Day 5 - September 29, 2011

Good news! No more lab visits! No more bili-blanket! Hazel's bilirubin levels are back to normal! Hip hip hooray!

And Bristol came home! Many thanks to Dave, Heidi, Zach, and Josh for helping care for Bristol while we were in labor and during our first few days home. We missed her so much and are very happy to have her home! And she seems to be fairly indifferent to the newest addition to our household. Much like before Erin went into labor, Bristol wants to be right by our side, but isn't overly interested in Hazel. Just wait until she starts throwing food on the floor Bristol, she will be the best thing thats ever happened to you!

Day 5 brought lots of visitors. Aunt Randy (I guess that would be Great Aunt Randy to Hazel, right? Maybe we'll just stick with Aunt Randy) and Grandma Jordan brought dinner - awesome roasted veggie pasta and italian sausage and green beans prepared by Aunt Kathy and Uncle Joe - thank you so much!!! And Josh, Lora, and Kristen came for a visit too! Again no pictures....I promise to work on this!

I do have pictures of our morning snuggle session. Mornings are by far our favorite time of day!

And I also have photo documentation of the massive quantities of diapers Miss Hazel is creating! Even the lactation consultant had to look up in her reference book to make sure there were no concerns with the quantity of stools this kid is making! Luckily, all of the references to massive pooping are positive correlations....don't worry, she will be a genius!

So happy sleeping on papa's chest!

And he looks pretty happy too!

Bristol is home! Doesn't the nursery look good with Bristol in it?

So many diapers!

Day 4 - September 28, 2011

After another decent-ish night of sleep, we spent the morning relaxing in bed...nursing and snuggling...what a perfect way to spend a rainy September morning! Of course, we had to get up again and go to the lab for yet another bilirubin test. But we are getting good a taking our time and living life on our new schedule, so there was definitely time for coffee in bed. On the way home from the lab, Rob went shopping for baby girl clothes! We have lots of 0-3 month clothes, but Hazel is too small for those, so Rob battled Babies R Us (while Hazel and I relaxed in the truck) to try and buy some clothes that would fit her! You can see how excited she was when we put her in her new clothes......at least she looks good while she is crying!

And we had a visit from Andrea, Ella and Chloe! Someone forgot to take pictures....we are working on remembering that!

Rob was smitten with the mirrored curves!

New clothes!

I guess we were more excited about the new clothes than Hazel.

Day 3 - September 27, 2011

Our first day at home! After a rocky first half of the night, Hazel finally settled in for some sleeping around 2am. Not too bad for her 2nd night of sleep ever. We woke up desperate for a cup of coffee before our trip to the lab to get Hazel's blood drawn to check her bilirubin levels. While sitting in the living room in a pre-coffee stupor, Rob looked up to see Karen standing at the front door! She had just dropped Ella and Chloe off at school and stopped by to hold Hazel while we ate breakfast! We had a lovely coffee/breakfast with Karen and hit the road. We went to the lab and the pediatricians office - it was much to much to do on our first day at home! But Hazel's bilirubin counts were getting better! We still had to keep the bili-blanket on her though. 

The highlight of our day was the discovery of the swing! Hazel was so alert and happy in the swing! We took a million pictures!

And Heidi and Zach came for a visit! They took home Hazel's blanket and a couple of hats to start to acclimate Bristol to our newest addition. And we got a second visit of the day from Karen when she brought dinner. We are so well taken care of! Thank you family! 

Day 2 - September 26, 2011

Uncle Dave brought us a blow-up mattress, so Rob didn't have to spend another night on the couch. We woke up reasonable well rested and ready to bring our baby home! Hazel's bilirubin test came back high, so the doctors ran a bunch more tests before letting us take her home with our very own billi-blanket. After hours of waiting, Erin and Hazel got a wheelchair ride to the truck. Grandma and Grandad Jordan brought dinner to the house and held Hazel, so we could eat our first meal at home together!

Rob holding our little glow worm!

Sleeping in the sunshine!

Hazel was a good sleeper from the start!

Billi-blanket glow....

All secure in the car seat and ready to go home!

Day 1 - September 25, 2011

Happy Birthday Hazel Grace Augustine!!!

Dear Hazel, 

Your mama and papa worked very hard, all night and all day and all night again, on the day(s) of your birth. Your grandparents waited in the hospital waiting room for almost 30 hours to meet you! Uncle Evan and Aunt Erika came too, but had to leave before you were born. Aunt Andrea helped mama and papa during the birth process and was crying tears of joy when you were born! Everyone was so happy when you were born and couldn't wait to meet you! 

Mama and papa had you all to themselves for a few hours, taking the time to count your perfect little fingers and perfect little toes. 

Listening to you breathe. 

Marveling at their long awaited perfect little bundle of joy!

Love, 

Mama and Papa

Our new family!

Mama was so excited to finally meet you!

And Papa couldn't wait to hold you in his arms! 

You were so alert that first day when Grandma Hart was holding you!

Grandma and Grandad Jordan brought lunch for your mama and papa. We were so hungry! Grandma Jordan had waited so long to hold you in her arms!