Baby shower in a box

A couple of days ago I received a wonderful surprise in the mail... a baby shower in a box! A few friends of mine put together this wonderful package. It included a cake mix, frosting, lemonade mix, two baby shower games, favors, decorations, and instructions. We followed the directions, got Lily dressed up for her party, and invited a friend over for the fun. The guest of honor slept through the entire event but the rest of us had a good time. I feel really lucky to have such thoughtful, creative friends. A party in a box is not the only fun baby gift we have received in the mail. Family and friends have been very generous and sent clothes, toys, books, and lots of other great baby gifts. We also had some tasty meals provided by members of our ward after returning home from the hospital. We have been truly blest. I have lots of thank you notes to write! If you sent us something and have not heard from us yet... THANK YOU!

Baby it's cold outside

It is now officially the snowiest January on record for Connecticut. I can probably also count on one hand the number of days the temperature has ventured above freezing. I am getting a little cabin fever staying at home all day with our newborn but I am sure I am not the only one staying home with these temperatures. I know Tim is tired of shoveling snow too. He has had fun digging a little maze of trails in the backyard for Butter to run through though. The neighborhood is beginning to look like everyone decide to build their own little snow fort and the sidewalks are looking like a life-size rat maze with the high snow piles. Too bad Lily is too small for sledding. Maybe next year.

Lily: photos from her third week

Lily: photos from her second week

Lily: photos of her first week

Who is eating whom?

For those of you concerned about Tim and his "baby eating" impulses... you should know that Lily can hold her own around here.

Baby Blessing

Earlier this afternoon Tim blessed our precious baby and officially gave her the name of Lily Victoria Sallay. Our Bishop and my Dad also took part in the blessing. It was nice to be able to do this in our home with a few friends and with a little family in town for the occasion. Lily's beautiful dress was knit by my Mother. We will have to stage a photo shoot sometime soon so Lily will have an excuse to wear this dress more than once. The buttons on the shoulder of her dress came from the white knit jacket I wore with my wedding dress. Tim wore the same tie he wore on our wedding day.

Count your many blessings

If Lily had waited until her due date of January 10th to make her appearance in this world we would have been coming home from the hospital today in the middle of a snowstorm. This storm set the record in Hartford for the most snow fallen in 24 hours EVER in recorded history. Thankfully we were already safe and warm in our little Connecticut home. I have also found that childbirth also provides the perfect excuse for not going outside to shovel snow. That lots of work for Tim. Don't feel to bad for him though, our neighbor was nice enough to lend us her high-powered snow blower. My Dad also helped out and spent sometime outside in the cold shoveling the walkways and driveway.

Honey (a.k.a. Grandma Rhodes) knows best

Today was Lily's first appointment with the Pediatrician and her first official outing. We were running a little short on time of course. It getting everyone dressed and ready for a morning appointment in January takes a little work (yes there really is a baby under that hat and coat). Almost as an after thought I said to my Mom "I don't really need to pack and take a diaper bag do I? The pediatrician's office is only a mile down the street and we should be back in less than half an hour". Her wise response was the story of my first outing as a baby and the mess made at the bank of many outfits. I took her advice and quickly threw a few things in the diaper bag before heading out the door. Turns out that the apple does not fall far from the tree. Lily quickly made her way through two diapers before even being put on the scale to be weighed in the Pediatrician's office. It is nice to have wise grandparents around for these little new parent moments.

Home at last

Tim, Lily, and I made our way home from the hospital today. getting out of the hospital and in the door of our house proved to be a bit of an adventure (valet parking at the hospital blocked in our car and our chihuahua was frantic after two days without her people) but it is nice to be home again. Our first official family activity was nap time for everyone... including the dog.

OK here are the nitty gritty details for those of you who are interested (please feel free to share your own war stories as well):
19 hours of labor at the hospital
BACK LABOR
5 needle pricks for the epidural
Lots of exams by medical residents (Hartford Hospital is a teaching hospital)
internal fetal monitor placed twice
meconium before birth
several very attentive nurses in labor and delivery and later in recovery
a room full of nurses, residents, med students, the doctor, and Tim for the big moment (honestly at least 10 people)
"sewing lessons" for a medical resident who was doing the stitches
= 1 beautiful baby
2 thankful, exhausted parents

PICTURES- A photography company came around a took a few pictures of Lily yesterday while we were in the hospital. The photos are online if anyone wants to take a look at our little sweetie. The link is here. Enjoy!

Lily

Christy gave birth to Lily Victoria Sallay on Tuesday January 4, 2011 at 11:15 PM. She weighted 7 lbs and 2.2 oz and is 19.5 inches long. Both baby and mommy are doing well.