Hello, again :)

Yes, I know it's been too long.  And I know I've missed Christmas, New Year's, celebrating the announcement of an upcoming nephew (BTW, congrats to my brother and his wife!), my father's birthday, my husband's selection for promotion, and a million other things.  This, I hope, will explain my reticence:

Welcome, Sweet Baby Girl! This is the happy ending to the quick and surprising birth story.

Piper arrived February 4, 2012 at 11:51 in the morning, weighing 6 pounds 2 ounces, measuring 19.5 inches tall.  Her arrival, while long anticipated, really snuck up on us!  She made her debut 5 weeks earlier than expected, and with very little warning.

(Now, I think it's worthwhile to mention that, prior to Piper's birthday, I had been climbing around 20 flights of stairs each day since I didn't have my own classroom at school, and that I carried a backpack, and that I had been expected to help put on our school's science fair.  So I probably should have expected the following.)

On February 3rd, I had a doctors appointment -- after the exam, my very soft-spoken and non-emotive doctor asked "So, how are you? Are you feeling okay?"

My initial response was to look directly at my hubby -- am I showing signs of depression or something?  Is something wrong with the baby's heartbeat?  What could he be talking about?  I told him I felt fine, great in fact.  I'd been energetic, happy, eating healthy, and very active.  "Well," he continued, "you're dilated to 5 or 6 centimeters".  WHAT?! 

I'd basically been in labor --  and didn't know it.  After assuring me that wasn't kidding ("I wouldn't joke about THIS"), we discussed it, and convinced my doctor to let me leave the hospital instead of going directly to Labor and Delivery.  We didn't have anything we'd need, not even a crib mattress, sheet for the pack-n-play, newborn diapers... The car seat wasn't even installed!  After assigning me to bedrest, scheduling me for his first appointment Monday, and assuring me that he expected to see me in the hospital before the weekend ended, we anxiously left.  I tied up loose ends at work, made a run to Target for those necessary items we'd be needing sooner than we planned, and grabbed some dinner (all done in a certain state of apprehension, I might add). 

Sure enough, I woke up the next morning much earlier than planned, woke my husband with me, and headed to the hospital.  Five hours later, I met my sweet baby girl.  Best surprise I've ever had. 

One precious week old!