It's a Girl!!!!!

Caroline Elspeth was born on Friday, March 1, 2013 at 10:26 a.m. (18.75 inches 5 lbs. 10 oz.).

I'm a year late. Please excuse the time delay.

Since her daddy is so tall, I had expected (and therefore packed for) an average sized/big baby. When Caroline arrived, she was so tiny and none of the precious outfits in our shared suitcase fit, so sweet Baby C was forced to wear standard issue hospital baby garb.

After a bit of a scare, Caroline passed her hearing test with a 100%!

Adjusting the car seat for a newborn.

C's first time in a car seat!

Caroline had shrunk to 5lb 3oz by discharge day, so she had to undergo a 90 minute test to make sure she could safely ride in a car. She passed it with flying colors! :)

Just in case there was any question, Piedmont has a strict policy of not dumping newborns in housekeeping's trashcans.

We were sooooo excited to get home. I tried to check out after 24 hours, but the pediatrician made us stay another night.  After over a dozen of hours of parenting with the help of a full nurse staff on call, I knew I could handle anything my little girl threw my way.

Once we got home, I wrapped Caroline up snug and tight just like the nurses showed me and  tip-toed away.

At the time, I did not know that this would be the very last time Caroline would be photographed with a pacifier. She slept like this for a whole three minutes before spitting out her pacifier - never to accept it again. I slept/attempted sleep sitting upright in a chair with Caroline strapped to me in her baby carrier for the rest of the night. This might have happened for several nights. I'm not quite sure, for those first few nights were all a fuzzy blur of sleeplessness and exhaustion. 

Next baby, I'm staying at the hospital until they kick me out.