Baby Hayley Grace

Baby #1 has arrived!!

Hayley Grace was born August 4, 2006 at 1:55pm. She weighed only 6 lb. 7 oz. and is just perfect. Her little skin already has nice color and she seems to be a very easy baby. Of course, she was probably exhausted when we saw her yesterday from being born and all...might have worn her out a bit.

Lauren had contractions for about 24 hours (in and out of the hospital- they kept sending her home), but Friday morning she had started to dialate. They went ahead and broke her water and got her on the potosin (spelling?) to induce. By the time she had dialated to 4 cm, she was asking for the epidural, because the contractions had her in tears. Once she received the epidural, the rest was smooth sailing (according to her). Lauren only had to push for 20 minutes, and out popped little Hayley.

Hayden was beaming from ear to ear from the time we arrived at the hospital. It seemed so surreal, and yet it was more real to him that it had been in nine months. Both Hayden and Lauren seemed completely happy and relaxed the entire time we were there. Lauren was perky and talkative and so excited.
The nurses were moving Lauren to another room for the night while we were there, and the nursery was sending baby Hayley to stay with them for the remainder of their time there. So, it was the first time they really got to be with her since delivery (minus a 30 min quick visit earlier; in which I'm sure she was passed all around the room). They did a great job of letting everyone hold her...and finally Hayden asked for her back, since he had only held her about 5 minutes all day! He had been the "passer" and never the "holder." After nine months, it was time!
They are supposed to be sent home this afternoon, since everything went so well. Lauren was ready to leave last night, saying "we should all go to dinner!" Naturally, we thought she was still a little high from the epidural..

I'm so excited for Hayden and Lauren, and I know they are ready for their new life with little Hayley. I'm sure there will be a lot of pictures in the months to come...little girls are so cute!