Coralee Hope's first trip

Not that any of you really want to know our birth story for Coralee, but for our records we are going to share it. Our due date was October 4th and so we scheduled our induction for that day. We had contractions all night the night before, so Jason and I didn't get any sleep. We were not progressing enough on our own so we waited for our appointment and went in around 5:00 am. We got the process started, received the epidural, and our Doctor came in around 8:30 and decided to break the water. It still took a couple more hours before things really got going. I started to feel pressure(and of course pain) around 10:30. The nurse had been told to inform the dr when I started to feel pressure because this was my 4th and I was going to go fast. The nurse kept checking me and I was topping off at about a 9 with an upper lip that wasn't budging. She wanted that to go away before we called the dr, but I didn't like that plan. She kept talking like it was going to be so much harder to push through that lip, I felt totally defeated before I even started. I am not sure if all women feel that "I can't do this" moment during childbirth, but I have each time. That was it for me. Tears streaming, Jason comforting, and the nurse talking about a lip standing in my way.

I kept feeling the need to push, but the doctor wasn't there yet. I did have to do some pushing just to relieve the pain at least a little bit for each contraction. The doctor got there and got dressed in her get-up. I told her I needed to push, she said go ahead and in 2 pushes Coralee was out. Oh sweet instant relief from pain. I heard Jason say,"Hold on, hold on, hold on." And then I saw the Doctor look at him intently while saying,"I caught her." There was never any doubt that she would, it just startled Jason that it happened so fast I guess. So, at 11:20 AM on Tuesday October 4, 2011, our sweet Coralee Hope was born. She weighed 7 pounds 11.8 ounces and was 21 1/2 inches long. She screamed and cried until Jason calmly talked to her. She loved that!

We have had her for a full week and are adjusting as much as possible. David is having the hardest time sharing mommy time. I am trying really hard to give him more love and time rather than punishing him. Although sometimes he needs to be shown his limits(am I right, am I right?) For the most part we all Love having baby Cora around. Welcome home Cora!

This is the only before picture from the hospital. I am sure you can see why I didn't want a bunch of pictures taken of me. However, you can use this as the before picture in my weight loss journey if you would like. I will soon look a lot better.

This is Coralee's starting weight and will be working in the opposite direction as I will. She is already off to a good start. Eating like a champ.

Daddy comforting her while she is experiencing the world and her new body for the first time. He is really good at that.

Poor thing is not happy being without her womb.

Her first bath. The only part she liked was the head massage.

Clean and holding Daddy's hand. It doesn't get much better than that.

I am not sure what happened to this picture. I doesn't look like this on my camera or in my pictures file. But, this is my David and me.


Da was awesome to watch David for us the day of Coralee's arrival. They had a good time playing in the mud and then shopping for new shoes. Good times all around. We were happy to see them when they came to meet baby Cora.

Swaddled babies are too cute.

Getting all dressed to go home.

Sweet baby feet. Yes, I put socks on her before we left.

Kisses from big brother David. He does this every time he walks by her(if we let him).

Napping at home. Doesn't she look so peaceful?

I am overly irritated about these pictures being ruined. I LOVE this one. I love this new little one. My heart gets all fluttery when I see this man and his gentleness and love he shows to his children. I am humbled that I am blessed to have him for eternity. I LOVE YOU JASON!

The girls stayed at a friend's house Tuesday and Wednesday. They didn't meet Coralee until Wednesday afternoon when we got home from the hospital. They were anxious to hold her and kiss on her. So, after a bath we let the girls have a turn. They were in Heaven.

Jessica couldn't stop smiling with Cora in her arms. Well, until Cora started to squirm and then she got nervous. She is already getting better each time she gets a "turn" with Cora.

We were able to visit with Lynnae and her kids on Saturday. She got the girls new skirts. They look like tutus and the girls LOVE them. They prance around like princesses/ballerinas. Twirling and twirling and twirling!

She also got David a Batman pajama set with a cape, but we managed to leave the cape at Dad's house so we used his old batman footed pj's for this picture. We will take his picture later in that one.
Thank you Aunt Nae for the perfect clothes. Now we just have to have that fight every morning about whether we can wear it to school again today.

We love and appreciate all of you who have helped to welcome our little bundle into our family. We couldn't have done it without you. Thank you!