Back to Work

Well, the week was great spending a lot of time holding and rocking Amelia. Jenny has been amazing in the feeding department our little stinker has taken to it pretty quickly. We have found our favorite positionon the coach with her on my legs rocking back and forth. She's a sweetie

Daddy's Thoughts

I was lucky to be a part of this amazing experience that has blessed our lives. I have seen how our family and friends are excited for us and support us more than I could have ever imagined. My role in this incredible event was nothing compared to what my beautiful wife had to endure.

Thank goodness the baby has her good looks and my height because if it was inversed we would have had a short goofy looking baby instead of the long legged beauty. I will be suprised if the hair and eyes stay red and blue being that I used to have blond hair now it's brown, actually I used to have hair period.

I can't wait for everyone ot personally meet Amelia and i'm sure she'll have some kind of sarcastic movement or punny emotion that will make you laugh or shake your head. She is a hegenbart-hadjiyannis.

I can't wait to share the future with you all and hope we will have as much fun then as we are now.

Love Straty

Beautiful Auntie Sarah...

The three of us are sitting at the dining room table having breakfast. I started reading your lovely letter and the waterworks flowed. Straty took over to read and you got him too! I'm happy to know I'm not the only emotional one in this household. Amelia is just like her daddy, always trying to lighten the moode, as we sit in tears...she blows a hole in her panties. We both look at each other and laugh. I tell Straty he's got that one:) Thank you sis! This was absolutely beautiful. Love you so very much.

Firsts today are sponge bath, doctor's appointment and SHOPPING!!! XOXXOXO

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

I want to thank you all who have traveled with me the past 41 weeks on this amazing journey! For me being able to tell it from the heart. For the support phone calls and emails and for allowing us to share this time in our lives with you. In some way to me it feels like this is the end, but I know it's not. It's just the beginning of something wonderful and miraculous.

The delivery of our "Rose Bud" per Grandma, was incredible!!! I was surrounded by the most incredible support team ever! I think at first the nurses were nervous of the "crew" being in there, but in the end, they were very happy, and asked for them to come back and help others! I was very lucky to have mom and dad, Krista and Sarah, and the most incredible husband at my side...oh, and the best photographer:) You may think, my that's a lot of people, I thought so at first, but it was perfect! God knew exactly what he was doing! We went in at 7am and unpacked. They hooked me up to the monitoring devices, which I disliked very much. Those tight belly straps!!!! I was able to walk about. I was getting nervous about the induction part. I had hoped I would have started naturally. The cool thing was my water broke ten minutes prior to Dr. May coming in and breaking it for me! I was so thrilled! That was an answer to prayer. The contractions came on like quickly and then faded. They kicked in the pitocin to keep things consistent. I was 4/5cm when they hooked my up. They gave me the epidural as well, and within probably an hour we jumped up to 8/9cm by I think it was noonish. The family was across the street having lunch. We all couldn't believe how quickly things progressed. In no time I was fully dialated and it was time to call Jenny, the photographer. At 2:30pm the crew was ready and I started to push. You could tell the nurse was still nervous about the forbidden word, "C-Section." It was obvious in her body language and on her face that she really thought C-section was my only option and hated it when she had to say the four letter word..."PUSH." Straty stepped up to coach. Cleansing breathe, then three hard ten second pushes. Baby Hadj's heart rate dropped twice, so they hooked me up to oxygen. Mom was in charge of removing the mask during pushes and provided ice chips and cold towels. I was certain my pillow was on fire. I kept telling mom it was really hot in there. Straty had the brilliant idea of putting the towels in the frig first to cool them down faster. Sister Sarah ran the towel swapping as well as the blog. The nurse had to attend another patient, which then sister Krista came in to hold a leg. Dad made sure video was set and I'm sure was praying hard in the window seal. Jenny was about snapping this amazing team effort. Krista and Sarah would change off. It was soooooo cool, because at first it was Straty, mom and the nurse counting "one, two, three..." When Dr. May came in and said he was 95% certain Baby Hadj was coming vaginally, the energy shifted. Praise the Lord!!!! The whole room was counting..."ONE, TWO THREE..." You could tell the nurse was releaved as well! At 5:13pm Amelia Marie popped her head out. She was stuck for a couple hours in the canal, which gave her the biggest cone head and a ring around head. The ring to me looked like a halo. A true gift from heaven. God was there the whole time! He worked through every person in that room. Dr. May was incredible and so calm. Mom stayed both nights with us in the hospital. Straty is sick with a cold. It worked perfectly, since mom is my nursing coach. She'd check diapers, I'd feed, then she'd put Amelia to sleep. If Grandma had her way she'd do that every day:)

Thank you crew! Amelia and I couldn't have done it without you!!!!

We checked out of Club Med. I had to pretend we were going somewhere then a hospital that morning. The night before, I begged Straty to call the Doctor and tell him we weren't coming. I had changed my mind. Of course that wasn't going to happen. We came home and I panicked. It was the lack of pain killers, hunger and holy cow, now what do we do? Mom and Dad went in to survival mode. Mom unpacked us and started cleaning up things, while dad went in search of drugs and food:}

Straty you are incredible. Your support throughout this adventure has been fabulous. I say that in a sincere way. My heart has never felt as full. You're everything I need and more. You're going to be the most amazing daddy to our Amelia.

Thank you all for coming to visit Amelia, for the cards, emails, gifts and flowers. We are completely surrounded with love and support.

XOXOXOX

Somebody pinch me...

I think I'm dreaming...could it be, this little bundle of love laying on my chest right now is mine? Straty and I have fallen head over hills in love. I can't believe 41 weeks and 4 days of counting was over on Monday. It hit me yesterday in a good way and of course sad way. What I'm about to say, I know all mommies have felt. The joy of loving your baby and getting to know her, but also the sadness and the emptiness inside your body. I keep expecting that LONG leg knee me in my right hip. Or the rumbling in my tummy when she had hick-ups. Rubbing my belly isn't the same. It used to be hard and full of life. Now, it's a bowl of jelly:) Don't get me wrong, I'm so happy to have met our little daughter, it's just those lovely hormones everyone talks about! I was watching Straty today as he sat on the nursery floor surrounded by dogs, that were sound asleep, while I was nursing in the rocker. He was reading to me from one of our baby books. My heart was pounding and eyes filled with tears. It was our family all together. I started crying watching Straty in the kitchen and then again while holding his baby girl. Emotionally, I'm a mess. I've fallen in love with our daughter and her daddy in a new bonding way. It's so amazing! I know many explained this emotion to me, but I know had no idea. Now I get it.

Amelia is sleeping soundly on my chest. She lifts her head every once and awhile. It's almost time for a feeding, which is going very well, praise God!!!! We're going to her first dr's appointment tomorrow.

I'd love to type more, but sleep calls! XOXOXOX

So this is what my mommy's face looks like!

Still me...Auntie Sarah

Hello!

So everyone is at home! Mommy, Daddy and Amelia (a (short a)-ma-lee-a are home. The dogs have been introduced, the nursery is no longer just a project, but the room for a precious treasure. The rocking chair provides comfort and purpose as mommy feeds baby. The monitor now remains on and little coos and whimperings may be heard. The clothes are washed and now pink and purple onesies adorn the closet. Life has changed in the Hadj home. It has always been a place where family and friends have gathered. Jenny and Straty have nourished us, entertained us, sheltered us, and welcomed us in to their cozy home. But when I walked in today something was different. I was still greeted by 3 eager dogs, the yummy smell of candles still filled the air, Valentines hearts were hung to symbolize another holiday that is approaching. So many things were the same, yet something was different.

This home now held a different meaning. My mind began to envision all the celebrations to come. A home that has already held so many rituals and traditions will now be the place of so many firsts. Amelia's first Valentine's Day, Amelia's first Easter, Jenny's first Mother's Day, Straty's first Father's Day. Soon it will be a place where her birthdays are celebrated, her steps are taken and her words spoken,
i am in awe of the beauty of the moments shared and completely inspired by the moments to come.

Lord, please bless the Hadj home and all who dwell in it. May it be filled with love, laughter and happiness. Keep everyone healthy and growing strong in health and in You, dear Lord. Thank you for a beautiful blessing that reminds us how amazing your works are and how intricately you have design your children. May we love well and forever embrace the gifts you have given us. Amen!

Following are some photos from Jenny McMasters, the photographer that was present with us on Amelia's birthday. She just wanted us to be able to share a few of her favorites with you! Enjoy!

Paparazzi. I'm already famous.

Peek a boo, we see you!