Charlie's birth

Well, when I last blogged, I was staying home from church with cramps. I layed low all day Sunday to try and keep the baby in, but the contractions started stronger that evening. We put the girls to bed, still hoping we could slow the contractions down and put off the birth until Mom got here at noon the next day, but by midnight the contractions were 5 minutes apart, and we HAD to go to the hospital. An LDS neighbor came and slept on the couch, and we were on our way. I was dilated to almost a 6 when we got there. I immediately asked for an epidural, but I was already at an 8 by the time I got it. It only half worked, and the pain was almost too much to bear, but at 3:38 am, I gave birth to Charlie Paul Gabrielsen.

 He was HUGE at 9 lbs 10 oz, and 21 inches long. He weighed a full pound more than Grace, and more than 2 pounds more than Alice! Paul said I went straight from screaming in pain to super happy and excited when Charlie came out. They let me hold him for a long time while they stitched me up and stuff. It was love at first sight.

 He is so cute! I nursed him and held him for a while, but I was so sleepy that I finally had them bathe him and get him dressed so we could all rest.

 We sent out a few texts and emails about our handsome baby boy!

 Paul said he felt a special bond with his very first son.

 I haven't noticed much difference with him being a boy, but I'm sure I will. The aftermath was not so bad because the epidural barely worked, so it wore off really fast. I was able to walk to the bathroom and get cleaned up right away.

 We slept off and on the next day, enjoying our little man, nursing, seeing doctors and nurses, etc.

 I felt totally fine, though sleepy.

 I was just so happy to have him out! Our LDS neighbor kept Alice all morning, and our Chilean neighbor took Grace to and from school. People were so nice to help out on short notice.

He is such a sweet baby!

 Mom had to rent a car, but made her way to Santa Cruz, collected her granddaughters, gave Alice a nap, and brought the girls to see their new baby brother. They LOVED him!

 Grace is a natural with him.

 Alice doesn't know her own strength sometimes, but she really loves holding him.

 Isn't he sweet?

Mom really likes her 25th grandchild.

 

Paul and Alice took Mom to return her rental car. Alice helped with the luggage.

Then Paul took the girls on a short date to the snack machine, and Mom took them home for bed. We were so grateful Mom was here to be in charge of things now.

 The hospital staff brought in our fancy celebration dinner of delicious chicken cordon blue and steak.

 Then another night of on and off sleep. Paul is always a big help in the night. He changed diapers and burped the baby, etc.

 On Tuesday morning, we did all of our discharge stuff, then Charlie got his hearing screening. He passed. Then we were on our way home! Mom showed us all the great gifts she brought for him, and she did a ton of laundry.

 Grace got home from kindergarten and was excited to spend some time with her new brother.

 Mom found her a Minnie Mouse dress in the free pile, which Grace wore while reading Charlie a book.

 She just wanted to be by him.

 That evening, Mom made dinner (and did everything else that needed to be done), then she and the girls had a surprise for us. The girls got all dolled up in the dress-up outfits Mom brought them, then they sang a little song Mom taught them that I used to sing when I was in kindergarten. It was so cute I cried! Charlie, of course, looks embarrassed to be in a family full of girls.

 Then the girls had their bath.

 And Charlie got ready for bed.

 On Wednesday, Alice spent some quality time with Charlie in the barnyard.

 And Charlie had his first bath.

 Charlie and I got all fixed up. I even wore a non-maternity shirt!

 Paul took the day off, and spent some time with his son.

 When Grace got home from school, she dressed up as Charlie's fairy godmother.

 What a handsome little man. Thanks for the outfit, Aunt Sarah!

 Typical scene at our house now.

 When Alice woke up from her nap, she wanted a swimsuit, wings, magic wand, and dress-up shoes.

 That evening, Paul read the girls a book before bed.

 Then he and Mom doted on our sweet boy.

 How could you not?
So, then we didn't take any pictures on Thursday. Weird. But we did get the girls their flu mists, and we got so sopping wet in the rain that the girls had to take a bath and get changed the second they got home.

 On Friday, Mom did laundry again. She did like 5 loads. She found a drum in the free pile.

 Alice played with Charlie in the barnyard again.

 And Paul doted on his son. That afternoon, we went to Costco, the lactation clinic, and the library. Then we had tons of food while watching the Love Bug.

 On Saturday, the girls slept in until 8. Alice is very interested in Charlie's pacifier.

 Grace loved getting into the hide-a-bed with Grandma!

 All my children.

 Charlie got dressed up for the BYU game that day, even though we didn't get the channel.

 He's all about BYU.

 So is Grace.

 Gooooo cougars!

 Cute kids! Mom took the girls to the dollar store in the morning and bought them stuffed animals, tiaras, and magic wands.

 After Alice's nap, we took Mom to see the town. We tried to go to the university bookstore, but it was closed.

 Grace was mad, even when we showed her the cool amphitheater.

 And this great rock. This is the last picture of Grace with her new stuffed animal. We lost it somewhere after this. Paul took us all to see his classroom building, where I nursed Charlie and we ate the picnic Mom made.

 Then we went to see the beach. It was so cold! The sea lions weren't out. We came home for cocoa, and put the girls to bed. Then the adults watched a cheesy Christmas movie on TV.
We're so sad to see Mom go tomorrow, but we get Mom/Dad Gabe for the whole week!