8lbs 9oz of CUTE!

Violet Louise Furnell 8lbs 9oz July 15th dark brown hair--BEAUTIFUL

Well, this will have to be a short post considering I have a baby on my chest.

Violet Louise Furnell(ie) arrived in the world at 2:36 am after 1.5 hours of active labour and 45 minutes of pushing (because you want to know this right?).  Well, I am telling you anyway.  Because I am darn proud of myself!  She came out sunny side up (they are not supposed to come out this way!).  And yes, apparently I did an awesome job because sunny side up babies usually end up in emergency c-sections.  At one point I remember someone saying something about "assistance" (ie. vacuum or forceps) to which I said: "No f___ing way!"  At the time I didn't know she was sunny side up so I had no idea why they would even be suggesting this.  And yes, I had the epidural.  And it was WONDERFUL (all you ladies who have had "natural labours" props to you...but I couldn't bear it...it was unbearable...even though it was my goal...still my accomplishment is not diminished!  So all you ladies who have yet to have babies--don't think your accomplishment is any less no matter how you do it: c-section, assistance, epidural, etc...we all still rock).

But yes.  I am triumphant birther, life giver extraordinaire.  It was quite a contrast with my son's birth which was LONG (13 hours hard labour) and excruciating.  So I feel pretty fricken' empowered.  Not to mention they didn't turn the epidural off without telling me this time!  So yes.  It was a truly wonderful experience.  But all second time moms: get your bumps to the hospital asap.  Unlike me...who waited too long...because heck, one and a half hours?  That's a BIG difference from 13.

And as for baby Violet?  She is AMAZING.  She SLEEPS.  Seriously, 5-7 hour stretches at night.  And she's only 6 days old! And don't worry, she's still gaining weight...twice as much as she needs to actually.    But yes, also don't hate me too much: I've paid my dues.  My son would wake every 2 hours at night to nurse for the first TWO months (and after that not much better).  I recall my fervent wish when he was little was to sleep for JUST three hours in a row...please...please...please.  Not to mention that he didn't start sleeping through the night until he was 25(!) months.  So yes...if your child doesn't sleep, maybe your next will.  And no matter what anyone tells you, it isn't your parenting.  Because I haven't done anything differently.

Well, one thing I did differently was pray my entire pregnancy that "please please please may she just SLEEP!" and "please please please may my labour be EASIER!"  So yes.  It worked.  Props to God.  ;-)

Well, that was actually rather long.  But I think I am just so darned excited.  And I am so incredibly in love with this little girl.  My heart is full.  I am very very grateful.  And I know how very blessed I am to have two beautiful healthy children.

Heart: Kimberellie (with a baby in her arms)

ps. in the picture she is only four hours old.