Baby Chi Chi

This little miss came into the world with a bang! or a swoosh.... or a flush?  I can't seem to find the appropriate word for the manner in which she arrived - but it was filled with excitement.

The long and short of it is that - it was short...my labor.  Four total hours (from FIRST contraction to the moment she entered this world).  We labored at home and I was certain I had some time left once we arrived at the hospital, but while waiting on Pat to check me in, I - laboring on my hands and knees in the emergency room waiting room (standard check in procedure for this particular hospital) - felt an intense contraction, my water break and the urgent sensation to push.

The next few moments were surreal - I was rushed in a wheel chair into an elevator.  Pat was running as fast as he could behind a transport nurse who was running much faster telling me to "breathe through straws!" and "DO NOT PUSH!" - I watched her feet as I leaned over the back of the chair trying to figure out what it meant to breathe through straws.  After a 12 week birthing class, we didn't discuss straws... but I remembered watching Cosby Himself 1,807,945 times and thinking of his Lamaze training I figured it out.

We were in and out of the elevator FAST and into a room where a surprising number of people were waiting - I can't help but think I cut in front of another mom who'd been laboring for many hours and was ready to deliver and here comes this hot shot birther about to lose her kid in a wheel chair.

I was asked to stand and walk - really? and I asked to be pushed closer to the bed.
I stood.
I demanded my clothing be removed. According to me it went like this "Should I take my clothes off?" As I was in my PJs.  According to Pat it went like this "TAKE MY CLOTHES OFF" - I sorta believe him, but whatever.
My clothing was removed post haste.
I was in the bed and I think it was THEN that people realized the baby was like, already there :) but not quite.  I pushed 3.5 times and there she was.

Our little baby Elliot Grace.  We call her Ellie Grace, Ellie Belly, Baby Sissy, Baby Chi Chi (some derivitive of Sissy), Cheech, Chitchers, Sis-a-Roo, Chich-A-Roo and on and on.

She is daddy's "LOVE" and such a sweet element of joy and drama to our lives.  She is happy, joyful and yet extremely stubborn and can be quite the snot at times.

7 more days until she is a big one-year-old :(