The First Six Weeks, Part 1: At the Hospital and Adjusting at Home

Laura was born just after midnight Monday morning. As soon as my mom saw the text in the morning she gathered her things together to join us in Indiana. We decided to have Andrew take care of the kids for the afternoon and have my mom come straight to the hospital.  She ended up staying with me the entire time and we were both ready to go home early (perk of having a baby in the middle of the night – they don’t make you stay two full nights/days!).

The kids meeting their new sister for the first time.  Emily was VERY interested in Laura and how the bed worked.  Nathan explored the room endlessly and enjoyed the crackers.  He reminded me a ton of Emily coming to the hospital when he was born.

Nathan pointed out that Laura has eyes/ears/nose/etc, Nathan has eyes/etc., Daddy has eyes/etc.

The kids brought chick-fil-a to eat at the hospital for dinner and hang out for us a bit.  As soon as they had taken a few bites they were back to wanting to hold Laura again.  I think they ate most of their food in the car on the way home.

The moment Nathan discovered Laura has a bed and he has a bed too.

Middle of the night with this sweet girl of mine.

The kids were most excited about getting ice at the hospital and showing Grandma Moose where the ice machine was.  The experience didn’t disappoint the weeks of build up.

Holding her one more time before we head home.

Car seats look so huge with tiny babies in them!

Andrew hanging out with Laura.  He searched all over to find the little ball that he also used to entertain Emily when we brought her home from the hospital.

My mom stayed for a whole week.  We joked it was part helping us/part retreat.  She graciously spent many hours hanging out on our floor with an air mattress.

What black friday looks like with a newborn: a baby monitor and car seat.  We borrowed one to bring Laura home in and then got the best price of all time for the car seat we needed to fit in our car.  I don’t know how we got along without a baby monitor of our own for so long – I rely on this one .

Hanging out with Dad after the other kids are tucked in for the night.  Perk of being a newborn.

The first Sunday after Laura was born.  Andrew had meetings so I got all the kids ready for church.  Emily really really really wanted to have Laura in a dress to match which she wore just long enough to get photographic proof.  Once Andrew came home to pick up the kids Laura and I took naps!