On Sunday, November 15, we  got the surprise of a lifetime.  After preparing myself for months that she would go past her due date, I woke up at 4:30am one week ago with some back pain.  I told David about it and I remember saying, “Do you think that means anything?”  It took a few hours before I actually believed I was in labor.  16 hours later, our sweet Ariana was born at 8:48.  She weighed 8lbs, 8ozs and was 20.5 inches long.

In her first few hours of life, she got to meet all of her grandparents as well as Aunt Kaitlyn and Aunt Kenzie.  {Uncle Andre waited as long as he could before making the solo drive back to Greenville to get up at 4:30 Monday morning.}

We spent Monday surrounded by family and friends in the hospital and then left early Tuesday morning.  The hospital stay is all a blur to me.

Dad’s first solo diaper change is a success!

Dat chin, doe

It felt so good to make it home on Tuesday.  Our first priority was to introduce her to Copper, who has been great with her.  He checks on her all the time and walks around anxiously when she starts to stir.

This week has seriously been the best week of my life.  The three of us home together, learning our new normal has been such a special time.  We’ve also quickly learned how blessed we are with such an easy baby.  She’s such a content little one.  We’ve been getting up 3 times during the night but last night she shaved one of those off and it was only twice.    Someone asked us if it had really hit us that we were parents and David’s response was, “It’s felt really natural, so far.”  And that’s exactly how I would have answered the question, too.  We’ve learned a lot, yes.  I’ve had lots of questions but it’s very helpful to have those mom-friends I can text and ask about sleeping or breastfeeding or whatever my current question is.  We’ve had so many great friends bring us dinner or lunch and it’s so appreciated!  I haven’t made a single meal in a week.

In case you haven’t gotten enough pictures of Ari, here are a few more…

There’s just nothing better than napping with a baby on your chest.

Our first outing as a family of 3

That smile {and double chin!} just melt my heart.  Also, Dave decided to recreate Alan from The Hangover.

Watching her first Carolina game with Daddy

This weekend, Ari got to meet a few more family members… her cousins Brady and Jackson on Friday and Uncle Corbin and Uncle Andre on Saturday.

I think I can safely say that I’ve never taken this many pictures in a week’s time span.  My heart is so full of love for this little lady.  It’s so surreal to think that today is her due date.  I could have still been pregnant this week.  I could have been at work all week.  But instead I was blessed with the best week of my life.  I’ve already said several times today, “Remember what we were doing this time last Sunday?”  Let’s just say that I’m in a little bit less pain today.  I’ll leave you with one last picture of Ariana’s smushed face because chubby baby faces are the best.

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