Our new life: February 2008

Rub-A-Dub-Dub

Tonight was our first real bath. Hayes has only been able to have sponge baths until now. She seems to love baths - she was awake, alert, and happy as can be the entire time.

Our Own Dress-Up Doll

Our little bean is doing so well. We went to the pediatrician on Thursday and she'd regained some of her weight, which is great. Seeing as how all she does now is eat and sleep (with an occasional awake moment), it makes sense that she'd pack on some pounds.

We're settling in well at home. The girls of the house get a little stir-crazy during the day since we still can't drive so daddy sometimes takes us out at night so we can spend a little time somewhere other than home. Our favorite part of going out is dressing Hayes - she's like our own little doll. Here are a few pictures of how we torture our little bean...

This was our very first outting - we had dinner with Hank's brother, Greg, and our sister-in-law, Ashleigh. Hayes was great - she slept the entire time!

Sporting jeans and boots for the first time.

But sometimes getting dressed up is no fun at all!

Bright-eyed!

We're working on Hayes staying up and having some awake time during the day to hopefully make her a little more sleepy at night (since a desire to party during the night has recently emerged) so what better way to take advantage of that than with a little picture time?!?

Being a model is ridiculously tiring.

We love, love, love those seriously chubby cheeks!

The bi-polar side of a newborn - - she goes from happy & content to this in less than a second!

Settling In

We've had so much fun getting settled in with Hayes. She is such a good baby so far - a dream, really. We've struggled a little with a tummy ache that seems to come in the evenings but we're hopeful that it's short-lived.

She is already on a great schedule - she eats every three hours, has about 30 minutes of awake time (where she stares at us like we are the greatest thing on Earth) and then sleeps for the remaining 2 hours when the whole process starts again.

We are so madly in love. We constantly stare at her and comment on how perfect she is or how beautiful she is (don't we sound just like bumbling new parents?!?!). She really is an amazing gift and one we're definitely keeping!

Some friends brought us a bag full of pink, girly items while we were in the hospital. Included in the bag were these outrageously cute pink sunglasses. I put them on her and then laughed so hard I ended up in tears from the pain! She cracks me up.

One thing we've worried about during the entire pregnancy was how Huck & Boogie would take to having a little one in the house. So far, so good. They are reacting just as we thought they would - - Boogie seems to love her already and is constantly trying to see her and (if allowed to get that close) kiss her. Huck - - - well, he's Huck. He barks each time she cries & is only interested in her for her toy potential (and I think he thinks she might be packing some cookies).

Going Home!

Finally after 3 nights we get to go home! Women's East of Erlanger was very good to us--from the nurses to the doctors to the room service it was all great but there is nothing better than when you get to go home. This is when I find out that the going home outfit is very, very important. So after getting her dressed we left the hospital and of course we had to take her on her first Starbucks trip. So here are a couple of pictures of Hayes's going home outfit.

She's 1 Day Old!

Hayes is officially one day old. She's eating like a champ and sleeping like a little angel. She also spends about an hour every 3-4 hours just contently staring at us. We love it.

Her pediatrician came to visit this morning and gave her a clean bill of health. Apparently, she is perfect all around. OK, perhaps we are a little biased.

Here are a couple of pictures from her day.

She's lost some of the puffiness from her face (but those chubby cheeks are staying!).

Hank is totally smitten with her. Looks like she's likely to be a Daddy's girl (and have him firmly wrapped around her finger!).

Visit with the Pediatrician (you can tell from the screaming she's doing that she's not a fan of the the doctor [or having her clothes off]).

Answer to the pregnancy-long question - "will she have hair and enough for all the bows I made for her?" - - the answer is YES! HOOORAY!!!

The Arrival of Hayes!

Hayes Emmaly Welch was born today, February 6, 2008, weighing in at 8 pounds 7 ounces and 21 inches long. Hayes and mom are both doing great!

This whole process has been so incredibly amazing - from the day Amanda told me that she was pregnant, to the day we told our parents, to the day we said that there are 120 days left, to the day we said 3 days left, to the time we said 60 minutes left, to the time she was actually born and we got to see her for the first time!

We look forward to being parents--even though that part hasn't actually sunk in quite yet. Thanks to all who prayed for us--for Amanda, Hayes, and me! I made it without passing out and actually walked around in the delivery room and saw some stuff that I really didn't need to see! It was an amazing experience and to get to do it with an incredible woman like Amanda makes it even more special. Here are just a few of the pictures from today but I'm sure there will be plenty more in the near future.

Just after her first bath.