Welcome to the world Aurelia! A new little miracle joins our home

Celebrating our newest arrival Aurelia!

On March 9th at 8:42am Aurelia Charlotte Marie Bertram was welcomed into this world and we couldn't be more ecstatic on her arrival.  It is so amazing to instantly go from a family of three to a family of four.  We couldn't feel more blessed.

Having a full term baby was such a different experience than what we had experienced during Benton's birth.  With Aurelia we had a set c-section date at 37.5 weeks and we anxiously awoke that morning knowing full well that we were going to meet our daughter that day.  There were no surprises.  It was surreal driving in the early morning hours before dawn to get to the hospital knowing that a few days later we would be bringing our daughter home with us.  Once we checked into the hospital they hooked me up to the contraction monitor and the fetal heart beat monitor and then they prepped us for surgery.  Unlike last time I was able to have a epidural and be awake during the csection which was both exciting but also nerve-wracking -- knowing you are cut open on a table is quite an unreal experience.  When they gave me the epidural I was feeling so much emotion.  Excitement that I would soon meet my baby and nerves that something unexpected could go wrong.  (I mean who can blame me since my last experience in the OR was so traumatic).  Once they started the procedure I just stared at Joe and we talked about how excited we were to meet our daughter.  Being able to focus on him and not the pulling and tugging you feel during a csection was a godsend.  Then at 8:42am about half an hour after they started we heard the best sound in the world...a baby's first cry.

Getting ready to meet our newest little one!

When I heard my daughter cry for the very first time my eyes welled with tears and I couldn't help feeling overcome with emotion.  My daughter could cry, my daughter could breathe, my daughter was perfect.  The doctor quickly showed me my beautiful little girl and I couldn't help notice she was unbelievably blonde - like electric blonde!  They then whisked her away to be suctioned and cleaned with Joe running over to see our newborn baby girl.  He was able to cut the cord and after what felt like forever I was able to stare at my beautiful daughter while they stitched me up.  Everything was perfect - she was perfect, the csection was perfect and my doctors couldn't have been happier with her health.

After the csection was finally over they rolled us into the recovery room and I got to begin the process of being acquainted with the new love in my life.  As I was breastfeeding her for the first time and doing kangaroo care (skin-to-skin), Joe and I discussed names.  I know many of you may not believe me but we truly hadn't picked out a name before her birth.  Even in the moments following her birth as the doctors asked us her name we kept saying we didn't know.  Joe had given me the monumental task of deciding her name as he had chosen Benton's and I was flipping and flopping all over the place on what to name her.  As I looked at my beautiful golden-haired daughter I finally decided on Aurelia (with its meaning being golden one - I took her hair as a sign that this was the right decision).  We then gave her the middle names Charlotte (for where Joe and I first met) and Marie (to honor the many women in our family).  Our little Aurelia is a true blessing and we couldn't wait to show our our beautiful, healthy baby girl.

Hanging with our beautiful girl

That very day we had our family come and meet Aurelia and my parents brought Benton to meet his little sister!  Having Benton meet Aurelia for the first time was incredibly special - we weren't sure how he would react but it seemed that he instinctively understood this new little person was his sister.  Prior to the birth Benton would kiss and point to my stomach when I would ask where was his sister.  That day when I asked where was his sister he pointed at the baby and gave her head a kiss.  What a little sweetie!  I can already tell he is going to be an amazing big brother!

First portrait as a family of four!

Hugging my two little loves

The next few days we spent in the hospital enjoying some quiet time with Aurelia before the craziness of going home.  Every moment I looked at my beautiful daughter I was just filled with awe and wonder.  Awe in God's miracles and awe in the blessings we have been bestowed as a family.  Each moment I stared at my daughter, I couldn't help but compare and contrast the moments with Benton's birth.  To say that these moments differed would be the understatement of the century.   In Benton's birth we felt fear - fear he may not survive, fear of making one wrong move with this infinitely small little baby and fear of the NICU, an unknown environment.  With Aurelia's birth we felt excitement, when we looked at her we couldn't help marvel at how big she was and how we were able to hold her the very day she was born.  Most of all we couldn't help feeling blessed that we had a healthy full term baby.  Having had a preemie gives you a whole new appreciation for the health of your baby.  No longer do you take having a healthy baby for granted - a healthy baby is something to be cherished and cherish her we did.

Heading home from the hospital

Thank you to everyone who prayed for our family and sent positive thoughts during my most recent pregnancy.  We are so blessed that people are following our story and wish us nothing but the best.

Little feet