our first at home visitors--Aunt Meg and Uncle Steve "a.k.a Uncle Eve" who brought us ice cream and good company.
That night seems like a blur, but I am sure it was a lot of crying, waking, feeding, changing and cuddling. We love Annie so much and cannot get over how fast we've become so in love and attached to someone we both just met.
**Pictures will accompany this post tomorrow....we're too tired!** For those blog followers, we plan on getting better with posting, but are running on low in the sleep dept.
Love,
Amber, Mason & Annie
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