True

I looked down at my feet wrapped in a paper suit, and out the window of the 10th floor recovery room at Beth Israel. My life was about to change again in an enormous way because of a tiny being. We were having another baby!



This time though, the mood was quite different. This was no emergency. Months and months ago, we had sat down with Kate's OBGYN and looked in a calendar to choose our daughter's birthday. And we had made it to that date. Through Kate's incredible strength, determination, discipline, and general awesomeness, we had made it 37 weeks and 2 days to our chosen date; April 4, 2011.

When summoned, I followed the nurse into the Operating Room. This time I was less scared and mind blown, and more excited! Everything was going to plan. Everything was expected.

Still crazy though.

I entered the OR and saw a familiar scene, and things were pretty similar for the first part of the surgery. I did my best to comfort Kate and keep her informed of what was going on. I held her hand tightly and stroked her hair. Then out came True! And at this moment everything was new.

True screamed so loud! This was not the myew of a one pound pipsqueak. Girl has pipes. They cleaned her off and brought her to a warmer.


I cut her umbilical cord as she, like Cole had, peed all over the place. She was becoming tranquil.


They carefully brought her over to the scale to get her birth weight.




A lovely weight for a baby girl! What delicious little toes!


At that point I stole a photo of the operating room, feeling like I was breaking the rules. But it is rare to have an opportunity to take a shot like that! How often is an average joe in an operating room with a camera? *click*


This is the point at which everything became truly new for us. They gave her to me to hold, and didn't ask for her back until the end of the operation. I sat there with Kate for the next half hour or so holding our baby!! She didn't need any resuscitation or tubes or monitors or anything! Just a cuddly dad! Holy crap was that awesome.


Having True up with Kate for the remainder of the operation made Kate look like this:


Don't let her smile fool you though, a C section is no joke. Damn! Kate is strong.

After they finished up and wheeled Kate to the Recovery Room, we cuddled with True for about another hour before they brought her to the Nursery for ... whatever they do down there. It was incredible to just chill with her.




Hi.


An hour or so later they brought us down from Labor and Delivery to the Maternity Ward. Another new experience for us. It is laid out just like Ante-Partem, but the colors are bright, the moods are jolly, and there are balloons and flowers and stuff all over the place. How nice! As soon Kate was situated and I was able, I ran over to the Nursery to get True and bring her back to our little room (#669. I can't lie, I giggled at least 5 times). Reunited, we embarked upon a 5 day cuddle-fest.





Visitors! Gamma Jane!


Gogo and Bill via skype!


Bunny!


I don't have pictures, but Stacy and Grace from the NICU came down to say hello too! Hello!

Big brother Cole!!






Cole was incredibly sweet with baby sister True. He would point and gently whisper "sister" with a coy smile on his face. He offered her his only prized graham cracker. And since this post can't be all True True True, here is a lovely video of Cole elegantly consuming popcorn like the delicate flower he is.



Eventually we couldn't resist defacing one of her boring white onesies.


Baby burrito at dawn.


Baby noggin.






Side note: Kate had her toenails painted to match True's nursery. Adorable.


Baby at the spa.


Baby uses a chair for the first time.


Baby in a hoodie.


At one point we waited too long to feed her and true just starting nomming on mom.




Not much to do when feeding a baby in the middle of the night. Except try to take artsy fartsy photos of the sink.


True is bored by artsy fartsy.


But she likes eskimo kisses. She has the softest little nose!


At some point Kate realized the drugs she was taking came in colors which matched True's nursery. I don't know what that's a sign for, but it's pretty awesome.


And finally, baby hiccups!


We are home now and enjoying being a family of four. Not sleeping much, but so far so good. We are trying to figure out what color her eyes are going to be. Place your bets in the comments. Honestly, sometimes they look brown, sometimes they look dark blue.

Thanks to everyone for your warm wishes and congratulations. We feel so loved and that helps us love our babies.

Onward!!