A Reason for Giving Thanks

At 1:02 pm on 11/17/07, after 37 hours of labor, Anya Rae Holmstrom was born. She is 7 lbs and 18.7 inches long and is pretty darn cute (despite looking a lot like her dad: according to family members). Becky and Eric had an amazing natural childbirth and the support of her sister Christina, mom Mary, doula Kara Lee, Dr. extraordinaire Jen Mueller, and the hospital staff made it a phenomenal experience.

Becky did lose almost 1 liter of blood afterwards and we had a brief scare with her fainting and looking pale-white, alarms going off and hospital staff in panicked frenzy. She stabilized within minutes. I (Eric) felt so bad because she had just given everything she had to deliver the baby and her she is trying to remain calm while needles are jabbed into her legs and iv's into her arms. We were released on Monday and are now at home with family helping us out.

We are tired, happy, relieved, and a bit perplexed at trying to figure this little creature out. She kept us up pretty much all last night with a tummy ache and four poopy diapers. I guess you could call it the Anya Hazing Initiation.

Here are a few pictures to quell your curiosity.

Labor ain't that bad...(according to Eric)

Transition Labor = Pain

B and E with "Sweet Pea"

Lawyer turned birthing coach, Auntie Tina

All that hard work pays off. Mom and Daughter.

Grandma Mary's best Thanksgiving yet.

Grandma and Grandpa Holmstrom relieved, ecstatic, and ready to spoil her.

Auntie Lissi, taking notes.
"Is Anya good birth control?"or "Ok Aaron, now I want one!"

Heading Home: Starting to feel a little more real.

Danger: Contents inside contain hazardous waste.

Day Two: Baby Boot Camp