The Johnson's: Jun 17-23: Elin Kate Johnson has Arrived!!

Elin Kate Johnson

Our Baby Watch is over and our precious new baby girl has arrived! Please allow me to introduce Elin Kate Johnson, born 6/20/13 at 1:51AM weighing 6 pounds 9 ounces and "standing" 21 inches tall! (Elin is pronounced with a long "E": E-Lynn). She has dark brown hair, blue eyes, long fingers & toes and looks very much like her older brother, Erik. She is also following Erik's example in that she is rather alert and opens her eyes a good amount and she rarely fusses. Both Erik & Elin cried initially upon delivery, but then went through the cleaning up, measuring and Vitamin K shots quietly. I hope this is a sign of true temperament!

She arrived 3 days earlier than her due date, much to my relief! Her delivery went super fast; she was born 2 hours and 20 minutes after we got to the hospital. I had expected the epidural to slow down the labor as it did with Erik, but Elin had other ideas and nearly delivered herself! I couldn't believe how fast this delivery actually went - it was over almost before I convinced myself that I was actually in labor. That's not to say it didn't hurt like mad - I was desperate for the epidural and sooo happy that I hadn't progressed beyond the "no epidural for you" limit! According to the labor & delivery nurses, this has been a very busy month for the hospital with lots of crazy stories of Moms walking into the hospital in the pushing stage or Moms who ended up having their baby en-route to the hospital. They blame all the storms that Central Florida has been having lately (something about the low barometric pressure affecting the uterus water)!!

Big brother, Erik, is thrilled with his baby sister and has actually paid more attention to her than I expected when he came by the hospital to see me and Elin. He loves to hold "baby si'ter" and rubs his hands over her head and cheeks. He also likes to give her kisses and hugs. He really wants to hold her on his lap with no support from Kent or I. He throws a fit when we take her off his lap and begs for her to be given back to him.

First time Erik sees Elin - just after this shot, he practically dive bombs into the bassinet!

A very happy Erik holding his baby sister!

Both sets of grandparents were on hand when we brought Elin home from the hospital on Saturday, June 22. This baby girl is certainly getting the royal treatment for her first few weeks of life! Elin and I are working on setting up our daily & nightly routines of eating and sleeping. She is turning out to be a great nurser - we've had very few problems with latching on which is a huge relief to me. She has her nights/days mixed up right now, but I hope to start shifting her long naps to the night in the next few days.

Here are a few pictures that were taken by the hospital photographer - love what they do now!