The highly anticipated birth story:

Last Monday (Sept. 21st) started out just like any other Monday: Went to my weekly doctor appointment (not dilated at all, still scheduled for c-section Sept. 30th, but told me that if I'm having more than 6 contractions an hour, to go to the hospital and she'll deliver me because I'm already full-term), brought lunch over to my friend Candice's house who just had a baby a month ago, went to Pilates that night (where I asked my trainer to kick my butt and put me into labor-she obliged), then went grocery shopping. I got home around 9pm and started having more contractions than normal. Steve got home around 10pm and told me to start writing them down. After almost 2 hours, I realized I was having about 12 contractions an hour. So, Steven convinced me to go to the hospital to get checked, even though I didn't want to and was sure they would go away if I just got some sleep. After an hour of me being in denial, we finally got packed and ready and headed to the hospital. I was dilated to a 1 and 50% effaced, so they monitored me for a couple more hours, then my doctor came in around 2a.m. and said I was in active labor and having contractions 8 minutes apart-which was weird because I wasn't really uncomfortable at all. She said to get some sleep because she booked the O.R. for me for 7:30 in the morning. I was so excited, but also tired, and surprisingly, got a great 5 hours of sleep that night.
The nurse came in and woke me and Steven up at 7am, had me sign a couple papers, talked to the anesthesiologist, Dr. Tu, the best anesthesiologist in the whole world, then got out of bed and walked across the hallway to the O.R. My nurse was hilarious and was joking with me the whole time, the other nurses opened the door for me and were singing along to the radio which was playing in the O.R the whole time, it was literally like a party in there! They all kept talking about how we're throwing a huge birthday party right now and that's really how it felt. I sat on the operating table and Dr. Tu said to lean over and within seconds told me to hurry and lay down and all of a sudden I was totally numb. LOVE the spinal...it's nothing like the epidural, I didn't feel it at all. After a few minutes, my doctor walked in and said hi, then Steven walked in and sat down next to me. We started talking about what we were going to name the baby and then I asked him to tell me when they've started the surgery. As soon as I said that, I heard a cry and the nurse pulled the sheet down and I saw this:
The cutest and most memorable part of the delivery was that as soon as they showed her to me, the song "Isn't She Lovely" started playing on the radio. I started crying, some of the nurses started singing along, and my doctor said she called and specifically requested the song to play at that exact time...haha, but it was really such a surreal and special moment. The next song that plaed after that was Faith Hill's "Just Breathe" which was also perfect because it kept me calm and relaxed while being sewn up.

Time of delivery: 7:54 a.m. on Tuesday, September 22nd.

weight: 8 lbs. 4oz.

First picture with our newest family member:

A VERY proud daddy:

Both Steven and Karlee were able to be in the operating room with me the entire time so we could bond and even have a little "skin-to-skin" time. It was awesome that they didn't have to take her away right away and made the whole thing go by so much faster:

Baby Karlee back with me after an hour in recovery for me and the nursery for her (notice I've already started going through one of my baby name books):

8 hours later, while she was sleeping, my mom shut the door to our room and told us we could not leave until we've named this child. After going through every name we've ever liked, we came back to the very first name I liked when I found out I was having a girl: Karlee. (Steven and my mom are responsible for the adorable spelling).

Luckily I had a huge double room all to myself all 3 days so my mom stayed and slept in the other bed EVERY night-she's a saint!

2nd night:

Oh no...morphine's wearing off...kept myself distracted by texting everyone that we'd finally chosen a name:

My mom holding Miss Chubby Cheeks-this was the point where we thought Karlee looked just like Mackenna (she's changed so much since then and doesn't look anything like her big sis anymore):

Day 3-in my own hospital gown I bought online-SO nice to not be in that uncomfortable hospital-issued gown (excuse the pattern-overload with the wallpaper, boppy, and gown):

Mackenna came to visit every night and was always very excited to see "baby sister" for about 2 minutes, then she became more fascinated with pushing every button in the room.

All dressed up ready to go home:

We came home Friday morning. My mom and Mackenna had decorated the driveway, it was so cute.