She was born on Wednesday, June 24th, at 3:19 am after 18 hours induction on Pitocin. And while I knew I would NOT be having an epidural, I had planned to have some minor pain relief via I.V. However, by the time I mentioned that I'd like some I was already at 6cm, thus missing the "window of opportunity." *sigh* LOL

So, baby "G"  was birthed into the world at a pleasingly plump 9 pounds 3.6 ounces, 21.5" long, head 14.5" circumference, (didn't get the chest circ.), and a full head of black hair.

Besides the necessary induction (which we'd tried to avoid through various "labor inducing" ideas, all to no avail), and the various bags of drips I was hooked up to on I.V--  well this was a much more natural labor and delivery than I'd ever had in the past. Deep vocalizations  (aka groans that could have won me a Grammy Award for "nature sounds") paired up with me singing my lungs out got me through all the contractions and pains. Thank goodness for my iPod Shuffle!!! A completely natural, unmedicated delivery -- I have to pat myself on the back and grin! I had no plans for that but am thrilled and so happy I was able to experience it!!


I have started writing up my recollection of the actual labor and delivery process/experience, but need to get my husband's input as well since much of the last portion of the labor escapes my memory.

I'm happy to say that with the hospital's Wi-fi capability, we were able to webcam (video/voice chat) with Yahoo messenger and have our older daughter, my mother, and my sister on the computer with us through MUCH of the laboring part and very soon after the delivery. It was a WONDERFUL experience having them there. Hubby coaxed me on, fanned me for probably hours with a dumb folder, because I was SOOO HOT! He was a trooper.

Baby "G" is a joy. Pure joy. She nursed like an old pro immediately after delivery. She bounced back quickly from low blood sugar at birth, and after two sleepy days and low interest in nursing, she is nursing like a champ. Engorgement has set in, LOL, and with some minor pumping and LOTS and LOTS of nursing, I'm beginning to see to the other side of it.

Daddy is totally smitten with is new daughter. We both look at her still, totally amazed at the blessing we've been given. Years of heart-ache and desire for a baby have all been sent to the back of our minds now with this glorious little being, a part of both of us. Exhausted from lack of sleep, I've just been  enjoying the bonding time with this new piece of my heart.

Well I'll have to share more photos later, hubby just brought baby "G" up for nursing time. Duty calls.

And... THANK YOU mom and SEESTER for "being there" through the labor with me... two thumbs up for yahoo messenger! It meant the world to have you two on the webcam with me, even if I wasn't paying too much attention to ya towards the "rough part" LOL  HUGS and LOVE YOU BOTH!

Next doctor appointment is on Wednesday and we're slotted for another ultrasound. So, maybe I'll update after that, too.

So, I'll be putting these into the mail early next week and then eagerly awaiting the arrival of ten DIFFERENT blocks from other people in the swap. I think while I'm waiting I'll go ahead and make two additional blocks in order to get three "full pattern rotations" and be able to make it into something. Or, who knows... maybe I'll feel like just keeping them on hand and adding to them from time to time to eventually make them all into something larger.