Pretty in Pink

We've received calls from friends and family in Oklahoma requesting more pictures. Before taking more pictures, however, we thought we should dress her up a little - give the camera something to sink it's teeth into. So we took a diaper change opportunity to do just that. Pink seems to look pretty good on her, so we decided to test it at full tilt. Enjoy:

See you next photo session,
Erik

From Contraction to Delivery in Only 16 Hours

Now that I'm born, I've got a lot of learning and exploring to do, so Dad will be reporting my activities from here on out, rather than hearing them directly from me. Don't worry, he's a pretty good reporter.

The details:

We arrived at the hospital at around 2:30 AM on Friday August 28. At around 7:30 we knew we were here for the big show, as they broke Brianna's water (as reported in an earlier blog, to the haunting crooning of Jimmy James singing Dondante from the Okonokos album - music was a necessity for the laboring process, and our 400+ song playlist called 'Labor Pains' was perfect). At 10:30, things were pretty much the same, so we got a little shot of Pitocin to give the contractions more oomf. And it seemed to work, as an hour later, some eucalyptus spearamint massages (between the massage oil, the iPod playlist, and the eucalyptus spearamint Scent-Fan in the room, the staff said we had the most peaceful and relaxing roon on the floor), and several games of Crazy 8's (to take her mind off the pain) later Brianna was at 6 cm. But the contractions were getting pretty rough at this point, so she took a shot of morphine at noon (with the calming Iron & Wine cover of 'Such Great Heights' to help with the soothing). The contractions, however, made it feel like taking aspirin for a severed limb - too little too late. And by 1:30, with the status the same, it was time to take some other measures. Brianna had powered through some rough water with a smile when she wasn't bearing down on the pain, and with little hope for quick progress, it was time for the big guns.

As they tried giving her the epidural, they were perplexed about how she was still feeling something. So they checked the status and found her at 9 cm! No wonder she was having such a rough time of it - she had dialated 3 cm in less than half an hour! But then the epidural did start to kick in, and she was temporarily dead from the waist down. So we went from one extreme to the other - riptide currents of back-labor pain with little progress to no feeling whatsoever and almost go-time. And we now had to wait for a little feeling to return to start pushing. From 4:30 to 6:00 the nurse, Brianna, and I were a well-oiled laboring machine, pushing to the point of exhaustion. And then the doctor comes in for the big finish. Azja was born at 6:19 PM on August 28 to the sounds of Portishead's ultra-mello "Roads" and Ice Palace's upbeat "Phone Book Pillow". She weighed 7 pounds 12 1/2 ounces and was 20 inches long. She had a beautiful pink color right off the bat and a healthy set of lungs she wasn't afraid to show off.

The rest of the evening was a blur of excitement, exhaustion, and celebration. Brianna's parents Kathy and Randy had arrived during the epidural process, so the first they had seen of Brianna was with a contented smile of relaxation on her face. Then they had to go back out to the waiting room again for the homestretch. Randy thought we'd have a little girl by 5, but Azja wanted us to be a little more patient. Azja took it easy during the whole process, keeping a pretty steady heartrate even to the end. But when she came out, she was ready - wailing before her shoulders even emerged. Jay and Hallie and Kevin and Michelle stopped by later in the evening after everyone had been cleaned up and settled in a new room. We all took turns holding the newest member of our family, and after all the commotion died down, Brianna and I settled in for our first night of parenthood. The sleeping didn't really take until early Saturday morning when the nurses took Azja for a bath and vital check. Then sleep overcame us like Niagra Falls, and I have emerged bright and eager this morning to broadcast the news in this very blog.

We will have more pictures to come, so stay tuned. For now I hope these will suffice:
Until we meet again,
Erik

A Letter From Mom and Dad on My Birthday (Posted the Day After)

Dear Azja,

Welcome to the world, little girl. Despite the rumors you may have been told, the world is a beautiful, wonderful place, full of life, love, and excitement. There is danger and fear, too, but only as much as you will allow. You have arrived in the middle of an open field, and in every direction there is horizon. And over every horizon you will find a different life. Eventually you will reach a tunnel, and you will have to take those last few steps alone, having made all the choices you are allowed to make. As for the first steps through the sunny field, we will take those with you. Everything in between will be yours.

By the time you read this, your mother and I will be in a room with many doors already closed and still many open. Behind the closed doors are the hallways that brought us here and the hallways we never will see. Through our journey, we’ve learned many things, mostly about the journey itself. Some of these things are wonderful and happy. Some of these things are terrible and sad. We want to give to you all the happy things and shield you from all the sad ones. We want to take your hand as you make your journey and point out all the trails and pathways and hallways and doors that will lead you to the happiest place on earth. We want to bring you to a beautiful beach and surround you with beloved people and warm wishes for the rest of your life. But we will only walk together for such a short amount of time.

Each one of us has a journey that leads us to ourselves at the end of the tunnel. No matter which way we start, the end is always the same. We must always find ourselves at the end. People will give you advice and signs will point the way at every crossroads. But no person or sign can tell you how your journey should be. And when we wish to steer you clear of the dark parts, we naively forget that some of those dark parts carried us into greener pastures. The only thing we know for sure is that it feels better to follow the lighted paths and that there seems to be a benevolent force giving us better options along the way. If you genuinely strive for these paths, you will find more enjoyment in the journey. What we can’t tell you is how to find them. We can only help you out with some of the clues that have been given to us along our own journeys.

We wish we could come with you to help you find the best path, but then you wouldn’t be finding yourself along the way, you’d only find us. If the road ever becomes difficult or the crossroads ever become overwhelming, we’ll always be here to help you out, even if only to give you the support that you need to go on. We can ask that you do many things and don’t do many others, but in the end it will be you making the choices. If you manage to make choices that create lasting love or friendship, however, the path may become easier, no matter what it may hold. But no matter where you are on your journey, never forget that the true purpose lies in the journey itself, not the place to where you are drawn. Our greatest wish is that we are able to equip you to have the most wonderful journey ever taken. And the only thing that matters right now is our time with you in the field. We promise to make it worth your while. Welcome to the world, little girl. Make it the best world you can.

Love,
Mom and Dad

Keep Your Mind Off the Pain

Crazy contractions? Crazy eights! Keep it up Mom, you can do it!

Dondante

Broke water to the soothing sounds of Dondante live from Okonokos - one more milestone in Mom and Dad's love affair with My Morning Jacket. Looks like I'm coming out today!

Labor Day

And now we wait and try to relax...

007

What do we have here? Am I going to be the next James Bond? Nope, just the countdown in Dad's office reaching 7 days! Quite a colorful board for an office isn't it?

Oh. Okay, so I guess it matches the office. Guess I can look forward to having the coolest toys on the block when this is how Dad decorates his office!

Mom, how do you feel this close to the due date?

Keeping a brave face on for the world it seems. Dad, are you getting excited?

Aw, he's happy to be invited. Well, Dad, time to go to the store, buy a hat, and get ready to hold onto it, because things are getting ready to change soon. And I wouldn't rely too heavily on your cute little white-board counter if I were you, Dad. I like surprises, and so should you. Won't be long now everybody!

See you soon,
Azja Kathleen