Welcome Baby Ayla

This is the story of May, 3 2010...the day baby Ayla Mae came into this world.

It was the day after my due date and I woke up around1:30 am with mild contractions. I timed them for about half an hour and they stayed consistent at five minutes apart. I figured that this must be the real thing so I called my parents and asked them to head to our house.

My parents arrived and my dad stayed at our house with Rylan while my mom came to the hospital with me and Bryon. This is one of the last photos of me pregnant.

We got to the hospital around 3:30 am. Contractions continued about every five minutes and things were progressing rapidly. I did some walking around the hospital to get things moving even faster. I was ready to meet my baby girl!!!

Here I am feeling relaxed and ready to go after getting an epidural!

8:07 am-Ayla Mae was born (not even 7 hours after my first contractions started). Here we are meeting for the first time. What a beautiful baby girl! I am a proud mommy!


Bryon sure adores his daughter too!

What a big girl! I knew she was going to be bigger than her big brother who weighed in at 8 lbs. 2 oz. at birth.

I couldn't wait to introduce Rylan to his new baby sister. He had been talking about her for months and was so excited to hear that she had finally arrived. Here is Rylan's first glimpse of his baby sister as she was wheeled into our room.

As the nurse placed Ayla in my arms, Rylan looked upon his sister's face with such joy! I have never witnessed anything sweeter in my life...it truly brought tears to my eyes.

Rylan immediately picked his sister up and snuggled her tight. He was so proud to call her his little sis.

Our first family photo of the four of us.

Ayla had many visitors her first day of life. Auntie Lisa, Auntie Bre, and Auntie Jenna all came to meet her.

Mimi (my mom) was there for Ayla's birth. Thank you mom for being such a wonderful mother, friend, and mimi. I love you and am so glad you shared this experience with me!

Papa holding his granddaughter for the first time.

Grandma (Bryon's mom) arrived into town about one hour after Ayla's birth. We were so glad she made it so quickly.

Our good friends, the Whitman's, also came to welcome baby Ayla into this world.

I was also lucky enough to have my good friend, Anissa, as my nurse during my stay in the hospital. We have been friends since elementary school. It was so special having her there!

Here is Ayla getting her first bath...

while her big brother watches from the window.

Welcome Baby Ayla! We are so glad you are here and we love you to pieces!