Introducing Baby Owl

Now, however, known as Greta Kuchta Robertson.  She was born at 1:28 AM on Monday, April 13, 2015.  She weighed in at seven pounds on the dot and measured 19 inches long.

I spent Sunday grading research papers for third quarter grades were due at 8AM on Monday.  I am fairly certain that I set an English teacher record, grading 14 research papers (and commenting on them) in one day.  Nick and Lilly did all sorts of fun things: going to the park, the bakery, Nick's office to draw on the chalkboard, and other fun things I can't think of right now.

Sunday evening around 6:30 was when I started having contractions and they didn't waste much time getting more intense and closer together.  Our friend Petra came over about 8:30 to keep an eye on Lilly while Nick and I headed off to the hospital.  Her daughter is two days younger than Lilly and goes to the same day care, so she is someone Lilly knows fairly well and who also knows the routine of pick up and drop off at our day care.  Nick and I headed to the hospital.  We got to the hospital at 8:40 and were the only people there.  While suffering through contractions we finally decided on a name (deciding Lilly's suggestion, Teeth, was not an option).  By 1:28 AM, Greta was born.

Mom and Greta

Monday morning, Petra took Lilly to day care, letting her know she was a big sister and her baby sister's name was Greta.  Theresa (one of her day care teachers) sent us a picture of the note Lilly wrote to Greta and let us know Lilly talked about being a big sister all day.

Nick and I spent Monday at the hospital with a child that started nursing right away without any trouble and slept soundly.  This was an experience we were unprepared for.  The night nurses didn't do a second bath for Greta because she was just snoozing away and they didn't want to disturb her.

Dad reading, rocking Greta

Greta in the bassinet.  She actually slept by herself in this, unlike her sister.

Nick picked Lilly up from day care a little after 3:00.  Lilly was really unsure of the entire experience, especially at first.  She was really tentative walking into the hospital room and she took quite some time to warm up to everything.  Nick brought her down to the "snack room" to pick out something, but Lilly came back, saying she preferred to have a snack at home.  This included turning down the ice cream.  At day care she decorated a onesie for Greta, so opened that present up for her.  Greta had an Elsa dress for Lilly.  Eventually Lilly felt comfortable enough to climb on the bed with me, say hello to her sister and generally start exploring the room.  She was not a fan of the bed moving up and down or the nurse checking my blood pressure.

Finally digging into some ice cream

 Nick's mom Dianne showed up shortly after Nick and Lilly.  She held her new grandchild and entertained the one she's had for awhile.  Lilly put on her Elsa dress and took walks with Grandma.  At one point we heard Lilly singing, "Let it go" a she walked down the hallway.  Luckily at this point we were still the only family in the OB wing of the hospital.

Finally, Lilly was ready to hold her baby sister Greta.

Nick, Lilly, and Dianne went back to our house.  Eventually my mom showed up at the hospital and ended up staying the night with me.  Nick held a review session with his students whose class he had cancelled earlier in the day.  He then swung by, checked in on us, and headed back home.

Nana and Greta

My mom had some mud on her shoes that kept falling off but wouldn't
get knocked out.  So the housekeeping staff gave her these stylish
booties to wear while visiting.

Tuesday the doctor was willing to let both Greta and me go home if we wanted but we were also more than welcome to stay until Wednesday.  I was a little stir crazy from being in the room, missed being at home, and felt bad being the only patient.  Also the little bracelets (three) that I had collected were driving me crazy and I was eager to get them off.  So after day care, Nick and Dianne went to pick Lilly up from day care and came to the hospital to bring us home.  Of course Greta decided it was time to eat, so Lilly was a little stir crazy, waiting for us to be ready to leave.

An expert car rider - no fussing the entire drive
(granted, it was maybe 10 minutes)

Proud big sister who sang songs to her sister on
the drive home.  (Including Humpty Dumpty)

Looking at the robin and wanting to show her sister.  She picked
a tiny pine cone out of the yard to show her instead.

We made it home, all relieved to be there.  My mom ran some errands for us, including trying to get us a Dairy Queen cake, but they were sold out.  It took us forever to decide what to have for dinner, but we decided on pizza eventually.  Greta had a rough night, certainly not a mellow child as described by one of the night nurses, but she did at least spend some time sleeping in her cradle.

Everyone is happy, healthy and doing well with the transition.  Lilly is doing remarkably well.  Luckily her day care is having a special week, so every day has been a special theme day.  That gives us something exciting to get her out of the house for.  Tomorrow is hat day (today was favorites day - wear your favorite outfit, bring your favorite toy, and your own lunch for a picnic).  What we are going to do next week without Grandma here to do drop off and with nothing cool happening at day care remains to be seen . . .

Greta is eating really well and slept an hour in her cradle last night, so making progress in not having to sleep in someone's arms. But at this stage, cuddling with her isn't such a bad thing!