Hospital Stay with Georgia

Our time in the hospital was very relaxed. Perry & I (sort of!) knew what we were doing with a newborn and didn't feel as anxious as we had with Gabriel. We took turns cuddling Georgia and I enjoyed the peace & quiet that comes after all the excitement is over and you're alone to bond with your husband and baby. I ate breakfast and she ate, too- within an hour, she nursed twice!

About 2 hours after her birth, we were moved to my postpartum room. Perry had to hoist me into the wheelchair again! We got one of the old rooms in the Women's Pavilion, number 22, but it was still nice. Perry set out the basket of Thank You goody bags I made - they were a hit!

I was so excited to see Gabriel and have our two kids together!! Nonny & Boo brought him around lunch-time and let him walk in first to meet his little sister! Perry was holding Georgia on the couch and I was sitting on the bed.

The very moment he came around the curtain

Touching her!

He was naturally sweet & gentle with Georgia. I did very little to prepare him for how to treat a baby... It's just in him! His shirt said "Most Amazing Brother Ever!" We were so proud!!

^First hug

Georgia "brought" Gabriel a present for his Big Brother Day!

He got a book The Diggers, 2 sticker activity books (trucks and construction themed), sunglasses, 2 hats, a Jeep & horse-trailer toy {2014 is the Year of the Horse in the Chinese Zodiac!}, and a treat of Goldfish Puffs and mini M&M's! He loved it! I think it helped make him feel special. That was our- I mean Georgia's- goal, anyway!

Nonny & Boo meeting their newest granddaughter

They took Gabe home to nap & play, then came back that evening to visit again! And brought dinner... Jersey Mike's, my request! Our first night wasn't awful. Georgia got her 1st bath around 8:30pm! She liked it, especially getting her hair washed! The nurse did her footprints during the bath so we had her put some in the keepsake card we got for Gabriel.

Over a 12-hour period, Georgia nursed at 9pm, 11:30pm, and 2:30am, then cluster-fed for an hour at 5:30am (exhausting!), then 7:30am and 9am... so on average it was every 2-3 hours.

She had her weight checked at 4:45am on the 24th. It was 6 pounds & 9 ounces, down 5 ounces from her birth weight. That's only a 3.7% loss and anything under 10% is ok. The Pediatrician came in around 8:00am and said she looked great!

Sleepy morning snuggles & getting her dressed

Gabriel's first (full) night sleeping somewhere other than home went fair. The report I got from Nonny was that he woke up a few times during the night but went back to sleep easily. I think they all slept in on Saturday morning! After they went out for brunch, they came to visit us again.

It was obvious Gabe really missed us. He couldn't fully understand what was going on- why Mommy doesn't feel good, why we're at "the doctor", why he can't stay with us. After opening another present from Georgia (a giant Disney activity book and Lightning McQueen & Thomas The Train place mats), he said "I fight Daddy!" So just like they would do at home, Perry wrestled with and tickled him on the pull-out couch! It was a glimpse of what our life would be like very soon!

I played peek-a-boo from behind the camera to get these smiles

The best 1st pictures of Four Whitakers we could get!! ♥ my family!!

I was so sad when Gabriel had to leave us, but I tried to remember these were precious moments we'll have alone with Georgia... so I soaked her up! We recreated one of my favorite pictures of Gabriel in the hospital... It didn't register to us just how similar they looked until this!! My 2 babies!!

I was told I could request an early discharge but I opted to stay until Sunday. Our second night was tiring. She nursed at 9:30pm, 12 midnight, 1:30am (cluster-feeding), 3:45am, 6am, 7:30am and 8:30am. My milk came in on Sunday morning after all that! My nurse both Friday & Saturday nights was Annie; she was so nice and incredibly helpful. Because of her, Perry & I were able to get some sleep! My Obstetrician and Georgia's Pediatrician rounded on us at the same time on Sunday morning. Good thing because we were very eager to get home!

Saturday evening and Sunday morning