My lips are so chapped from kissin' on that new little baby of mine.
I am so excited to announce that Charlotte 'Charley' Jane was born on March 9th! She was 8lb 3oz, 21 inches long and 100% adorable. Huh. Funny. Those were my same stats when I was born.
I had quite the little adventure when I received the call that Em Bird was in labor. My work was awesome enough to let me take several days off to help the new little bundle get acclimated to her new parents. It's just what aunts do. I packed up my car and hit the road. Before I knew it, I was in Roanoke. Em bird was getting her epidural when I arrived at the hospital, so Mom and I grabbed lunch before I went up to her room.
Our conversation at the table went a little like this.
"How fast were you going? I hope you weren't speeding"
"No Mom, I wasn't speeding"
"Is the salad good?"
"Yeah, Mama. It's really good actually. Thanks for lunch. Work is going pretty good.... Greg and I went to this really fun place this weekend...Let me tell you about it...and...."
Interruption from Jo Bird.
"You know Emily's gonna have that baby by the time I get back up there"
Alright. Guess I'm done with my salad.
We middle children can never catch a break.
Luckily, we made it back up to the room before EmBird had that baby. We all sat in the room visiting and laughing at Em all doped up. Oh, and seeing way too much of any one person's body parts. These doctors mean business when it comes to checking dilation.
They have no time to warn the weak.
Charley scared us a couple of times. Her heart rate would drop, then race back up to normal, then drop again. Each time that would happen, Em would have to immediately switch to either her left or right side in hopes of regaining normalcy. I'm not going to lie, it was kinda funny seeing her pregnant self flop around on the bed like a fish out of water. But not funny at the time I mean? I knew there was a reason I am not in the medical field.
At one point in time Em felt a little draft and repositioned the covers around her. But wait. Oh, her water broke. Glad to see the epidural doing it's job.
When Sir Speedy came in to check Em, he had an uneasy look on his face. He quickly looked around the room to make sure everything was set out and ready to go. I looked at the cutie of a nurse and she had the same look on her face. I quickly gathered my things, threw up my gangsta peace sign and hit the road. I knew the time was close and I wanted to get out of there while the gettin' was good.
I was in the waiting room when Mom came to get me. Charley was once again saying SYKE.
BACK to her room I went. Only this time, I wasn't in there long. The Dowdy's showed up with my little man, so I went to relieve them so they could visit with Em before the stork came. Also, Em didn't want Sam to see her with wires, oxygen, and the such, so I stayed with him in the waiting room. Mommy. Scary.
It was soon go time. Everyone went back out to the waiting room. We had the easy part of waiting, while Em was takin' care of all the hard stuff. Before I knew it, Buddy Bird was in the waiting room announcing the arrival of his little girl.
When I first held Charley I realized she was perfect. I held her up and in my Indian chief voice (feather, not dot) and said "I shall call you Charley Bird". And that was that.
Our other little princess.
Oh the trouble we three are going to get into.
Sorry Charley, this is now your shadow.
I love little cross eyed newborns
Cause we're best friends
Makin sure that everything is there
Mommy make up
My first attempt at getting us all together. Sammy Bird didn't get the memo.
I think I look pretty good with a baby in my arms.
