Hazel's already over a month old, but I'm just getting around to documenting her birth story.
It was the easiest birth. I was induced again, 2 days after my due date. Hazel was due on July 11th, which was a Thursday. But I really really really wanted her to come on the 13th. That's my mom (Hazel's Grandma's) birthday, and my mom was born on her Grandma Dixon's birthday. I thought it would be the neatest thing for Hazel to share a birthday with those two special women. However, knowing the way my body has handled the labor the other two times, I figured I'd have to be induced again. It took a lot of begging and convincing to get my midwife to agree to do it on Saturday. But she finally did! I was so grateful!
(on the left is my Great-Grandma Dixon and my mom, and the right is my mom and Hazel. All 3 born on July 13th!)
Like I said, the labor and delivery was really easy! I was scheduled to come in at 7 am. We dropped Lucy and Lylah off at my parent's house, then Kyle and I went to the hospital. We got checked in and settled, then they started me on the Pitocin. Turns out, I had already progressed a little on my own, and was dilated to a 4 and having some pretty consistent contractions (I just couldn't feel them yet.) We waited a while, and spent a lot of time chatting with both the midwife Jen, and our funny nurse, an older woman named Sherri. I got the epidural, but there was something funky with it. It ended up not being very strong. A little after 12:30, I started feeling the urge to push. I could feel a lot of what was going on. It hurt some, but not a lot. I loved that I could feel where the baby was and what was going on. I think she came a lot quicker, with less pushing (and less exhaustion for me after) because I could feel what was going on. At 12:50 p.m., Hazel was born!
6 lbs. 14.5 oz, 19 1/2 inches long. The biggest of my tiny babies!
My first thought after seeing Hazel was that she fits right in. I think she looks like a perfect mix of her two big sisters. Lucy's eyes and round face, Lylah's nose and eyebrows, all three of them have the same cute little mouth.
Lucy and Lylah couldn't wait to meet her. Gran and Papa, along with a bunch of their aunts and uncles, took them to Trafalga during the day, to distract them. Lylah's still talking about "fal-a-ga and ithe cream with Gran and Papa."
After I nursed Hazel for the first time, she got cleaned up, and we all got settled into our room, Lucy and Lylah got to meet their new tiny sister. They were delighted!
Lylah was so cute before Hazel was born. Every time we asked her what she was going to do with the new baby when she came, Lylah would say "I'm 'onna kith her little fath" (I'm gonna kiss her little face), and that is the first thing she did!
Kyle and I wanted to get something for Lucy and Lylah so they didn't feel left out when the baby came. We gave them baby dolls and I made each of them and Hazel matching blankets. They were thrilled!
I feel bad we didn't get more pictures of the people who came to visit us at the hospital. But here are a few.
Meeting Grandma and Grandpa:
Uncle Dan and Aunt Megan:
And meeting Grandma Stout and Grandma Austin:
Lucy couldn't stand it, she just wanted to hold and snuggle Hazel every second (this hasn't changed in the last 5 weeks. It's nice to have such a responsible 4 1/2 year old that can help hold the baby when she's sad!) The photo on the right side is Hazel next to her cousin Levi, who's only 8 weeks older, but way way bigger!
A few more of sweet Hazel...
Apparently this is comfortable. Haha! We were dying that she slept like this for 2 hours!
And a few more with her big sisters:
This is Lucy on the left and Hazel on the right. I think they look so much alike!
Hanging out at the hospital:
On the left, me and the babe. On the right, my favorite thing about being at the hospital--the awesome room service!
We're so grateful for this tiny girl!
