Friends + Visitors

We've had a steady stream of friends visit us in the hospital and at home. The support of our friends means everything to us. You have brought us food, drink, more food, gifts, flowers and best of all an extra pair of hands to help out. This post is a tribute to all our friends in the photos below and to many more that we haven't captured on film yet. You guys rock!


Here is one of Eliana's first friends, her umbilical cord. It has been her best friend from roughly her 5th week of development. The cord stump fell off Tuesday night. It literally fell off and dropped to the floor. Eliana definitely looks cuter without the brownish-yellow stump sticking out of her belly.

Alexis stopped by with presents and her great smile. Yes, Alexis you are officially on our blog now.

Noah and Hannah came over for dinner. Hannah is the baby I've been around the most until Eliana came along. Noah is a rock solid dad so I'll be looking to him for advice and coaching.





Our old roommate and Sara's old co-worker Jill and Jill's mom stopped by with gifts and yummy treats from Trader Joe's.

Sara's college roommate and our long time friend Tanya visited us in the hospital for some quality time with Eli. Tanya was smitten.

Michael and Kristin have visited with us a couple of times. Here's Michael visiting us on the day of Eliana's birth.





Our great friend Claudia was bursting at the seams to visit with us. Claudia, with Sara's help, gave Eliana her first Spanish lesson.





Kendall and Mark visited us in the hospital and brought me dinner. They even brought us champagne to celebrate!





Kimmy couldn't wait to meet Eliana and check on Sara. Kimmy simply beamed the whole time she held Eli.





Here is Eliana with her very first true friend, her mom, Sara. Eli likes to check email and surf the web with her mom.

Lewis & Clark Law School Commencement

Congratulations to Michael James Mangan for graduating from Lewis & Clark Law School.  Friends and family were there in force to celebrate this major milestone with Michael.  The 121st commencement took place yesterday at Griswold Stadium under bright and clear skies.  Our friend Dennis said a funny thing as we approached the stadium, "Who knew?  Lewis & Clark has sports?"  Not many people have heard of the sports teams at Lewis & Clark but its law school is famous.

We are so impressed with Michael and Kristin for their commitment to each other and to this goal.  Not many couples have the gumption to get married, buy a house, and then embark on a journey like law school all in a few short months.  The two of them made it happen and their marriage and love for each other are stronger for it.

The ceremony was long but worth it for this moment right here.  Michael gets hooded!

Three years of hard work and dedication deserve a high five.

Next step is the Oregon State Bar exams on July 28 and July 29.  You're in the home stretch Michael.  Keep it up!

Happy Two Weeks!

Eliana arrived two weeks ago today but it all started with these two lines. Last August Sara excitedly called me into the bathroom. Ta da - two lines!


In December we got our first glimpse of our baby. We didn't want to know the sex so the ultrasound techs kept it top secret. "Oh, we don't even check the gender unless the parents want to know the sex. We'll steer clear of the family jewels. We may refer to your baby as he or she but that's because it is better than using "it"."

On Wednesday May 6 Sara started having labor pains in the morning. We planned on having a home birth with midwives. The midwives came in the morning and setup the birthing tub in our bedroom.


Two weeks ago on May 7 Eliana was born at 3:41PM, weighing in at 8 pounds 8 ounces. Yesterday she weighed in at 9 pounds 1 ounce.





First photo op with Grammy Pam and me. We're in the operating room. Sara is behind me getting worked on.


My huge left hand and Eliana's tiny right foot. So small...



Here is the first family portrait. Will this be our Xmas card? I'm guessing no.



Eli looks like a mini astronaut on her car ride home from the hospital.



Yesterday I dressed up Eli in a skate outfit from our friends Rob and Jess. The shirt says, "My other stroller is a skateboard".



Today, two weeks into this experiment, we're feeling pretty good. We're getting some rest, eating well and taking care of some things. Today we had a very modern moment. Sara downloaded a free white noise app onto her iPhone. While it was sunny and warm outside here is Eliana listening to the white noise of falling rain on Sara's phone. It lulled Eli to sleep and is training her for the NW rainy weather.


To celebrate her two week birthday we gave Eliana a bath. She liked it. After she was all pretty and clean we went for a walk around the neighborhood. I used the Baby Bjorn again and Eli seemed pretty stoked on it. Thank you Aunt Sue for the Baby Bjorn!

Hot Mamas

Today was a mellow day. It stormed like crazy in the morning then the clouds broke and we got some cool late afternoon sun. This morning Sara got together with her Hot Mamas. It is a group of 8 ladies that have had or will have babies within months of each other. The first baby arrived in March and the last is scheduled to arrive in about 3 weeks in June.

Here are 7 out of 8 Hot Mamas in all their glory. It is an impressive bunch. Count 'em, there are 17 people in the photo, 7 Hot Mamas and 10 kids. Wow!

Late in the day after nap time we went on a walk around the neighborhood and through Pier Park at the end of our street. It was a field trial of the Baby Bjorn. The carrier was easy to figure out. It is comfortable and felt stable. Eliana gave it her vote of support by immediately passing out in it for the entire walk.

First Week Home

Tomorrow marks one week since we came home from the hospital.  It has been a whirlwind week of settling in and figuring things out.  There have been many naps, long hot showers and many fantastic meals.  Every day brought new milestones, visits with friends and neighbors, and a seemingly endless parade of boxes from FedEx and USPS.

Eliana and Pema became fast friends.  Pema is our dog, a Lhasa Apso.  We cautiously introduced Eliana to Pema.  Pema sniffed her, licked her and bumped her with her nose.  Pema seemed a little spooked at first but she quickly grew accustomed to Eli.  Pema gives her wet kisses when Eli is relaxing in the vibrating swing.  We've found Pema on a few occasions guarding Eli as she naps in the co-sleeper.  Pema lays on the ground right next to the co-sleeper facing the door, ready to pounce on any intruders.  We're not sure Pema has completely figured out Eliana is a baby human.  One time as Pema sniffed her closely Eli farted and straight-up freaked out Pema. Pema leapt backwards and slinked away looking confused and a little dissed.

Eliana and Pema relax and nap together.

Pema gets familiar with Eliana.

AVALANCHE!  Once everyone knew Baby Stiles was a girl the girlie clothes haven't stopped coming.  It has been an avalanche of pink, flowers, butterflies and paisleys.  Eliana has blue eyes so she looks super cute in blue and turquoise outfits.

Here Eliana models a stunning outfit from Grammy Pam.  She looks great doesn't she?  Thank you Grammy Pam for all your help and support over the last week and half!

Look at this pile of clothes!  Our friend Cait from Seattle mailed nearly all of it to us.  Her sister has three girls a few years older than Eliana so we have the steady hook up for years and years.  Thank you Cait and Bridget!

Sara is healing rapidly.  Her body is returning to normal and she is losing weight rapidly.  On Tuesday night we went on a walk to the corner.  Yes, it wasn't far but it was the farthest Sara had walked in nearly a week.  The activities continued throughout the week.

On Wednesday night Sara went to a friend's house for her monthly book club get together with a bunch of girls.  Sara enjoyed having her Thursday Night Girls over on Thursday for home cooked food and conversation.  On Friday we got Thai take-out and ate on the deck at Kendall and Mark's house.  Kendall and Mark had a baby girl, Parker, three days after Eliana was born.  Stay tuned for photos of the two girls together- maybe they'll be BFFs.  On Saturday we walked up to St. Johns to get a coffee and poke around in the stores.  Today we checked out the Portland Farmers Market at King Elementary School to visit with Noah and Aaron from SolPops (on Twitter).  Cucumber lime jalapeño is still one of my favs!  Sara is trying to get out and about every day to build up her strength.

Oh yeah, by the way, Sara and Eliana are champion breastfeeding partners and are considering going for the gold medal at the London 2012 Olympics.

Here we are enjoying our first walk on Tuesday night.  Team Stiles on the move!

Nana Stiles from Maine couldn't resist sending me the below hat and tool belt to cope with fatherhood.  Funny stuff.  The tool belt has baby wipes, diapers, a clothes pin for my nose and even goggles.  Ha!  What got the real laughs was the book for Sara, Porn for New Moms.  It had everyone in tears last night.  Thank you Mom for thinking of us.

Eliana has a special thank you for the Grandparents in Maine.  Enjoy!

Heading Home

Team Stiles is heading home today.  We have been in the hospital since Wednesday, May 6 for an exhausting labor and much needed recovery.  Sara is doing super.  She's not dancing yet but she is mobile and moving around on her own.  Eliana is fantastic.  She is nursing like a pro and power napping which means we get some rest.  Eli is already putting on weight and growing strong.  It even seems like her hair is already longer.  Amazing!

Thank you to everyone that called, visited and brought us food and gifts during our stay in the hospital.  For those with kids you all know the importance of having supportive and helpful friends and family.  We feel very blessed by the solid support of our friends and family.  Feel the love!  Thank you all.  Many thanks to the doctors, nurses, midwives and staff at Legacy Emanuel Hospital & Health Center- everyone was so helpful and kind.  The accommodations were good and free wifi is available in the rooms.  The food was decent too.  Lastly, a big shout out and thank you to our midwife, Mary Grabowska.  She has been by our side throughout this entire pregnancy.

Team Stiles over'n out!

40 Weeks to 48 Hrs

It has been a little over 48 hrs since Eliana was born.  We are resting, nursing and changing diapers.   The hospital staff, nurses, midwives and everyone have been fantastic.  The visits from friends and family have been fun and heart warming.

The video is from this morning.  Eli is a charmer.  We are smitten.  Turn the volume up to enjoy the video.

 

Sara is recovering quickly.  She’s made a few laps around the ward floor and took a shower today.  Next stop for Sara is a triathlon!  To finish off the series of belly photos of Sara here is a picture of her at the 40 week mark from Wednesday morning, May 6, around 9AM just as the contractions were getting intense.  Sara was a champ and peeled herself off the bed for the photo op.

Baby Stiles is here!

After a long labor, Eliana Pamela Stiles was born May 7, 2009 at 3:41PM.

Sara labored at home for 16 hours, then we drove to the hospital.  She labored for another 20 hours, then via c-section Eli was born weighing 8 pounds 8 ounces and measured 21 inches long.  Eli is a bruiser and has lots of hair.   Sara is straight up tough and was rock solid throughout the 36 hr labor. She hemorrhaged during the c-section and lost 1/3 of her blood.  Grandma Pam and I were in the operating room.  It was wild watching Eli be pulled from Sara's belly.  Sara is doing well and quickly recovering.  Eliana is already nursing and seems amazingly chill.  We'll be the hospital for the next few days.  Team Stiles now counts 3 members in good standing.

Greg's belly

Our friends Claudia and Juan used a little Photoshop magic to give Greg an actually pregnant belly. Funny, funny stuff!