Week 3

We're starting to get the hang of things a little more this week...Elsa and I were able to take a few walks around the neighborhood, we tried using a bottle, and we even left the house to go somewhere besides a doctor's office!  Elsa is more alert than ever and making lots of eye contact with us.  We ended this week with a family trip to Wal-Mart....Elsa, like her parents, is not a fan.  

Meeting Charlie!

Bright-eyes & Bedhead in the morning!

Warming up after a bath

Favorite napping position...hands over ears

Our only real low point of the week was waking up Wednesday morning to realize our fridge had sprung a leak, flooding the kitchen floor, and ruining the ceiling below in the laundry and bath rooms.  Fortunately, Grandpa Flott could come help us get things under control and the damage is nothing we can't fix (when we have a little free time and when we start caring what our laundry room ceiling looks like...).

Bapa saved the day!

Good Morning, Sunshine!

One of our favorite things about Elsa is her facial expressions - especially right after she eats and is a little sleepy...

The First Two Weeks Or So...

We survived Elsa's first two weeks! It seems like we spent a lot of the first week at various doctor offices - we met Elsa's doctor, had some blood drawn to test for jaundice (she passed!), made a trip to the ER for Carrie (nothing serious - just a slight infection),  a follow-up appointment with Carrie's doctor, and finally Elsa's 2 week check-up.  

1st Sponge Bath

Elsa's 2 Week Stats:

• 19.5 inches long (same as at birth)
• 6lbs. 6.5 oz. (not quite back to birth weight, but doc says close enough)
• Takes long afternoon naps
• Eats a lot during the mornings
• Sleeps a good 4-5 hour stretch (most nights)

Posing on her quilt from Great Aunt Lori

Spending a Sunday afternoon with Grandma & Bapa

Fortunately, we still had lots of time for family snuggling on the couch, lots of naps, a little sponge bath action, visits with lots of family and dear friends, taking cover during a tornado warning, and a real photo shoot with Shayla (pics coming soon)!

 We even mastered the Baby K'Tan carrier (it only took 2 YouTube video tutorials)!

She's a keeper!

On Our Way Home...

Our little family of three got to go home from the hospital Sunday afternoon.  Although our two day stay was a positive experience, we were ready to show Elsa her home and start our new adventure as a family! 

A few pictures from our stay at Bromenn...

With Dr. Kossler - our stand in for Dr. Weaver

Look at all my hair!

The original plan was for Elsa to wear the same outfit Carrie wore home some 28 years ago....but Elsa is a tad smaller than Carrie was (8lbs. 6oz. to Elsa's 6 lbs. 8oz) and the outfit was a little too roomy...

Ready for her first car ride!

Decorations by Grandma, Grandpa, and cousins Clara & Greta

Meet The Family

 During our weekend stay at the hospital, Elsa got to see a lot of her family members.  It was great to have so many visitors at the hospital - it made the time pass quickly (and they often brought mom and dad food)!  Elsa is very fortunate to have such a loving and supportive family!

Grandpa & Grandma Flott getting a good look at their 3rd granddaughter

Aunt Amy & Uncle Beans (Cort)

Elsa with Aunt Stephanie & Cousin Greta

With Uncle Jeff

Aunt Amy couldn't stay away!

Greta loves babies!

Lots of Flotts

Elsa with her Golden(side) Aunts

With Aunt Gina and Uncle Chuche

Getting in some snuggles with Aunt Becki

Elsa with Papa and Memaw 

Although Cousin Clara visited Elsa at the hospital, Clara was not feeling ready to meet her "Mimi" yet...but by the end of the week she was more than ready to come play with her new buddy!

She's Here! Part Deux (Erik's point of view)

The day was like any other. Little did I know that by the end of it, two would become three.

I worked slightly later than normal on Friday, fairly confident that today was not the day. I had told others that I thought the day would be Saturday. Carrie kept thinking the day should be RIGHT THIS VERY SECOND DAMN IT. 

Hurry please...

Anyway, I called Carrie on the way home and she told me she was on the phone with her sister. I hung up and seconds later realized I had a missed call from her and a voicemail. I listened to the voicemail: "Erik, my water broke, get home." I hit the gas. 

Thank you to the Illinois State Police for not patrolling the interstate that day because I assuredly would have deserved a ticket. I rushed home, got Carrie in the car, and rushed back to Bloomington. It was the longest drive of my life. 

I know how lucky I am to have such an amazing wife. She's so amazing, she didn't make me wait long to meet our beautiful daughter. She did so very well. I tried my best to remind her of her breathing and to practice our relaxation techniques. I also told her "Good job" so many times that I started to hate the sound of it myself. But Carrie didn't mind, she persevered.

And when the nurse came in, checked Carrie, and said, "Honey, you're ready," my heart began to beat faster than I thought possible. I lied to Carrie, it's true. The doctor was not there and we were trying to stall. I told Carrie the doctor was parking her car, which in hindsight, sounds pretty stupid now. Carrie didn't care. She doesn't even remember it. Until right now of course. 

Finally, the doc showed and the most intense, scary, and joyful time of my life began. Movies are stupid. They can't begin to approximate the experience and I can't begin to describe it. So I won't.

Just know that when our daughter entered this world, took her first breath, and was placed in Carrie's arms, I leaned in close and understood what I had always been missing. I'd been waiting my whole life for Elsa Suzanne Golden. 

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