Matt & Karisa

Mommy's labor pains started at 3:30 AM on September 7, 2007. She had just gotten up to use the restroom (again) and have a bowl of Cheerios. When she got back to bed, she felt a little funky. She timed the weird feeling for an hour then woke Daddy. Mommy took a shower and finished packing. We went to the hospital about 7:30 AM. We waited a LONG time. Mommy had wanted to have a natural childbirth and was using her Bradley techniques wonderfully, but around 4:30 PM, she gave in and had an epidural. An hour or so later, her water broke and things moved very quickly. Apparently, my heart rate kept dropping so the hospital staff got Mommy pushing right away. In 9 minutes, I was born face up. No C-section, but Mommy sustained some pretty significant injuries...she said I'm totally worth it, though. Now (7 weeks later) she's feeling much better so she finally agreed to type out what I've been anxiously waiting to tell you all.

Mattaya Breann...fresh from the oven

I arrived with lots of hair: curly, black, with blond highlights.

Aunti Becca (Uncle Luke's wife; a nursing student) was in the delivery room the whole time. She helped us out by taking some precious pictures.

Mommy got to hold me a little bit before she had to go down to the Operating Room.

I was 8 pounds, 19.5 inches.

I was so glad to meet Daddy. He kept me company and soothed me while I was in the warmer.

Daddy videotaped my first bath.

Daddy helped get me dressed.

Daddy rocked me while we waited for Mommy to come back up from surgery.

(Three hours is a LONG time. Mommy was sad to spend so much time away from me.)

Grandma Julie smiled for days and days.

Uncle Luke and Auntie Becca brought me some HUGE balloons.

Great-Grandma Mabel was SO excited to meet me and hold me at the hospital.

Mommy loves to cuddle me.

Grandpa Dave is excited to see me.

Auntie Becca loves to hold me.

Daddy is so proud of me.

FINALLY, I'm in my carseat. Now someone take me home PLEASE.

Home sweet home

I sleep in a bassinet right next to Mommy.

We sleep any chance we get.

I had some issues with jaundice so Grandma Julie and I suntanned on the kitchen floor.

How do I look in my sweet shades?

(Thanks, again, Jeff & Jenny)

This is the picture Grandma Julie took for my birth announcement.

I'm a very alert little girl.

(Who needs a pool?--I can swim in my pants!)

Grandma Julie just loves me so much.

Even when Mommy really didn't feel well, she read me stories.

Grandpa Dave and I are good nap buddies.

You know how much my daddy LOVES burritos!

Grandma Julie (hiding behind me) helped us out for a couple weeks while Daddy went to work to train for his new job. Grandma's most frequent chore was burping me.