08.05.02

WELCOME & HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Baby Taylor!

3:35pm - 9 lbs. 7 oz. - 21.5 in.
CONGRATULATIONS to James and Grace!

Today was a quiet day. Ashlyn and I stayed home. I got around to planting some flowers that we gave out as part of Ann's shower favors in the front yard. I pulled Ashlyn's mega-saucer out to the front yard so she can enjoy the nice weather while I put six flowering plants into the ground. After I finished and looked over the front yard, I was inspired to re-do the whole front yard. But I'm getting way ahead of myself. =P The rest of the afternoon was spent cleaning up around the house and preparing for my trip up North.

After nearly two weeks past her due-date, Grace finally had her baby girl today! I was calling her all afternoon, completely oblivious that she was in the hospital. Aric called to share the wonderful news around 4pm. =D
Right after Aric got home from work, we (along with Ed and Sue) went to visit Grace in the hospital. Both mother and baby are doing very well. We stuck around for a bit till the nurse came in to exam Grace...so we left for a quick dinner with Ed, Sue, and James at Ruby's Aero-Diner in Laguna. Ashlyn and I were both intrigued by all the model planes that flew overhead while we ate. We headed back to the hospital after dinner to visit with Grace some more. She looked great and was in good spirits. I was really amazed to find out that she did it au-naturelle and sans the epidural. DANG!
Lauren's grandmother brought her by and she quiety observed her mommy cradling her tiny sister. It was really hard to tell which way she would go with this...especially at this age. All she wanted to do was play with Ashlyn.

Ashlyn wasn't allowed back into the maternity ward. The only kids allowed were siblings or children over the age of 16. I don't know why that is, but I suspect it has to do with germs and such. Aric and Ed stayed with Ashlyn in the waiting room while Sue and I hung out with Grace and the baby. Sue and I took turns holding Taylor while Grace rested. Taylor is so tiny!...even at a whopping 9 and a half pounds! It was hard to imagine that Ashlyn was even smaller! Aric and I do want another lil' one someday...but as I held Taylor, I began having thoughts of wanting another baby NOW. Of course it was just a fleeting thought.
Taylor began crying and breaking free of her swaddling blankets. Sue and I laid her down to re-swaddle her, and as I slipped my hand beneath her to lift her up, I felt something oddly warm and familiar. POOP! Yep, I got it all over my fingers....and not just regular poop, but meconium (the baby's very first poop...which is dark and sticky like tar). I'm not squeemish about stuff like that, so I didn't mind at all. It's an indication of the beginning of a beautiful friendship! =D
Sue and I left shortly after cleaning the baby up. An attending nurse came to run more tests on Grace, and the baby needed to be fed. By the time Aric and I dropped Ed and Sue off, it was close to 11pm!

Pictures from today:


Ashlyn in the frontyard


Aric, Ashlyn, James, and Sue at the hospital


me and Baby Taylor


Taylor with eyes open


Sue and Taylor

Patrick stopped by to pick up a computer and stuck around to chat a bit. Before I knew it, it was really really late...and I haven't even started packing yet! *yikes!* Better get a move on!


Ashlyn in the kitchen


Ashlyn's pics of the day


back to journals