Caroline's Big Arrival: April 21, 2011

Getting ready to leave for the hospital....last day being pregnant!

Family of three

Right before they took me back

Caroline Reese Lawson

5 lbs 9 oz, 19 inches long

First pic together

Loving my little girl

Cale checking her out through the glass

Poor Caroline had to be in the nursery transitioning for 5 hours because she swallowed some amniotic fluid and was having labored breathing. Very scary for mom and dad but she turned out perfect!

I was unable to hold, feed or see her b/c I was recovering from the spinal and she was in the nursery. This was as close as I was able to get for about 5 hours as they wheeled me by the nursery on my way to my room. Horrible!

Thankfully, Travis was able to be with her the entire time. He was such a good daddy and made sure she wasn't by herself. So sweet, I think his face says it all!

I was able to talk Cale into snuggling with me for a bit while I waited for my legs to "work" again. We had both had such a long day, he was a trooper!

At about 5 pm, I talked the nurses into letting me get into a wheelchair so I could get to the nursery. They looked at me like I was crazy, but I insisted on holding my little girl. I guess they like you to stay parallel for 12 hours, please!

So perfect. Sorry about all of the pics with the baby cheese still on. She wasn't able to have a bath until later that night after she was more stable.

So thankful to finally be able to hold her

Getting ready for my bath

Grammy was the lucky one that got to hold her that night b/c she went to get us something to eat. When she got back she had the best surprise, Baby Caroline was in the room!

This is how we fed her for the first few days. Breast fed first, then fed her with a syringe what I could pump. Thank goodness that was short lived, she is such a wonderful baby and getting bigger by the day!