Introducing...

Isabelle Blair, our little miracle! She was born a whole 10 days after her due date, much to her Mama's disgruntlement! No, really, I was happy for her to stay a part of me for as long as she needed to. However, that being said, I am exstatic to have her and be able to hold her in my arms. She is the most precious little thing (I may be biased, just slightly)! I have been asked for details of the delivery and the "after."  Don't worry all you weak-stomached folks, I won't go into the gory details!

On Sunday, 12 February, Blair and I packed up all that we thought we'd need and caught a ride with a friend here in Turkey to the hospital. We arrived around 8:30 p.m.  The doctor came about an hour later to examine me and start the induction process. Throughout the night I would occasionally have cramping-like sensations, but nothing too painful. The next morning, the doctor came in again to examine me and much to my disappointment the medicine from the previous night hadn't done much. However, the doctor wasn't discouraged and we went forward with the same medicine again. A few hours later, she came back and checked on me and decided it was "go" time for the "big guns," Pitocin. So we got that on board and boy-howdy, did I start to feel the contractions! I went maybe only an hour and a half before I was able to get my spinal, but it felt like 3 days in the midst of it! (Sidenote: for all you women who birthed a child without medication, YOU ARE WOMAN, HEAR YOU ROAR!! I could NOT do that! And didn't!!) Anyway, after the spinal, I was golden! I didn't care how many contractions I had or how many times I got checked, I couldn't feel a thing! It was glorious! Around 1 p.m. my water broke, which was a strange feeling, to say the least. Now, keep in mind, we started the Pit(ocin) around 10 a.m. and by 1 p.m. my water's broken. By 2 p.m. I was completely dilated and being moved into the delivery room. I tell you folks, I wasn't even in the delivery room for half an hour before our sweet baby arrived into the world. I am so thankful I didn't have to push for 2 hours like some poor women.

After she was born at 2:30 p.m., weighing in at 7 lbs and 19.5 inches long, and when they were done doing there thing with her on the warmer, Mama and Belle got our snuggle on! She was so alert and was looking right at Blair and me. I couldn't stop the tears and I think the doctor thought I thought something was wrong with her because she kept saying, 'The baby is fine! She's ok!" While I was being worked on, Blair was able to hold her and have Daddy daughter time. It was so precious!

Not long after delivery, we got moved to our postpartum room/suite. It was so nice! The hospital really caters to Americans and treat us like VIPs! They have a company that comes in to decorate the room depending on the gender of the baby. We had pink everywhere, which of course, I loved! The hospital translator also made us wonderful cookies decorated with baby stuff (i.e. bottles, bassinets, diapers, etc.) Not only where they adorable to look at, but they were delicious too!

It was so great to be able to have "new family" time in our new room. Blair and I couldn't stop staring at our precious little girl.

Blair has taken to Daddy-hood like it's old hat. He scoops Belle up and carries her around like he's been doing it everyday of his life! He even changes diapers without complaint!! (He said he thought of the meconium as pudding so he didn't get grossed out changing it! What an imagination!) He has been so wonderful to me! He's been helping without me even asking and taking care of stuff around the house. He holds Belle when I go and shower or if I want to take a nap. It's been so great to have such a wonderful husband!! I always knew I loved him, but this has surpassed my desires! He'd never tell or want recognition and that makes it all the more special.

As for Belle, she is doing well. She was just so darn cute that for the first few days, she slept on my chest because I couldn't let her go...However, now we are working on getting her to sleep on her own, and she seems to be adjusting well. I've found that swaddling her before she gets fed helps. I try to make sure she is good and asleep before I lay her down and that helps too. For the most part, she is a happy and content baby. Now, when she's messed her diaper, she is NOT a happy camper and lets everyone in the radius of her voice know that she wants the situation fixed and fixed NOW. But I can't say anything, from all reports, I was the same way! Hopefully this means she'll be easily potty trained later! One can hope, right?!

Now I'll leave you with some snapshots of our little one. Hope you enjoy!

Update

So, today is February 3rd. The long-awaited day for Blair and I. Has it been eventful, no. At least not in the way we were expecting. See, today, or sometime before today, I was expecting to be holding my sweet baby in my arms. That or yelling at Blair in the midst of labor.  But alas, that is not to be...at least not today. So, we are waiting. As most of you know, I don't wait well. I mean, I feel like I've done fairly well playing the waiting game up till now. But as someone told me today, it won't be more than 10 days (that's when my doctor will induce). So, I'll mark my calendar for the "new due date" and wait for that. Should she decide to come before then, HALLELUIAH!

But as promised, I will now show you her room, with her newly arrived furniture. Most of you have seen it, but for those of you that have not...enjoy!!