Grandma & Grandpa Galeria

My parent's flew out Sunday evening to help us get through finals week. We pretty much would not have survived without them.

They cooked all of our meals, cleaned up our disgusting house, took Bailey on lots of adventures, and helped everything to stay functional while Sam did his best to study.
Bailey was in heaven considering she got a new present almost every day (Tangled action figures and a new baby complete with a stroller and crib). Not to mention that she loves Grandma and Grandpa to pieces.
Grandma with Baby Hazel.
And Grandpa holding his little girls.

Thanks so much for coming out Mom and Dad. We couldn't have done it without you. Love you.

Hazel's First Bath

Hazel got her first bath Sunday evening.

She has a full head of hair so that got a good scrubbing.
She was not a fan of getting undressed and wet,
but that is the price you must pay to smell good.

Hazel's Story...

We had big plans for December 10. Sam was planning on spending the morning on campus studying for his upcoming finals, and nap time in the cadaver lab brushing up on his anatomy while Bailey and I finished up the last minute gift wrapping and shopping. Hazel had some different plans for us.
My contractions started around 2:30 or 3:00 in the morning and hurt like the dickens, but stayed about 10 minutes apart, never closer, occasionally further apart. After about an hour sleep was pretty much out of the equation so I got in the shower and told Sam to get ready to wake up one of our siblings and make them drive out to watch Bailey. Sam kept procrastinating the call (lucky for Quinn and Connie) and before I knew it (not really I was watching the clock like a sleep deprived pregnant lady in labor) it was 1:00 in the afternoon with basically the same story. We called Connie and she came out to hang out with Bailey while Sam kind of studied at home and I sat around holding my breath and squeezing Sam's fingers off every ten minutes or so.
By 5:00 they got a couple minutes closer together. I was pretty much ready for my epidural so I told Sam to take me to the hospital. Bailey headed out for a night on the town with Connie and Brando walking around temple square to look at the lights and eat dinner at the Lion House. She could care less that we weren't with her. We got to the hospital and I felt like I could barely walk to the maternity ward on the 2nd floor. We eventually found where to go and after what felt like an eternity I was laying in a bed answering a bunch of questions and being told to breathe a lot. I was dilated to a 3 so the mid wife told me to go and walk around the hospital for an hour or so to progress my labor. I kind of wanted to punch her in the face considering it took everything I had to walk there from the car, but Sam was hungry so he convinced me to walk to the candy machine for a Twix and peanut butter M&M's. I begrudgingly went and was cursing the nurse the whole way because by the time we made it to the machine (like a 100 yard walk) I knew there was no way I was going to be walking back. I sat down while Sam went to find me a wheel chair and by the time I made it back to my room I was ready to pass out. After what felt like an eternity waiting for the mid wife to return and check my progress (blasted shift change) she finally found her way to my room and told me I was to a 7. She then told me that if I didn't get the epidural I could probably have the baby within the hour. Sorry, but definitely not worth it to me. Progressing 4 cm in 30 minutes without an epidural was torture enough. I'm pretty sure I killed about 4 members of their staff in my head several times after them getting really close to my face and telling me to breathe through it and that I was doing great, or answering a phone call and looking for its recipient while I sat in the wheelchair waiting to be taken to the delivery room.
Luckily everyone made it out of the experience alive. I eventually got my epidural and then after a million questions and about an hour later Hazel came out nice and pink and way smaller than her big sister ever was. She got washed up, I got a thousand stitches, nobody passed out this time (go me!) and then we were off to our recovery room where I only left my bed to pee (and take a shower of course) for two days straight.
And once again I feel like I never want to do that again. We shall see if that feeling sticks around longer this time. Too bad she is the cutest thing since her big sister.

Going Home...

Finally headed home...

and excited to get some sleep without being woken up every few hours by another visit from a nurse or hospital staff.
Now to get this one to sleep for more than 3 hours at a time.

Basil Meets...

Sunday morning Queden headed over to the hospital with little Boopers so she could meet her little sister. At first she was just interested in the saltine crackers she found on my food tray, but after they were good and eaten she noticed the little squeaker wrapped in blankets.

And in case you didn't know, baby Hazel is quite funny. She makes Bailey laugh every time she sees her.
She is also very good at letting me know where the baby is which is very valuable information should we ever misplace her.
And of course she is a pro at waving to baby Hazel.
Bailey loving her little sister was never a fear of mine. It is more a problem that she loves her a little too much.
Especially when she tries to point out where Hazel's eyes, nose and mouth are. Let us pray that Hazel can maintain both of her eyes.
And in case you need to get both of their attentions at once? By all means, call them Basil. Sam said he doesn't mind sharing his clever idea as long as he gets credit for it.

Introducing...

Hazel Umeko Braden

Born 12/10/2011 at 10:36 pm
Weight: 7 lbs 3 oz
Length: 19 1/2 in.

She made her appearance a full hour and 24 minutes before her due date which makes her the only punctual member of our family. Way to be Hazelnut.

Where's Waldo?

Where did the Bailey go?

In person she is much easier to find because you can follow the sounds of her giggles.

She is also pretty impatient and can't help but take plenty of peaks.

Love this little hider.