gilly soose

2weeks old, 3days

my newborn: Always smiling

She loves her daddy

One week old

Taylor's first car ride. On our way home from the hospital. 1/1/10

Taylor Leigh Bergmann has arrived!

Adam Taylor Bergmann & Andrea Leigh Bergmann present their beautiful new arrival: Taylor Leigh Bergmann :) She was born 12/30/09 @ 5:50pm weighing in at a healthy 7 lbs. 8oz. and a lengthy 21 inches. It was a rainy wednesday morning when I was getting ready to go with Adam's mom and sister Heather to meet Aunt Pam @ 11am so that we could spend the day at the Huntington library. While on our way, I noticed that I was having painful contractions at a significant frequency. Heather began writing them down to keep track. I figured that if this was really labor, it would be hours and hours before any baby was ready to come. So, we decided to get some Thai food for lunch in Pasadena. I was in and out of the conversation because the contractions were demanding more and more of my attention. By the time lunch was over, my contractions were 6-8 minutes apart and we decided to postpone our outing to the Huntington Library. By 3pm we were at my apartment getting my birth bag just in case, but we still planned to hang out and play games at Pam's house. I was expecting a long labor and didn't want to go to the hospital until I absolutely had to. We got to my place just in time for my water to break, so we had to postpone the games too. Aunt Pam drove us to the hospital and by 3:30pm my contractions were 3 minutes apart. Luckily Adam wasn't in too bad of traffic and he met us at the hospital a few minutes after I arrived. The hospital staff was lollygagging big time b/c they didn't realize that I was in full blown labor. I began showing signs of delivery before the first nurse was even able to do the routine check -in exam so I was rushed into the delivery room. There Adam gave me a blessing that said I would have a quick and safe delivery of our daughter. I wanted full awareness of my bodily functions during birth, so I opted out of any pain relief options. Iv'e never worked so hard and experienced such severe pain in my life, but after only 2 hours from the time I was admitted into the hospital, and ten minutes of pushing, Taylor came into this world quickly and safely. Everybody including me was shocked by her speedy greeting! Before the hospital staff weighed her or bathed or her or anything, they gave her right to me and I was able to hold her skin on skin for several minutes. Adam and I both agree that she is the most beautiful baby we have ever seen and that life is truly miraculous. We are so grateful for the blessing it is to have our baby girl. The sleepless nights are here and we welcome them. She's everything we ever hoped for!

Where to sit?

A couple weeks ago, Adam & I attended an Operetta @ Pierce college. I sat next to an older woman who was excited to know all about my pregnancy. Since my belly has been obviously with child, people who would normally ignore me are overly excited to strike up conversation about it. It's fun to see the excitement people have over a new little life that they don't even know. By the end of the performance, the woman, Bonnie asked if she could send me some scrap-booking stuff. I thought for sure she was just trying to sell a product. Much to my surprise, today I received a large package in the mail with a beautiful "Creative Memories" scrapbook inside, complete with all the papers I'll need, some pens and other extras along with poems and words of wisdom about motherhood. Inside there was a hand-written letter congratulating me on mommyhood-to-be. No strings attached. Just a generous genuine gesture of kindness from a complete stranger who had no obligation to do anything for me. Makes me want to do something nice for someone else.

Confetti time!!!

With a ton of prayers and a blessing, I was able to pass the final exam. Much to my shock and utter amazement, I got a 'B' in the class. I'm so grateful I never have to take it again! I don't have to leave my newborn baby to retake it. It's over! I'm so thankful for everyone's prayers and encouragement and for those who helped me with my homework. I feel like making confetti out of all my stats homework and having a big parade!