She's not my baby anymore...

Emily has definitely seemed more grown up to me since Elaina has made her arrival. It's amazing to me how even her hands seem bigger to me now that there's little baby hands around here.

Last summer, we started having some behavior issues out of Emily. Not anything major, just a little talking back, and some smaller issues like that. So, I was watching Super Nanny one night, and saw how she used the marble jar. It seemed like a good plan, so I sat Emily down and told her we were going to start using the marble jar concept. I asked her what she wanted to do once she got her jar full of marbles and her reply was a very excited - "GET MY EARS PIERCED!!!" So, she worked really hard and filled her marble jar. We kept putting it off because I wasn't ready for anything extra while I was pregnant.

So, while Steve was off we decided to break down and let her get her ears pierced. I can't believe my little baby has grown up so much!!!

She was so brave! She had a couple of tears but nothing major! She loves them!

We're Home...

So, we've been home for a week and we are getting adjusted. Steve had to go to work on Monday and Tuesday, so my sister came and stayed with me those days. Which really helped out a lot. And our sweet church family has stocked us up on so much food that we might weigh 400 lbs by the time this is all over with. We have definitely been blessed with our friends and family! Elaina has lots of folks out there that love her so much and she's only a week old.

I haven't done very good getting lots of pictures this week, but I'm working on it. We've gotten lots of pictures of all of the visitors she's had. But I haven't done very good getting all the fun ones at home.

We had so many visitors while we at the hospital. John and Nikki were the first ones there besides the family. They have been so excited to meet Elaina!! At first John was scared to hold her, but once he held her he didn't want to let her go.

As most of you know, I was induced. And when you're induced they don't want you to eat after midnight the night before. And let me tell you - by the time you pop out a baby - you are starving. It was almost 2 o'clock before they brought me food. So, Steve just had to take a picture of me enjoying my first meal as a new mom.

We had lots of visitors that first night in the hospital. In fact, it was standing room only. Somehow, we didn't get a picture of Heather from work. I think I was still feeling a little loopy from the pain medication in my epidural. It was very sweet of her to come by, I think Elaina recognized her voice from all those Sushi lunches we went on while I was pregnant!

My mom, dad, sister, and Emily came by. Steve's family came by too, but somehow we didn't get any pictures of them either. It was like a whirlwind that night!!! Sam & Holly came by and our favorite neighbors Ben & Amy came by too! And Colleen, my roomate from college, and her new husband and her boys came by. It was like a party in room 7722!

We had lots more visitors the next day and we've had lots more since we've been home, so I've got to work on downloading those pictures. And Emily has had some fun this week, so I will download those pictures and blog about those soon.

Elaina has already made her first trip to Wal-Mart, church, and to the mall. So, there's lots to update. I just hope I can keep up with it all!

Couldn't resist...

Our sweet friend Maria made Elaina some bows and I just had to try one on her. I love it! The bow is almost as big her head! I just couldn't help post a picture of it!

Photos...

Okay, so I got to the downloading of pictures quicker than I thought. So, here you go...

This Elaina with Dr. Burch. He is the best doctor in the world!!! He's been my doctor for 9 years now and has seen me through so much!

Emily is so proud to be a big sister! She was the first in the family to hold her! She actually did really good and was very sweet with Elaina. Here's another one, Emily is moving the blanket back to check everything out:

I was so excited that my sister was able to be here for the birth, and Steve's Grandma Phyllis was in from CA. It was definitely a hen party! Steve was the only male at one time!

We have lots of more visitors that have come or are coming and I will update more either tonight or tomorrow. Steve actually has to go to work for a few hours tomorrow, so I will probably be blogging while he's gone.

Elaina is here...

I don't have pictures downloaded yet, but I will soon. We got here around 7:00 this morning and they started pitosin around 7:30/8:00 and she arrived at 12:29! I literally pushed 3 times and she was out! Steve and I were in shock - completely!!! She weighs 7 lbs. 4.5 oz. and is 20 inches. I will get pictures downloaded shortly. She looks just like Emily did when she was born, just a pound or so smaller. So, check back soon for pictures!