Our Little Girl

Aleah Lynn Hansen

(Six days old here) Thank you SO much Kamilee Seamons Photography!

This is Aleah's "birth story", for all who are curious...I think it's kind of fun.

Prediction
Earlier in October I was talking to my Mother-In-Law about the Down Syndrome Buddy Walk that was going to be on October 13th.  Cade and I hadn't decided if we were going to go with the family or not.  It was about six days before my due date and I just wasn't sure how I would be feeling on that day and if I would really be up for it.  But I was considering it and thought maybe walking would do a little good.  When the Buddy Walk came up, I sarcastically told my Mother-In-Law, "That's the day I plan on going into labor". 

Week of the Buddy Walk
Tuesday- Dilated to a three.  My Doctor told me it was possible that I could have my baby that week.  Kind of got excited about it.  Everyday that passed I was a little bit bummed and mad that my doctor gave me false hope.  Friday night, we decided we were going to go to the Buddy Walk.  I couldn't miss it since Autumn (Cade's sister) was going to be speaking!  And I didn't feel as heavy as I'm sure I looked.
 The Walk
Saturday, just before the walk I finished packing my bags.  I laughed and told Cade, again sarcastically, "I'm seriously expecting to have this baby today!"  

I posted this status update on facebook, "One of my favorite events of the year! Down Syndrome Buddy Walk with the Hansen Fam! And maaaybe, I'll walk myself into labor today! Or just really regret the sideaches and sore feet I'm about to have."

We went to the walk.  It was good!  I felt fine.  I was actually kind of disappointed at how great I felt.  Had a thought to get a picture of me and Cade, a 39 weeks picture...didn't though, would have been neat to have now though.  And then we went home.

Autumn Speaking

Water
We were both tired and fell asleep when we got back to our apartment.  When I woke up and got out of bed..I felt a small trickle.  Wondered if it was what I thought it might be..  Went to the bathroom.  Went to go take some laundry to the washer and planned to talk to Cade about it after.  On the way to the washer, another trickle...so I stopped right there and told Cade what was going on.  Did my water break?  Thought better to be safe than sorry and we headed to the hospital.
Traffic

We live by the mall.  It was Saturday and just about five pm.  Traffic was AWESOME.  Who gets stuck in traffic while wondering if they are in labor?  I wasn't sure I was really having this baby though so we just laughed about it.  I thought in my head, with the next false alarm, we should take a different route.  

Hospital

When we got to the hospital they put me on a monitor and then checked me to see if my water had broke.  The nurse that checked me basically said, yes there is fluid but that can be normal near the end of pregnancy. She said, "I'm about 80% sure your water did not break", but still left to finish "examining the situation".  Another nurse came back in and said, "Remember how that nurse told you that she was 20% sure your water broke?  Well, you should go buy a lottery ticket.  Your water did break.  You are staying here."

Ugly Picture Alert :)

Go Time

From when my water broke, the next few hours, as contractions were barely present, I don't know what our deal was, Cade and I were in a giggly mood.  Who knew you could find so much funny just before popping a baby out.  

THEN, I started hurting.  And that was not fun.  

Timeline: Water broke at 4, started hurting right about 7, progressed to a five and got the epidural at around 10-11ish.  Started pushing...sometime.  Pushed for two hours and six minutes, (some say that's alright, others can't believe how long that was).  Had sweet Aleah at 4:56 A.M on Sunday October 14th.  

Cade holding Aleah for the first time

She's perfect!  We love her sooo much!

Named after her Grandma Hansen (Vickie Lynn) and also shares this middle name with her Aunt Autumn and two cousins.

One of the first features I noticed (and loved) about Aleah was her red hair.

At first I was the only one who really noticed...but as time has gone on her hair has lightened up and there is no doubt about it, she has some red.  Love it!  

I've been saying for a long time that we would have a firey red head.  Red hair from Dad and personality from Mom--we'll see about personality as time goes on.  So far, she's too sweet to be like Mom.  :)  

Five Days Old

Her sleepy smiles make late sleepy nights for me a lot more enjoyable.  Wondering who her visitors might be.

We are blessed!

First (somewhat decent) picture with me in it-She's not loving it though!

From a couple days old to a couple weeks old...she's getting big already!