On Thursday morning, we went to the hospital to have a baby.  It was a foggy day, a nice thick marine layer covered sleepy La Jolla. We checked in, they checked me... I was expecting to have made lots of progress... and hardly anything! I was so disapointed. I thought I was in for a long day.

They started pitocin... let that go for a few hours. I felt some strong contractions and thought for sure I must be farther along now. The doctor came to check, and no progress. I was really discouraged. All that walking, all that hard work and nothing?! He decided to break my water, and let me sit for a little while longer with more contractions. Boy oh boy did they get strong. I have no idea how some women can do the whole thing drug free. I whole heartedly admire those women. I am also grateful that Heavenly Father helped someone discover the miracle called an epidural.  Once I got that, I was so happy. 

About an hour after the epidural I started to feel pressure. They checked, I was half way there! With Ryan, I was so afraid to feel any pain, so I kept pushing the button that gave me more epidural juice.  They hadn't gotten to the point of even offering me the button, not that I needed it yet, I was pain free. A little less than an hour later I started feeling a lot of pressure. The nurse checked, not expecting much, and said, "Oh wow, you're complete! I better go get the doctor!" 

I was surprised- and excited. She was coming.  We got the cameras ready. Scott started to get nervous- it was cute. They finally gave me the button, but I didn't have time to push it. The doctor had me do a hard push, a little push, and a hard push, and she was out. It was amazing. I felt so much more in control. She came so fast. I had a warm wiggly miracle resting on my chest minutes from when we started.  She was so alert, looking at me and at Scott. She tried to suck her thumb. Anytime Scott would talk, her little eyes would search around until she found him.

We couldn't believe she was here. After so many prayers, and lots of hard work, Emma had made it to her family. 

She is so in love with her daddy. Sometimes the only way she calms down is in his arms. (I know the feeling.) He is totally smitten. She already has him tightly wrapped around her finger and I already feel bad for any boys who try to take her out on a date.

She is our little miracle baby.

I love that we are a family of four. I love that yesterday as I was talking to someone I got to say, "my kids..." It feels so right.

Ryan is such a proud big brother. The first thing he does when he enters any room is look around for "Baby Emma". I don't think she ever gets called anything else by him. He is so protective. He was scowling at the nurse who was making her yeowl while she checked vitals. He kept asking Scott to cover her belly button because it made him sad to see it. 

The first time he saw her diaper get changed he said, "Oh! Look at at those funny buns!"

The first time he saw her nose, which has a little baby acne, he said, "Her nose is like a spotty giraffe! It looks like it has some dust on it." He touched her hair and told us, "Her hair is so soft, its like fur!"

It is already so fun to have a girl. The bows are being put to good use. 

She is so sweet. Only ever really fussing when she's hungry. I love to sit and stare at her perfect little face and long slender fingers. She has tons of hair in the back, and not so much in the front or on top. Its brown, but she has blonde eyebrows, so we'll see what ends up staying. 

I can't believe we have our Emma. She fits in the family so perfectly. I can't believe how in love with her I am. Even in the middle of the night, when I haven't slept for hours, I sit there looking at her sweet face, and melt. I am the luckiest girl in the world.