The new family

My first few minutes of life!

Baby Maelie is here!

Maelie Adeline Snell has finally made her entrance into the world. They started me Thursday night, and after contracting all night long, they broke my water at 6:30 am. I got my epidural (yes, I not only demand to be induced, I have to have drugs as well) at 8:30 am and after only 2 pushes, she was born at 9:15 am. John and my mom were at home getting the kids off to school and daycare for the day and arrived just after my epidural- they missed all the real pains- luckies! The boys are so excited to be big brothers to a little sister- finally. Jamison acts a little clipped at times, but for the most part, he too loves "Bebe me" Jackson and Jake can't get enough "I want to hold her" time, and neither can Dad! :) I didn't anticipate her cry sound so feminine, but it is way different than the boys. Luckily she's a great eater, just like her mom :) and although very curious, even the dog has gotten used to her strange noises and smells better than I anticipated. All is going very well so far. I will update again very soon with earlier photos. This was her first 4 hours at home, just 30 hours old. :)

1 more day...maybe

I am sitting in bed trying to decide what and how to update. Not much to tell but sore feet and legs and plenty of tired. I wonder how much of this is just mental, but all week long I have been looking forward to my last day of work (tomorrow) and now that it is here, I am wondering if my mind, and body, can push through the pain. I hope I am not the only mom who has ever gone through 3 pregnancies and still wonders if my pain is labor. Anyway, I am looking forward to my mom coming to help soon. Didn't realize how much I needed it until I started hurting so bad tonight. I almost cried like a baby when she called to see how I was doing. Some of my wishful thinking could be attributed to the fact that my friend who was due after me just had her baby early. No fair! Well, after looking this over, I can see I am sounding more like an online diary so I better cut this short. 1 day to go to baby girl Snell!