Introducing Finley to the World: Hospital Edition

Since our baby girl was born late in the day, we really weren't in the hospital very long.  Only one full day afterwards, but in that short amount of time Finley got a lot of loving from so many wonderful people.

Three Generations of Steeles

 JaJa and Big C love their first granddaughter.

  Cousin love is so sweet!

Charley loves her new friend!

Getting her hearing test.  It was so cute. She kind of bobbed her head when the noises were played in her ears.

We are so thankful to all of our family and friends for celebrating our big arrival with us.  We are so blessed.

Daddy's first dirty diaper.

 Of course, his baby girl had a little extra surprise to give him while he changed it...Only right for his initiation into parenthood.

Daddy and daughter loving skin to skin.

Headed home.

Isn't she adorable?  I think we'll keep her.

Finley's Birthday!

WOW!  I have a lot to catch up on.  Last time we talked I was VERY pregnant and oh so eager to get that baby out of me.  Now, I've been a mom for almost 4 weeks.  I'm a mom.  It's still so surreal.  Let me catch you up on all the events of the last few weeks.  Let's start at the beginning of this new phase of life...our sweet baby's birthday.

Last belly picture...38 weeks 6 days.

Arriving at the hospital at 12:01 am.

Nervous.  Tired.  Excited.

Dressed and ready to get this party started.

I was lucky enough to have a friend from growing up as my nurse.  Mallory was so sweet and really made the experience wonderful.

After a long night and day of labor, 3 o'clock rolled around and we were at 10 cm.  Of course my family wanted to take pictures.

 Around this time my epidural was really wearing off.  Although, I'm glad they did I was not feeling the greatest.

Last photo as a family of 2.

The next 2 hours were spent pushing.  Although, these 2 hours were definitely the hardest physical thing I have ever done, the reward was so sweet.  At 4:53pm, Finley Cross Steele finally made her arrival.

Our alert baby girl weighed in at 6 lbs. 8 oz. and was 20 inches long.

Daddy's first time to hold his baby girl.

Already in love.

We are so thankful for God's provision throughout our pregnancy and delivery and the beautiful gift he gave us in our daughter.  We can only pray for his continued provision as we learn to be parents.

Next up... Introducing Finley to the world and our hospital stay.

Making Room for Finley!

Slowly but surely Finley's room has come together.  It took me a long time to get started on it.  We were less than 12 weeks away from her arrival before I made the first purchase.  Soooo, the room looked like this for a long time...

A storage room after our move with paint samples painted on the walls.

But once we got started and it all came together rather quickly.
Come on in...

My creative sister, Camille, made the monogrammed door hanging.

 The view from the door.

The monogram painting on the floor is again by my sister Camille.  It will eventually make it to the wall above the toy bin and rocking chair, but we are waiting on one more picture to be framed this week.

Crib:  Pottery Barn Kids
Bedding/ Changing pad cover:  Rosenberry Rooms
Rocking Chair:  Cracker Barrel
Glider/Ottoman:  Best Chairs via USA Baby
Mirror:  An antique from Finley's Great-Great Grandmother Tollison
Dresser:  Flea Market Bargain
Shelves:  IKEA
Chandelier:  Thrift store antique find by JaJa (my mom)
(She bought it before she ever knew we were having a girl.)
Personalized cross stitch:  Mrs. Daley Perry
Lace trash can:  Bed, Bath and Beyond
FINLEY door sign:  Mrs. Jessica Robinson

We are still a few things, but they will be finished in time.  We love her room already and can't wait for her to arrive and get to enjoy it herself.  Only 3 days left!

Baby: Weeks 34-37

Wow I am quite behind.  And this post won't even catch me fully up, but here is a post nonetheless (side note:  what random english professor decided you could shove 3 words together without spaces to make 1 word...why not just keep it at 3 words.  No one was tweeting or texting with character limits back then??)

Week 34 or 35...Sadly I can't remember what week this photo was taken.

Finley weighed in at 6 lbs at Week 35 according to her ultrasound.  Babies gain about a half pound a week right now, so we probably won't have a little baby.  (However, ultrasound weighing is give or take 11-14 ounces or practically 1 lb.  so who really knows.)

Week 36.  Welcome to the 9th month of pregnancy.

"Wow" is right.  My belly has become very prominent.

Week 37

There isn't much about the 9th month of pregnancy that is more fun than the rest other than the fact that you daily get closer to meeting your bundle of joy.  AND at the end of week 37 I finished working!  It feels so good to be able to rest a little bit before our baby girl gets here and takes up all my "me time" for a while.

I will try to get up a week 38 picture before she arrives, but considering we are under 5 days until her big debut I make no promises.  The doctors are going to be weighing Finley again this week before her arrival so I guess we will see how accurate her ultrasound testing really is.

Happy almost birthday Finley!