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!

Hopefully the last big belly picture!

The final countdown.  The baby is due in the next week or so and we are ready!  Greg took me on a fantastic date night on Saturday to one of our favorite restaurants, Lincoln.  We are really enjoying these last few moments with just the two of us, but are anxious and excited to meet Baby Stiles.

April 27, 2009 

39+ weeks

Greg was feeling left out.  Here is his belly picture.

Big Belly

Here are 2 more belly pics.  We have about 5 weeks left and the midwife says the baby is thriving and weighs about 5 pounds.  The movements are getting much stronger and my ribs are sore.  We have fun watching it move around and try to get comfortable.  Pretty exciting!

February 8 (about 28 weeks)

March 29 (about 35 weeks)

Weekend with John and Cait

We went up to the Hood Canal this weekend to spend time with our friends John and Cait.  On Friday night we went down to The Model T for beers, fried chicken and jo-jos.  The meal was so good and greasy.  I had my first experience with pull-tabs (cheap lotto games) and we didn't win anything. 

On Saturday morning we drove over to check out Nigel and Lynn's new place on Harstine Island about an hour away from John and Cait's.  They are still building, but the view from the house is amazing.  I wish that I would have taken some pictures...

It was raining a bit when we got back, but that didn't stop us from taking a walk around the neighborhood with the dogs.  Cait and John made a delicious steak dinner complete with a spinach salad, potato soup and frites.  I was so full that I had to take breaks between courses and lay on the couch!

It was a fantastic weekend and a great way to finish-up Spring Break.  

Thanks John and Cait!!!!

View from John and Cait's deck

The sun was shining this morning!

Pema and Greg - lazy Sunday morning

Pregnant Ladies

Several months ago my friend, Kendall, invited me to join a pregnant ladies night out group.  Our first meeting included just four of us.  Since then, it has "blossomed" into a group of 8 women (and one baby).  The last time we met (February 18) was a few days before Joanna had her baby.  Here we all are, in order of due date.  It's great to share stories and laughs with all of these ladies!  We will be converting to the sexy mama's night out group by mid-June when all of the babies are here!  All of the women are 2nd time moms - except for me.  Talk about a wealth of knowledge, support, and a ready-made play group!

Joanna, Julie, Caty, Liz, Tracy, me, Kendall, and Alia