2 week visit

Megan had her first offical appointment with the doctor's office. She's doing very well and has offically gained nearly a pound since leaving the hosptial two weeks ago. At birth, Megan weighed 7 1/2 lbs. When we left at 2 days old she was down to 7 pounds 4 ounces. As of today she is 8 pounds 1 ounce.

She does have a slightly herinated belly button - or whatever its medically correct terminology is. Nothing really of major concern. The doctor poked at it and said it went in very easily and is relatively small in comparison to some of the kids they see. It should resolve itself by the time she's 5 - if not we'd have to talk about surgically repairing it. She also had a bit of a yellowy, oozy spot where the cord stump fell off yesterday that showed some excess scar tissue gone awry. The doctor just poked at it with a stick full of something or other to cauterize it. No more oozy belly button. Other than that she's doing beautifully. She wasn't very happy about lying on her back on the exam table, nor the actual exam...or the shot she got. She did, luckily, cease crying with some gentle rocking and cuddling.

Logan came with us (and Daddy) to the appointment so we could sneak a flu shot into his arm. He handled the shot very well actually and seemed almost more upset over the fact that Megan was upset than his own discomfort. The good big brother that he is was not at all happy to see his little sister crying.

Megan Rose at just 4 days old. This is her first "annual" black and white photo for the hallway gallery. 

Welcome Megan Rose!

Little Megan Rose joined us on Sunday, September 12th at 10:53am. She weighed 7 pounds, 8 ounces and was 20 3/4 inches tall. Her arrival was much easier and faster than anyone - even the doctor - expected considering how much help it needed to jump start. The first induction drug (which started at about 8:30 Sat night and is a 12 hour administration) was actually enough to start labor. Around 4:30am Sunday morning I started having contractions and Megan was born just 6.5 hours later. I was about 2cms at 9am at which point the doctor broke my water. Just an hour later we were up to 6cms and thinking that we were going to miss the window of opportunity for the nice man with the drugs to come pay me a visit. Luckily he arrived just moments later with his cart full of fun. A half hour later Megan made her grand entrance after three good pushes.

The last ultrasound tech we saw nearly a week ago was off on her weight guesstimate just barely (only 4 ounces!) but on the hair estimate a whole lot. While not sporting a full mane of locks, Miss Megan is far from bald. The hair she has is fine and dare we say almost long for a newborn falling off the back of her head and on to her pudgy little neck. It curls slightly at the bottom most of the time or around her head in various places when its damp. And while you may need the right lighting or more grown-in head of hair to compare it too to be sure, she does in fact have the same shade of strawberry blonde as Mom and big brother. Still too early to be sure what color her eyes will remain - they are that dark steely blue newborns often arrive with for now. When she's awake she's incredibly alert and focuses in on the voices that she's heard most often from the womb. We've already read a few books starting with "My Big Brother" on her very first day - she stares at me intently as I read to her as if she knows its something special to share. When the book is done she averts her gaze to her exploring what's around me meandering.

Logan adores her and we're hoping its something he continues to do as the days go by. He came to visit us in the hospital Sunday afternoon and without as much as a "Hi Mommy" to me he asked "Where baby Megan!?!" She had yet to be released from the nursery. Once her saw her in her bassinet he started chattering about "My sister Megan" and telling us how pretty she was. She's even cooler in his eyes because she brought him Annie and Clarabel for his Thomas set - something he thought Santa Claus could only bring ("Megan is Santa Claus?!" he asked me at one point.) She also brought him a set of tracks for his trains - which he's now up and playing with as we 'speak.' He's spent a good deal of time this afternoon standing next to the Pack-n-Play staring at her and admiring her hands and feet. He's tickled her and sung for her. He gave her his presents - a bear he picked out and a small soft cloth book he picked out. He showed her the bears nose and mouth after we explained that she couldn't hold the bear just yet only look at it. ("See, bear's nose, Megan. Its cute," he'd say) The biggest hit of his day yesterday was a chance to "hold" the baby. He climbed up on my lap and I helped him wrap his arm around under her just below my arm which supported her head and weight. He was so very proud of himself and gave up holding her only to 'pet' her - something much more fun than merely holding apparently.

D-day

In just 10 hours we will drive over to the hosptial and begin the two step process of the induction that will bring Megan into the world. Awaiting her is a whole group of anxious people including a big brother that walks around calling every toy resembling a human or animal baby "Megan." He'll hug each "Megan" tight to his cheek and say "Ahhh, I love her."

A quick peak at Megan's profile 39 weeks into the pregnancy. This was the best picture we could get printed out because she kept putting her hands up in front of face and creating shadows. This scan was done exactly one week prior to her due date.