1 week...

We have made it through the first week!  So far it has been pretty great!  Peyton appears to be a little bit of an easier baby than Parker was...I know this can change but it is true for the first week!  She has slept a lot and is doing pretty well with feeding.  My milk has come in much better than with Parker and there seems to be much more of it! 

After coming home from the hospital Peyton had to have a weight check appointment two days later...she gained 8 ozs!  On average babies are supposed to gain an ounce a day so she is doing well!  Breastfeeding has become a little discouraging though in the last two days.  I am having severe breakdown of my nipple tissue due to Peyton not having a good latch...I have tried to get her to latch on differently but I think due to her little mouth she is not able to get a good latch.  I am in extreme pain and have decided to pump for a while and give her a bottle in an attempt to let them heal.  I had my moment of mourning the fact that I might not be able to breastfeed this time.  I don't know why I feel so guilty about it.  I just think I am frustrated because it was going so well in the beginning.  Hopefully she will take the bottle fine and I will be able to do that for a few months.  Every little bit helps her grow healthy, helps me lose weight and helps us save a little money!

Parker is loving having a baby sister!  He is a little confused about her name though.  He keeps calling her baby Charlotte because Gritter's just had a baby Charlotte.  It is starting to wear off on Joel and I...we are now calling her Charlotte as well!  From the minute we got home Parker has been really interested in holding Peyton.  The first time he held her I took a picture and now he wants me to take a picture every time he holds her!  When he does hold her it only usually lasts about 15 seconds though!  

Parker has his own camera and enjoys taking her picture...he acts like the paparazzi!  The minute Parker wakes up from his nap he wants to know where Peyton is and see her.  Lots of times he crouches in front of her smiling and saying "hi".  He pets her head gently and likes to touch her hands and feet! So precious!

Parker has to see every diaper change and wants to see her poop if she went!

Big brother holding Peyton...

Paparazzi taking pictures...I wonder who he learned that from?!?!

Best buddies hanging out!

Peyton catching some Zzzz's...mommy really likes seeing this!

More holding and kissing by Parks...

Daddy and Peyton taking one of many naps together...

First trip out since being home...to the doctor's office we go!

First bath at home...she screamed for most of it!

Cozy on a cold winter's day...

Peyton helping daddy with school work...

It's a girl....

Yes!  You read it right!  We have broken the 39 year Nagelkirk drought of no girls!!  We are still kind of in shock that we actually have a little girl!  Here is her story...

On Wednesday, February 6th (my due date), my mom came over for the afternoon to help me with a final cleaning of the house and to get ready for the big day.  I had an induction scheduled for Friday so we were preparing for that date.  Throughout the day (6th) I was having minor contractions...nothing too intense or consistent.  To be honest I didn't really know what real contractions were going to feel like because with Parker I got the epidural pretty quickly just so we could get some sleep.  I was afraid to be the girl who went into the hospital with false labor so I kept putting off calling the doctor!  Around 7:00pm Joel was noticing that the contractions were coming more quickly.  We started timing them and realized that they were coming 2-7 minutes apart.  Since I was already dilated to a four at my last appointment they told me to call in when the contraction were 4-5 minutes apart.  After much encouraging from Joel I called in around 8pm and Dr Strong told us to head in!  We called my mom and by the time she got there the contractions were getting more intense and I was thankful I called when I did.

Kim was working so she hooked us up with room 108...the largest room and the room that we delivered Parker in as well!  Kim was next up to receive incoming patients so she got to be our nurse.  We had a plan set up to switch nurses if something started to go wrong...we didn't want too many people emotionally involved present if there were problems.  I was most nervous about missing the epidural so Kim called it in for us right away and within 10 minutes I was receiving the dreamy epidural!  It amazes me how quickly those things start to work.  I was already dilated to a five at that point so Dr. Strong broke my water to encourage the labor to continue.  It was now about 11:00pm and Joel was tired so we both rested for an hour.  When Kim came back I was dilated to a ten already!  Within 10 minutes Dr. Strong was in the room and I was pushing!  After two short pushes our little one was already almost out...so different than Parks!  Dr. Strong said one more push would do the trick, but while waiting for the next contraction I laughed at something and our little peanut popped out!  Peyton Mya Nagelkirk was born at 12:58am on Thursday, February 7th, 2013 weighing in at 7 lbs 1 oz and 20 inches long.  I couldn't have asked for a better delivery or a more perfect little girl!  It all seemed so surreal...only 15 minutes before Peyton was born we were sleeping!  Neither one of us felt like we had time to mentally prepare ourselves!  

We called our families even though it was the middle of the night to share the great news!  The next few hours were spent holding our sweetie, getting her vitals checked, first feeding (she latched right on like a pro!), and then sleep!  The next few days were a whirlwind of visitors, gifts, lots of pink and Peyton's first visit with her big brother!  Everything went well and continues to do so!  We are super excited to see the plans God has for our new family of four.  Joel and I pray that we love Parker and Peyton the way that God intended us to and that we are able to teach them to love the Lord and do His will for their lives.  I keep thinking to myself that I am too young to have two kids and to be entrusted with their lives.  I am so relieved that I have Joel to walk this road with.  I think we make a pretty great team!

First family picture!

Already sharing toys with Peyton!

Parker was concerned about her hat falling off!

Packing up and ready to head home!