The Bracken Bunch: Little Miss Mabel

My last blog post was entitled "Waiting For Baby Girl Held." Well, she is now 3 months old and I am finally posting pictures of the big arrival. Somehow, it's lots easier posting on Facebook! I actually had two drafts for this - I uploaded pictures about 2 months ago, and then did it again 2 weeks ago, totally forgetting that I had already done it. Oh well... I may never catch up!

Jenna called me on Monday afternoon, May 14th, to tell me she had been having contractions all afternoon. I was at a friend's after school having a glass of wine, and since I was going to be on "Charlie duty," Jenna told me to quit drinking immediately! I called my sub, giving her warning that I would probably need her the next day, went home, fixed dinner, and then went to school until about 10:00 pm, making good sub plans for the rest of the week. Jenna called in the early evening with the news that the contractions had pretty much stopped after she got home, but I was prepared! She called again around 2:30 am to say things had started up again, so I got up and headed to South St. Paul. Jenna and I hung out while she timed her contractions and Andy slept (he needed all of his strength), and then she decided it was time to go.

This baby is ready to put in an appearance! I dozed a bit on the couch after they left, then got up and took a shower before Charlie woke up. I got Charlie ready for the day, and after taking him to daycare, I went straight to the hospital.

When I arrived, Jenna had just had her epidural, and she was feeling kind of bad because her contractions had slowed way down and they were putting some pitosin in her IV (not exactly her plan, but whatever works!). She was soon smiling again, and within an hour she was dilated to 10 and ready to push! Andy had gone downstairs for some breakfast, but we called him back, and he brought his food with him. It went uneaten for awhile!

After only 20 minutes or so of pushing...

here she is!

8.05#, and 20" long - the perfect size for a healthy baby girl!

I feel so privileged to have been at the births of both Charlie and his sister - what a wonderful experience!

I had called Chuck when I knew Jenna was getting close to pushing, but he was still on the road when the baby was born. He arrived soon afterwards, though - just in time for some pictures. We left Jenna and Andy alone for a bit while they decided on the name. Right after the baby was born, Jenna said "I think it's Maren," but when we returned, we were greeted with...

"It's Mabel Elizabeth!"

Look at that pouty lower lip!

Corey arrived, bringing Chipotle for lunch.

Ahhh, Maddox was once almost that little!

Lots of hair!

Kyle came a little later in the afternoon. Jenna is looking good, too!

I picked up Charlie from daycare, took him to Target to pick out a present for the baby, and then he got his first peek at his baby sister!

Charlie's favorite books at the time were Mercer Mayer "Little Critter" books, and I brought him the one about the new baby. He listened to most of it!