and then there were 3.

for the first time in my life (and secret's) i experienced TOTAL exuberance.

i hope that sentence made sense, i can hardly see out of the wall of tears in my eyes. even pulling that memory to the front of my mind brings back all those emotions.

it all worked out perfectly. because this is my way to keep friends and family informed/journal, i have to write about it.

last sunday we picked up my parents who flew in from SLC. after dinner, we walked across central park (yes, walked, haha) to the hospital where we were set to be induced. it was so nice knowing that we were going to be induced because it took away any anxiety i might have had otherwise. i was seriously as calm as a cucumber:)


>> on our way to the hospital!

well here's how it went down. we were admitted around 11pm and instead of getting the induction drugs, i was started on a cook balloon- yeah, it's like this weird thing, i'm not even going to go into detail because it's just too graphic. but i had that for about 3 hours then the contractions started to get BAAAD. (but i had no idea of what was to come)

so i asked for an epidural. i'm not even ashamed that i asked for it early on! i'm a major wimp when it comes to pain and i just wanted to be relaxed for the delivery. so i got it and aj and i were able to get a couple of hours of sleep. i sent him home at 5:30am though because no husband wants to spend an entire night in a cheap hospital recliner, and i was sure we were still a couple hours away from actual delivery.

around 10am, my parents and aj came to the hospital and i was started on pitocin. that's when things got crazy. for those of you who haven't felt contractions before, i can't even describe them to you. my first epidural was placed too low and so i could feel EVERY contractions (which were about a minute apart). i thought i was going to die. i truly, truly thought i was going TO DIE. finally i asked for them to re-do the epidural and before i knew it i was dozing off just waiting to get to a 10. finally around 2:30pm, my doctor came in and said "well, geez! it's time to push!" so i did.

i had been warned that it usually takes first time moms 2+ hours of pushing to finish the process. but i'm convinced (as is my doctor) that because i worked out everyday and did lots of squats, that's the only reason i pushed for 20 minutes. WORK OUT LADIES. for your own sake. and for the babies! this one only spent like 4 minutes in the birth canal which meant her head was as round as round can be:)

"amanda! look!" that was my doctor directing my attention down below and i saw her head. i've NEVER had so much water come out of my eyes at one time. then she was put on my chest and i put my cheek on her forehead and my hand on her bum and i just cried and cried. secret may or may not have been crying, too. i told him just today i want to give birth again tomorrow just so i can have that feeling again. 

on monday june 9th we welcomed remie to the world! (pronounced rem-ee, like the 

rat on ratatouille) i know, leave it to the weird american francophile to name their american child a french name.

>> total exuberance. 

>>grandpa's first look!

>> grandma's got the touch!

>> someone is VERY happy to be cleaned up!

>> best part about being in the hospital is having everything all taken care of for you so you can just sit and stare at your baby all day:)

>> i put her in her carseat to come home and thought "oh boy, she's not going to like this..." well lo and behold she did! this look was her "what the heck is going here?!" look. and from the elevator, to the taxi, and all the way home, it never left her face!

>> since we've gotten home from the hospital we've taken thousands of pictures! but our favorite ones are when she's awake. she looks like a completely different child, but she has so much personality! we're lucky, she never cries except for when she's hungry. other than that she just sleeps, looks around and smiles. we don't have a heart anymore, it's long been melted:)

>> yesterday was our first big outing! last time we were all in the park, one of us was in the womb! now here we are, enjoying our first walk. it's very fun to see people get excited over her, but i'm that crazy parent that doesn't let them get too close. especially here in NYC, i don't know where you been, girl!

to wrap things up: we're all doing great. the first couple days remie had a small case of jaundice, but after constant feedings and diaper changes, she's come out of it and we're all on a good schedule. physically i feel [like i've just had a baby], (to keep it clean and simple). i know i have a couple more days of serious recovery, but we're on the up and up! 

a huge shout-out to my parents who have been a TREMENDOUS help this week! with all the meals and help with remie, i don't know what we'll do without them- i guess just survive;) they are such pro's with babies and it was so fun to see them with their first grand baby!

we're feeing overly blessed right now and are SO excited for our friends who are now expecting. we can now tell them with absolute SURETY that it's 10000% worth it.

naturally, more pictures to come:) thanks to all the love and support we've felt from our friends & family this week! we are sure feeling the love!