Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Gabriela Marina is here!

Decent contractions turned to strong contractions about 9:00 last night. Strong contractions turned to 'this is when sane people ask for drugs' contractions about 1:00 am. We arrived at the hospital at 2:00 am. And then around 4:00 am we entered into the stage of labor where I started wondering why I ever wanted her to come out - staying in my belly forever seemed like a reasonable enough option at that point. And next thing we knew she was born at 7:21 am.

We had the natural, drug-free, intervention-free birth that we wanted and ended up with a perfect little girl, Gabriela Marina. She weighed in at 3.165 kg/6.98 lbs and 49 cm/19.3 in long.

There's plenty more to tell, but for today we'll leave it at a few pictures. (We need sleep - well two of us need sleep. The third one has been napping well - except for the two hours that Mamae and Papai tried to get a little rest, she was awake and wanting attention then.)

The first meeting

Our new little family


Kissing the world's best labor companion - Eric was incredible

(Eric's alternate title: forgetting what led to this 9 months ago)




Chick's got a head full of hair!





. . . and her Daddy's pouty bottom lip (which she knows how to use already), Mommy's upper lip, and a combination of our noses





Our Doula and Doctor - They were so great!!!



Like most of us girls, she's not fan of getting on the scale


All cleaned up and napping





We are so incredibly blessed! We had a great pregnancy, wonderful birth, nursing is going well so far, and our baby girl is healthy and beautiful. We should be released to go home tomorrow and start our life as a family of three!

28 comments:

Stephanie said...

Hello Gabriela!!! Welcome! You are so beautiful! As well as your name!! Congratulations Mamae and Papai!!!! I am so glad everything went so well!

Nani said...

She is so beautiful!!! Congratulations you guys! I am happy things went smooth and well.

Enjoy your "princesinha" now!

:)

lovelydharma said...

Wow! She is so perfectly beautiful! Congratulations! And she's got a little brasileirinha in her already with her beautiful name too! Lovely Lovely! How wonderful everything went so well.

Amanda said...

Ahhhhhhh!!!! I almost jumped outta my seat when I checked my email for the umpteenth time today and got such a wonderful surprise finally!!! She is absolutly georgous you guys, my favorite picture is the one on the scale!!!

Her name put chills on me and her face brought tears to my eyes. I love her so much already!! SO SO thankful that every thing went perfect and that all 3 of you are well. Now get some rest so you can tell us her story!! (and post more pictures!) We love y'all!

Sanshins said...

Yayy!! Congratulations to you both (or you three now) Lovely little girl. And what a date to be born... Party on a holiday, awesome!! :D
Hope everything works out well from now on and her new house.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful!!! Both of you, just beautiful! I'm soooo happy for all of you, and I must admit that my 35week pregnant self is a tiny bit jealous, too. So thankful you had such a good delivery....and her name is so pretty! Emily - you're a mommy!!! I'm so, so excited and happy for you! You too, Eric. There's nothing like "daddy's girl". God bless you all! Betsy, Buddy, Hannah, Matthew and Baby

Anonymous said...

Congrats on a beautiful, healty, baby girl! So glad that all is well for you both...Her name is so beautiful...

It was great to see you all at Christmas...

Have fun with that precious lil' bundle of joy ~

God Bless, Sam and Nelda Bryant

Bruno said...

Wow, finally! :-)
Parabéns, ela está linda. E adorei o nome, é bem brasileiro. Comecei a acompanhar o seu blog antes mesmo de você estar grávida, e foi tão legal acompanhar todo o processo desde o início de "perto". Neste fim de semana entrei umas 3 vezes por dia, curioso para finalmente ver o bebê!! Muitas felicidades para vocês e a nova "mineirinha". :-)

BTW, ela nasceu no feriado mais importante do Estado, Tiradentes.

Aline Tanaka Leonardo- Portfolio said...

She is so cute... CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Fernanda said...

Congratulations!!!! Gabriela Marina is so beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Ohh.. congratulations. I've been reading your blog since last year, so I was waiting for this moment.

I wish the best to your brazilian baby. :)

I'm very happy for you.

Marcio.

Dora Dolabela said...

PARABENS!!!!
Gabriela Marina e' um encanto! Com certeza sera' assim por toda a vida!
Deus os abencoe!
Estou contente que tudo tenha dado certo e que voce tenha gostado de sua experiencia de dar a luz no Brasil.
Essa menininha sera' muito FELIZ!

Beth O. said...

Congrats!

Dianne said...

I have read your post...steered here from Jeremy's list of blogs...and have gotten so caught up in your life and times. In the past week or two, I've found myself drawn back here OFTEN to be apprised of this miracle you were awaiting. How WONDERFUL it has finally arrived. And, is so BEAUTEMOUS! The name Gabriela means God is my strength! How perfectly she was formed. May God bless you all in this new experience.

Alexandre Macedo - RJ said...

PARABÉNS papais!!! Que Lindona!!
Que DEUS abençoe muito essa meninona, com saúde, inteligência e muitas alegrias!
Que o Senhor abençoe também papai e mamãe, envolvendo toda a família em um manto de paz e muito amor.
(Sou carioca, leitor e fã de seus textos(já faz algum tempo), e não poderia deixar de demonstrar esse sentimento pela data tão especial).
Abraços.

Jen said...

Congrats mommy and daddy!! I have as anxious as you, but in a very differnt way.. Children are such a blessing and will change your life in every way forever, but it's a good thing!! Looking forward to following her upbringing. I hope you keep this blog up!!

Rogério Penna said...

Hmmm, I guess my post wasnt published, so here it goes again

CONGRATULATIONS!! What a beautiful girl!! Nice name choice also.

I think someone is peeling onions nearby, that would explain the moisture in my eyes :)

An American Girl said...

Congratulations mom and dad and welcome Miss Gabriela! What an angel! So glad to hear everyone's doing great and that you had the birth experience that you wanted! YAY! I'm so happy for you guys and look forward to "Gabriela's Adventures!"

An American Girl said...

Congratulations mom and dad and welcome Miss Gabriela! What an angel! So glad to hear everyone's doing great and that you had the birth experience that you wanted! YAY! I'm so happy for you guys and look forward to "Gabriela's Adventures!"

Raissa Chequer said...

Emily e eric!
Ela tinha que ser mineira mesmo! nasceu no feriado de Tiradentes!!
Recebi a mensagem do Eric e estou muito feliz por vocês dois...
Muitas felicidades!!!
Beijos

Thelma said...

Emily and Eric, congrats! Gabriela is as beautiful as her name!

Rogério Penna said...

Eric, Emily and Gabriela´s Adventures!

Laural Out Loud said...

I'm so so happy for you and your newly expanded family! She's beautiful.

camila said...

Bemvinda Gabriela!! Congratulations Emily and Eric!! I love her name!

Nicole, CJ, Connor, and Ayden said...

Congratulatios, she's beautiful! Hope everything is well with all of you. I can't wait to meet her.

Amanda said...

I can't tell you how many times I have looked at these pictures! She is so adorable and the one on the scale is still my fav!! I know it's still early but in that one she looks so much like her mama!!Oh and I love her blanket, btw!!!

Ray Adkins said...

Eric and Emily,

Congratulations!
Gabriela Marina is a beautiful name and so is your little princess...
I wish you all the happiness!


Ray

Bethany said...

Congratulations!!! She is absolutely adorable-- enjoy your babymoon :)