Sunday Visitors and Grandma's Birthday

We loved having lots of visitors on Sunday! Uncle Brad, Aunt Amy and Zachary visited. Zach wasn't sure what to think of Lorelei, but they're sure to have lots of fun together when she's a little older!

We also had a great visit with Jess and Keith and Lauren, Mark and Baby Clarke. It was such a fun afternoon! 

Uncle Keith with Clarke and Aunt Jess with Lorelei

Jackson & Lorelei

Trying out the carrier... looks like a pro! 

Grandma's Birthday

Grandma and Grandpa Kempka and Uncle Mitch came over Sunday evening for dinner to celebrate Grandma's birthday. We grilled burgers and veggies and watched the Hawks. Mitch, Todd and I got Grandma a new camera for her birthday to take on their trip to St. Thomas next week. Jealous!

Settling in at Home

Since arriving home on Sunday, Lorelei had her first bath and we've had lots of snuggle time. She's gotten on a good eating/sleeping schedule and nights are getting easier for all of us. 

 

Love those tootsies!

She slept with her foot up like this for a while! 

Catching some rays to get rid of a little jaundice (all good now!)

The Bath: 

Not her favorite!

Ready for bed!

Uncle Mitch and Lorelei

Visitors and Going Home

On Saturday, Lorelei hosted many visitors at the hospital. She met her grandparents and uncles for the first time. Very exciting!

 Uncle Greg came too but we missed the photo op :(

Saturday gave us lots of time to snuggle with our baby and get to know her. We're officially obsessed!

Chris and Marilyn visited that night and gave Lorelei her very first Cubs outfit. Hoping we will make it to a game this summer so she can show it off. It was great to have some evening visitors to take our minds off of the uncomfortable arrangements and avoid the bad tv. They also ran out and picked up some late night grub for for us from Taco Bell since we missed dinner service. It was AWESOME! 

Sunday we were VERY ready to go home. Poor Todd was very uncomfortable on the "couch" and my bed had a collapsed section that required 3 pillows under my butt to avoid feeling like I was sitting in a hole, (we didn't realize the bed was actually broken until we were leaving, just thought I was uncomfortable). I did get a great complimentary neck and shoulder massage before we headed home. Our girl did great in the car, and the pups were very happy to have us home and meet our new addition. 

We've had lots of visitors since we've been home. More updates soon! 

Meet Lorelei Reed Bowers!!

We welcomed our sweet girl on Friday, March 16 at 11:51pm. She weighed8 pounds, 7 ounces and was 20.5 inches long.

Even though we had a suspicion that my water had broken Friday morning, I didn't have any contractions, so Todd and I went to work as usual. I ended up calling my doctor around 10:30 who said to head in to the hospital. I was admitted at 1:30 and enjoyed a relatively pain-free labor for several hours. After that, not so much, but here's a shot where I'm still smiling!

And here's our first family photo:

A couple hours after she was born, we moved to our recovery room and Todd attended her first bath. She hated it. Todd and Lorelei crashed afterward, but I was too excited to sleep and stayed up to hold and and stare at her for a few hours. Safe to say it was the most exhausting and exhilarating day of our lives!