Two-week checkup

Elizabeth had her 2-week checkup at the pediatrician's office this morning. She is growing like a weed and everything looks good! We will go back again when she is two months old.

Birth stats:
Weight: 7 lbs, 6 oz.
Length: 18.5"

Stats @ 2 1/2 weeks:
Weight: 8 lbs, 11 oz!
Length: 21" - All of a sudden it seems like she is starting to get a little tall for some of her newborn one-piece outfits, so I guess this is why!

A few favorite photos from the last two weeks, since we have been lax in sharing:

 At the hospital in the ubiquitous striped baby hat that most American newborns seem to get.

Getting the kids started early on the road to geekdom - I knitted them both Jayne hats as seen on Joss Whedon's show "Firefly." Ben loves his "earflap hat." Elizabeth wasn't so sure of hers yet.

Comparison of Elizabeth (above) and Ben (below) around the same age

Elizabeth was fussing so we asked Ben to play his saxophone for her, something he'd talked about doing before she was born. She actually quieted down! He also sings to her sometimes; the other day he sang "Twinkle Twinkle" and then made up a song that consisted mainly of the word "horse" to the tune of "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush."

 

Elizabeth relaxing with Georgie the dog, who belonged to Grandma and then Daddy.

Elizabeth Grace

Born 2:32 p.m., January 13th, 2012. 7 lbs, 6 oz, 18.5 inches long. Emily and Elizabeth are doing great.

Today Is The Day

2:00 p.m.
And, just like that, they're getting the room ready for delivery.

1:45 p.m.
All in all, this just seems like a much more laid back experience than last time, which is easy for me to say and quite likely to get me punched once Emily reads this. A pitocin drip was started soon after we arrived, and contractions have been under way for a while now. The anesthesiologist was just here to administer Em's epidural, which I gather was more than welcome. As before, she is of the opinion that the epidural is a wonderful invention.

Emily's parents arrived from Detroit on Tuesday, so Ben is having a day with the grandparents. We spoke with him briefly to say that we were at the hospital so his little sister could be born, just like we'd discussed. He replied that he got to go to Lowe's and that, after his nap, he and Grammie were going to make deviled eggs. The boy has no idea just how much his world is about to be turned upside down...

11:30 a.m.
So, Emily had a regularly scheduled appointment with the doctor this morning; one way or another, it was going to be the last. The plan was to schedule an induction for Monday if the baby hadn't appeared before the appointment. However, the doctor felt that sufficient progress had been made that Emily could deliver today, if we wanted. I don't think the word "today" had fully emerged before Em was vigorously accepting the offer. So, here we are at the hospital, eagerly anticipating our little girl's arrival. Emily immediately started remaking the room to better fit her sense of aesthetics, as shown below.

More updates to come.