Sgarlata Scrapbook: Hello, Piper Caroline Sgarlata

Piper Caroline Sgarlata graced us with her presence on August 30th, 2011, her due date no less. You were born at 1:42 pm after over 30 hours of labor. You were 7 pounds 14.2 ounces and 21 inches long. You had dark black hair and olive skin, you looked perfect and most importantly, you were a healthy baby! Praise God! When you came out, I was surprised to see that you didn't resemble Mason or Chase. Your father and I both thought that since Mason and Chase came out to be carbon copies of each one of us that our genes wouldn't produce a mix of both us, but what a pleasant surprise. Once you came out, you shocked everyone by staying awake and alert for hours after your birth. You loved being held and looking up at your new family. Mason and Chase came to see you with big brother stickers on their Polo sweater vests. They even could say your name right away, Baby P-I-PER, pronouncing every syllable. It sometimes sounds like Pepper, which is adorable.

Piper Caroline, what a cutie.

Chase loved holding the baby.

Mason being goofy, but still enjoying his sister.

The amazement of having a baby sister.

All I have to say is your birth was a long time coming. You were born after 30 some hours of labor. I starting feeling regular contractions late Sunday night, early Monday morning, and had a hard time sleeping that night. I started keeping track of my contractions around 8 am on Monday morning and kept contracting every 10 minutes till later afternoon, when they moved to 5 minutes then 2-3 minutes apart come evening. We grabbed Panera for dinner and took Mason and Chase to the McKinely park to run off some energy and have a good time before we had to go to the hospital. We dropped the boys off at Matt and Nikki's and arrived at the hospital at 8:45 pm. When I arrived, we hadn't called ahead so the receptionist asked me, "and you are here for...?" I said, " to have a baby!" I tell you, I never thought I would have to explain myself at the labor and delivery unit of a hospital, but there is a first for everything. :) Unfortunately, Piper was having a swell time working her way down because she moved at a very leisurely pace. I ended up being sent home at 11:30 pm after I walked for an hour and a half and didn't dilate anymore than when I entered the hospital. We left the hospital and were home for only an hour and a half and went back to the hospital because I was in so much pain and couldn't sleep even with the ambien pill they had given me at the hospital. Lucky for me, when I got the hospital I was further dilated and they admitted me. Soon after I got an epidural and fell asleep. I woke up tuesday morning around 5:30 am and was feeling fabulous, thanks to the epidural, and we just waited it out. The doctor on staff came in close to lunch and said I was fully dilated and could labor down for an hour or two. I pushing for almost and hour and that is when we met, Piper! By the way, we didn't know we were having a girl and not knowing was so magical. When I saw that you were a girl, I gasped because I was convinced I was having a boy. You were truly a wonderful surprise!

notes taken on contraction times

Our last family photo before we become a family of five.

Welcome, Piper Caroline. I feel so lucky to have a daughter and I love that I was able to name you after Great Grandma, Rita Caroline. She is the most amazing, faith-filled women I ever have met.