3 Weeks Old!

I took these photos when Sasha was almost 3 weeks old... I love the first one so much- I think she looks like a little doll! She is still doing great- but keeping me up at night (I'm so tired)! She's so sweet and precious though- it's very worth it!

In my faux fur hat...

There is nothing quite like her smile... I think this photo really captures the essence of my sweet Sophie Lu (and it may be one of my all time favorites of her)! Click here to really see it...


Precious, perfect little face- I still can't get enough kisses each day...


Silly girl!


One day last month, Sophie grabbed this faux fur hat (I used to wear it on the slopes back in the day-lol) so she could play dress-up again. I can't decide whether she reminds me of a Russian snow princess or a little Eskimo girl- but either way, it seems to frame her beautiful face just perfectly~ :)

Sisters Sophie & Sasha (18 days old)!

I call this one, "This is MY baby sister!" Sophie Lu is very protective of Baby Sasha!








I just had to post all of these because I couldn't decide which ones I like best- they are all so special to me~

*Coming soon- photos of all three (wish me luck)!

Sasha (2 weeks & chubby cheeks)!

1 I love Sasha's pose in this photo! She's so sweet- I just can't get enough of her!


2 (click to see other versions on Flickr)


3 Look at those cheeks!!!


4 I originally passed this photo by, but after changing it to b/w- I think it might just be my favorite so far...

I took these photos of Sasha when she was just 12 days old! She is still doing great and at her 12 day checkup, she weighed in at 9 lbs 8 oz!!! She gained an entire p0und in one week!

I am healing more with each day, but still pretty sore... Sophie Lu is feeling better, but Ollie is still sick- so there may be some Sophie & Sasha sister pics coming soon, but I'll have to wait to get some family shots...

Thanks again to everyone for all of your sweet comments about Sasha! I'm just so in love with her!!!

My Kitten in her Mittens, Kitty Watching Over, & Sasha Meets her Grandparents!

My Kitten in her mittens! Sasha wears the tiniest pairs of soft cotton mittens to keep her from scratching herself, and I think she looks so adorable in them! (and I love her little pose here too) :)

Baby Pumpkin watching over who he thinks is his kitten! Cats are so amazing!

Grandpa Elliot came to meet his newest grand-daughter the day she came home from the hospital! Of course, Sophie Lu just had to get in for the photo! :)

Grandma Rae came to visit for a few days- here she is with Sasha at just one week old!

Grandma Loretta (and Grandpa Felix) also came to meet their newest grand-daughter (Sasha is their 12th grand-child)! Sasha was two weeks old here...

Baby Sasha sleeps with her hands straight up like this- as if she is surrendering or something... I think it's soooo cute!

Last, but not least, I want to thank everyone who sent flowers, mailed cards, and brought gifts! They all meant so much to me, but nothing helped with my healing quite like this beautiful cookie bouquet from my friend Ashley & daughter Madeline! I think Sophie and I devoured these yummy cookies within 24 hours! Yum! :)

More Sasha at one week!

Open your eyes, litle princess (Sasha- one week old)

My sweet Sasha,

You are one week old now and growing more beautiful every day. It's hard to look at you without swelling my eyes with tears- you are so amazing, my tiny, precious miracle. I can't describe how very much I love you...

I just love these photos of you with your eyes open. You have the most beautiful deep dark blue eyes I've ever seen. I get lost looking into them, and my heart melts when I see that you are looking into mine.

At one week old, you are still such a sleepy baby girl- you sleep most of the day and night. And when you are awake, you just want me to snuggle and nurse you- and then you drift right back into sleep. I look at you and wonder what you are dreaming about, and I pray that I am taking good care of you and making you happy. I can't wait until your first smile~

You are such a sweet little baby. You are so quiet and peaceful and delicate. I am so lucky to be your Mommy- so lucky that once again, angels were watching over me, and God sent me yet another perfect gift- the child who was meant for me, who fills my heart, and who gives my life new meaning.

Happy one week together, my sweet Sasha Lili.

Love forever,
Mommy

First kiss from Sophie Lu & a sweet welcome home!

Daddy surprised me and brought Sophie Lu (who wasn't yet sick) to visit when Sasha was only 16 hours old! I have video too- I'll have to look for that...

The first kiss of many to come from her big sister Sophie Lu!

Such kissable Baby Sasha lips, too (less than a day old)!

While I was away, Daddy and Sophie Lu made us this beautiful welcome home sign & hung it over the garage (of course, I cried when I saw it)! It felt so so wonderful to be home!

5 Days Old!

Baby Sasha had her 5 day check-up today, and all is well! The greatest news is that she has already surpassed her birthweight of 8lbs 4.4oz. She now weighs 8lbs 8oz! I'm so happy about this, because it means that she and I are doing a good job at nursing (something I had been warned may be hard to do after a C-Section). The C-Section wasn't half as awful as I thought it would be. After 23 hours of excruciating contractions around 2 minutes apart with no progress past 5cm dilated half way through (no progress whatsoever for the 2nd 12 hours), the OB and my doula finally talked me into consenting to the C-Section (they even consulted other doctors & a midwife). They explained that with hard labor like this, I should have been dilating around 1.2cm an hour, but they were seeing no change. I was shaking and crying hysterically in opposition, but since Sasha's condition was beginning to look unstable, and my water had been broken over 24 hours (risking infection), they explained that I had NO choice- that they could say with 100% certainty that I would not deliver my baby vaginally. Truly, I was heartbroken... but all is well that ends well; and now I have my perfect, beautiful baby girl to attest to that. Apparently, she had been trying so hard to get down the birth canal that whole time... her head was completely cone-shaped (unusual for C-Section babies), and she was quite bruised up. But my cervix would not open- it just wouldn't no matter what we tried (different positions, etc, even pitocin at the end). I guess it shouldn't have surprised me since I was never able to miscarry naturally either (and I waited months the first time). But like I said, it was all worth it; and I'm so thankful that we are both recovering so well. :)

Thanks to everyone for the beautiful emails and comments of congratulations and well wishes! As for the comments regarding make-up in the operating room- believe me, I didn't look all that great up close... my make-up had been on for over 24 hours- the secret is good ol' cheap Covergirl waterproof eye make-up and 18 hour lipstick. :)

We came home to a very sick Sophie Lu and Ollie. Both have coughs/colds, and Sophie has pink-eye in both eyes (I wish I had known this before I let her hold Sasha that first day). But as soon as they both recover, I'll be taking lots of photos of my three angels together (so long as I can catch them)!

I'll update again in a couple days for Sasha's one-week birthday! :)

Introducing...

We are so happy to finally announce the birth of our precious baby girl...

Sasha Lili Lushan

born September 6, 2008 at 6:16pm by way of emergency C-Section. Our tiny princess weighed in at 8 lbs 4.4 ounces and 20 1/2 inches long! She has dark blue eyes and a beautiful head full of light brown hair. She loves to nurse and to stay close to Mommy and Daddy! We love her so much!!!

Some photos from the big day...


"Mommy, where are you?" One of the reasons I was so sad about the C-Section was that I would miss out on the instant contact and one-on-one time with my baby girl. I think she missed me too, but Daddy did a wonderful job looking after her...


I could barely see her as the doctors worked on both of us, but I think this is the moment that I first heard her cry...


And then Daddy showed me my beautiful daughter. I was and still am in so much awe of her!


She held on to Daddy's finger so tightly. As they worked on me, I just focused on this scene. Daddy was so emotional, and he kept having to remind me that this was really happening.

8 lbs 4.4 ounces!!!

Finally, I got the chance to hold my daughter


We were both so proud!


And SO in love...


She had a quick bath and then came back to Mommy to nurse for the very 1st time! We both did great! It really is such a miracle...


The face of my kitten... our precious angel. And she's all ours!


Welcome to the world, sweet Sasha Lili! You are so very very loved~

*Sasha was named in honor of her big sister Sophie Lu Yushan. Lili Lushan means "Beautiful gift of prosperity and virtue."

Silly Pirate Girl!

I am still sooo behind on both Sophie & Ollie's blogs (and I'm trying really hard to stay within a week of being current w/ Sasha's before I get behind there too)! I took these photos way back in July! Sophie Lu is constantly coming up with the silliest outfits. She love to play dress-up and just cracks me up with her fashion choices. I thought this pirate get-up was particularly funny! She really knows how to make me laugh! :)