"Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward."
Psalm 127:3
Well, where do I even begin?! It is overwhelming to think about blogging about one of the most significant days in the lives of our family! To say the least, we were very ready to meet our sweet baby Grace ("Gracie") Elizabeth Taras! We woke up early December 21st (well I didn't wake up.. I had been up all night too uncomfortable to sleep), took showers and headed to the hospital for our scheduled c-section that was to take place at 7:30 am! Here is the one belly shot I had Sam take before we headed to the hospital. With Virginia Kate I had a million belly shots... funny how things fall by the wayside when you have another little one to chase after! As you can see... only Sam's t-shirts fit at this stage of pregnancy! =)
They checked me in around 5:45 am, hooked me up to the monitor, gave me pre-op meds, and started my IV. As you can see, my nurses name was Amy... she was awesome... and Sam added his name to my other care team members! =) When they hooked me up to the monitor I was actually in active labor... having contractions every 6 minutes. By 6:45 I was having contractions every 2 minutes and began to feel significant pain. So regardless of the fact that I had a "scheduled" c-section, Gracie was planning on coming anyway on December 21st! Funny how God has such a perfect plan for EVERYTHING! Thank the Lord I was already at the hospital and having a c-section within an hour bc my contractions were very painful and I was so relieved when they finally started my spinal to numb all the pain!! I just don't know how women go through childbirth natural, with no pain meds!! I am definitely not woman enough!! More power to those who can handle the pain! I am very thankful for modern medicine to say the least!!
They started the c-section at 7:30ish and by 7:51 we had a sweet baby girl!
Welcome Grace Elizabeth Taras! We could not be more thankful!!
Notice how her legs are up by her ears. This is how she was in the womb and those little legs just kept springing back up towards her head! They have come down significantly since she has been born, but those first few days after she was born, changing her diaper was quite the challenge with those springy legs!
She weighed in at 7lbs 12 oz and 21 1/4 inches long! About a pound heavier than Virginia Kate and 2 inches longer! They were both exactly 10 days early!
The WORST part about having a c-section was not being able to hold my sweet baby girl immediately! I had to go to recovery for about an hour after, which I needed because I was very sick to my stomach from all the anesthesia. But it was killing me not to get to see her and hold her and fully examine my new baby!! Once they took me up to my private room, about an hour later they brought her to me for the first time. There is nothing sweeter than hearing your child's first cry and holding them for the first time. Moments I will never forget!
The nurses made her a sweet little hat with a bow! So girly!
Gigi and Jack meeting Gracie for the first time!
I am smitten by this sweet baby girl! And looking VERY drowsy from the pain meds!
I love this precious little face!
and this precious little profile! =)
Yia Yia (of course all dressed in pink for the special occasion) meeting Gracie for the first time!
We had MANY sweet friends come by!
Uncle Pete meeting his 2nd great niece!
Proud daddy and Papou take a peek!
And did I mention I was EXHAUSTED!! My apologies to anyone who came by the day I had Gracie. I felt like I was in a fog the whole day! After a night of no sleep and pain meds... I was a zombie!
Then proud big sister, Virginia Kate, made her arrival to meet the "bebe"!! It was such a sweet moment! Virginia Kate was so excited to see her sister!
First hug! So precious!
Our first family photo of 4!
The fun thing about having Gracie near Christmas was that many of our friend from out of town were able to come by while they were home for the holidays!!
Gracie meeting her two friends- Ellie Tashie and Campbell Martin! Ellie was born in September and Campbell was born in October! These three will have so much fun growing up together!
Gracie also meeting her other friend Jack Whelan! She already has so many friends! Jack was born this past July! He is such a cutie pie!!
And another shot of Jack and Gracie! Notice how Sam is already not letting her get too close to the boys... already so protective! ;)
Gracie meeting her Aunt Mae and Uncle James for the first time!
]Gracie and her great grandmother- Mimi!
Virginia Kate and her sister again on VK's 2nd trip up to the hospital! I just love these pictures of my girls!! The facial expressions on Virginia Kate's face are priceless! She is so proud... her own LIVE baby doll! =)
And again, more shots of Gracie and her big sister! This time Virginia Kate brought her own bebe so she could be like mama!
This might quite possibly be one of my favorite pictures thus far of me and my girls.
And VK feeding me a graham cracker! She is such a mess!
Nothing sweeter than a daddy with his daughter!
All packed up and ready to go home!! Snug as a bug in a rug!
We are looking a little sleepy here! But anxious to get our little bundle home! I think Sam was about to go stir crazy in the hospital room!
And Gracie's head is looking a little wobbly!
This is just a brief glimpse of the birth of Gracie! I could type a novel about it all, but quite frankly I am exhausted!! Being a mother of two is totally a different ball game than the mother of one! I am thankful that the Lord knows just how much we can handle and gives us grace renewed every day! It is my prayer for both of my children that they would never remember a day that they didn't know the Lord as their personal Lord and Savior. Sam and I feel so blessed to have been given these precious girls on loan from the Lord to raise. It is only through his strength and by his grace that we can even attempt this task! We are filled with joy.
