Welcome Mathilda!

Mathilda (Tilly) Frances Gillespie LaFond

She's here!!! Mathilda Frances Gillespie LaFond was born April 9, 2011 at 4:05pm.  She was 8lbs, 9.5oz and 20 inches long.  There are no words adequate to describe her. She is amazing. Her face, her hands, her hair, her little mouth and wide eyes.  We are so in love.  Labor and delivery is a story in an of itself which I will post later, but for this post- a look at Mathilda's first week of life with us.

Happy birthday!

8lbs, 9.5oz. Not quite the 10lbs predicted, but no small chicken!

first family photo, sadly on an OR table

Daddy!

After a very very long day

I remember thinking I was smiling in this photo.  This is how Tilly and I slept practically the entire time we were in the hospital.  We weren't quite ready to be apart yet, and had gone through a taxing delivery together

rare moment quiet in the hospital bassinet

Mami Gina came to visit!

Monday, day 2, looking a bit more with it.  I was really swollen from the extra fluid they gave me.

Grandmom Roberta!

Big brother Oscar, who first threw up, then ignored her while playing jealous sibling with us.

first cloth diaper!  Thanks to Pittsburgh's Happy Baby Company we are well stocked and well informed.  Cloth diapers will definitely be the topic of a forthcoming post.  1 week down and no disposables used- woohoo!  Granted, we haven't had to change her out of the house yet, something that I'm sure will come with its own learning curve.  She is wearing an xs Thirsties cover over an unbleached cotton prefold.

hair bow! it didn't stay in, but gosh it's cute!  This is our 2nd day home, last Wednesday.  She's wearing a dinosaur onesie as a little inside joke before she had her first skype meeting with her Uncle Patrick in Moscow.  The mittens were necessary because she was born with long nails and scratches on her face. I've since cut them twice, and ditched the mittens- she self-soothes by sucking her hands and is always waving them around, I didnt like having them covered.

first bath- not the biggest fan, but she's getting better.

Reg has to bathe her (and did all diapering, dressing, walking, etc while in the hospital) because of my c-section.  He is amazing. It brings tears to my eyes how much he loves her and how incredible he is with her. He had no trouble jumping right in and doing everything.  We are lucky ladies to have him.

such a sad crying face after the bath.

check out those curls! When her hair is wet it is in these tiny spirals.  It dries and straightens out except for key places like the top of her head and behind her ears.  That soft silky baby hair is so nice, I can't stop petting her!

She likes being read to and I think is able to focus on some of the big books with minimal but colorful illustrations.  I think she also just likes the sound of our voices as we read.  Note about the pillow she is on- it is a Boppy lounge pillow, a gift from our neighbor, Alaina,  It is amazing- props her up, she is comfy in it (she doesnt like being placed flat on her back) she doesnt complain when in this pillow.

Finally a photo with her eyes open.  Happy 1 week birthday, Mathilda!