Introducing: Hope Natalia S.

At last! Please join us in welcoming our new daughter, Hope Natalia, born Thursday, December 6th, at 6:46pm via cesarean section (due to positioning), and weighing in at 7lb 11oz.

She is an adorable peanut, with Bryan's hair and eyes, and Natasha's nose and "face."

Everyone is doing fine, and will be home on Monday. The hospital staff have been fantastic, and we are being sent home with all kinds of information, supplies, and excitement. We've even figured out how to get some sleep so we can actually enjoy Hope when she's awake and alert.

Here are some photos to start you off - - we will add and update as she grows. Thanks for all your good thoughts and blessings throughout the pregnancy! They have certainly paid dividends in bringing this beautiful little soul into our lives.







FOR ARCHIVING:
PREGNANCY & BIRTH STORY

By and large, it was an "easy" pregnancy, due in no small part to the loving care and attention of Daddy B! :) Just got a little hairy at the very end, when we discovered lil' Zu was lying on her back and had her head pent back, requiring cesarean section.

Here's the recap of the first few trimesters for anyone who missed them, and a quickie on our birth story.

First trimester (March-May) was characterized by exhaustion, but passed without significant nausea or other unpleasantness. Food aversions came and went, and included garlic, onions, asparagus (of course, when they were so lovely at the farmer's market in the spring), and shrimp (anything "fishy"). Not much of an appetite, in general. While the baby/belly was slowly developing, Natasha gained no weight - - it simply redistributed into a smallish mound up front.

Second trimester (June-Aug), energy back to normal for the most part, just in time for summer. Some traveling on the West Coast for weddings, and Natasha traveled some around the country for work. Weight gain still proceeded slowly, and the belly inflated into a cute little "soccer ball" up front. Still in about 80% non-maternity clothes, thanks to a marvelous product called "The BellaBand." Decided to postpone renovation on the house until after the baby is born, to cut out unnecessary stress. Natasha gave early notice at work regarding extended maternity leave, and it was well-received, again, keeping stress to a minimum.

Third trimester (Sept-Nov) got off to a good start, but as the days get shorter, so does Natasha's stamina. Luckily, much as in First trimester, a "bad day" is pretty much just a tired & sleepy day. Baby is growing compactly up front, staying very vertical and head-down. Coming into the home stretch with some serious nesting! Looking forward to meeting little Zu.

Fourth trimester (Nov 29+) aka the waiting game... Keeping our chins up, and taking time each day to rub the belly and remember what this felt like. All systems go! Just running a little late... Scheduled induction for Dec 6th.

Birth Day (Dec 6) went in for induction, plan was natural delivery (aka light on the meds). Active labor kicked in once our water was broken, and escalated quickly over the next several hours. A check after about 5 hours of hard natural back labor revealed dilation was still slow in progress (only 1.5 cm after all that?), and Natasha opted for an epidural when the pain became too great, with few breaks in between contractions. Doctor determined the baby must have been positioned awkwardly, otherwise should have been on the bed by now. Cesarean was performed on a 95% hunch, which proved correct. Hope was born at 6:46pm.