Welcome to the World Madeline Irene!

Fashionably late like her sister Ella, we welcomed sweet Madeline Irene into the world at 5:51 am on Sunday, July 18 2010. She weighed 6 lbs 10.8 oz and was 19.5 inches long. She is absolutely perfect and we are so in love. Madeline is such a beautiful addition to our family. We can't stop staring at her and we are feeling so blessed. Ella is a GREAT big sister. She is very attentive and brings me anything I need. She is always wanting to help out and tells me what a "great helper" she is. I'm over the moon with my little family!

I have had a few people asking about my labor. Hmmm it was fast and comical looking back. I started having a few contractions around 11:30 pm, but they weren't strong enough to get me out of bed so I went back to sleep. Around 1:30 I started timing them on my awesome IPhone app--Contraction Master--and they were about 8 min apart. I decided to get out of bed and watch my DVRd episodes of The Hills (I had fallen behind...shame on me!) and keep track of my contractions. At about 3 am I woke Tom up because they were about 5 min apart and really strong. I took a shower and got ready...the contractions being about 3 min apart by then. Tom was getting himself ready and telling me to hurry. I, of course, being vain had to blow dry my hair and throw on a bit of makeup. I believe I yelled at him that I couldn't deliver a baby looking like crap. He thought I was going to deliver right there in our bathroom. We left for the hospital around 4:30 am and I absolutely remember telling him I had to push in the car. He told me no kid of his was being delivered in a car so I better be kidding. We made it to the hospital (the guard at the gate on post saw I was in labor and told Tom to "just GO!" lol...I think I scared him with my screaming...) They brought me into a room and checked me. I was 6 cm dilated and 90% and the baby's head was very low (my reason for feeling I needed to push in the car). They brought me to the room I would deliver in and I decided to go without the epidural. The contractions were SO painful and at that point I didn't get a break. When a contraction was over, I still felt enormous pressure from the baby which was as painful as the contractions. All I remember were the nurses and Tom telling me to breathe, but I was pretty sure at that point I looked and felt like a mix of the girl from the Exorcist and Medusa. Oh well. So much for the hair and makeup. Finally the Dr. arrived and I told them (yelled I believe) that I had to push and 3 pushes later out came Madeline Irene. I did kick a nurse at some point in the end as well but she was really forgiving;) It was a fast labor and the worst pain I have ever felt. But the most incredible experience of my life.

We didn't have our camera or my bags with me at first (down in the car) so the first few photos of her life are Iphone photos!
Welcome Miss Madeline!

Holding her for the first time

She was so red faced and adorable!!

So happy labor was OVER!

Daddy holding his little girl

Nurse Michelle giving her a real soaking

Daddy was very tired. He worked hard during labor;)

Ella admiring her sister from afar!

Her socks are more like legwarmers. Which is awesome.

My sweet sweet angel

Ella holding Madeline for the first time

G-Ma and her grandbabies

Small feet

Daddy and his GIRLS!

Reason #487 not to leave Ella alone with the baby.

She loves her "rock and sleeper"! Thanks Michelle;)

So excited to be a big sister

To see more photos click here!