Hi, my name is Kelly and I write about being a dad. Let me tell you 
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youtubeWednesday, October 4th, 2006
It’s a Girl!
You all owe me big time, you realize, because in order to get this blog post online I had to…
a) give up holding my little girl to type on the computer (although she is sitting right next to me on the couch in our hospital room looking irresistibly cute. I just can’t get enough of her. I love her swishy nose.)
b) I had to run back to our apartment to get online (although, to be fair, I had to go home sooner or later because in the panic of labor I may have forgotten a few things at home…yes, I may have.)
Stats
Time and Date: 9:12 PM on Tuesday, October 3rd
Weight: 3.03 kilos (6 pounds, 11 ounces)
Length: no one told us
Name: we don’t have one yet. (Yes, I know, this is unusual. But, we have two names that we like equally well, and we decided beforehand that we would meet her first before we chose the right one. It’s going to be a few days.)
April’s Guide to a 2-hour Labor
- April began getting contractions at around 2 o’clock in the morning yesterday. They were mild, irregular, and maybe seven to ten minutes apart. She was feeling so well we actually went out for lunch together to celebrate that our little girl would be arriving soon.
- At a little past 7 in the evening April’s water broke while we were still at home. Her contractions immediately rocketed to every 3 minutes.
- Our landlords, Damian and Encarna, picked us up from the plaza in front of our house, and we raced to the hospital like James Bond.
- By the time we arrived at the hospital, April was completely dilated, ready to push, and the hospital still had to call our doctor, who was at home.
- We were in the delivery room, the midwife was telling April to push at will, and our doctor arrived—completely out of breath.
- At 9:12 PM (only two hours after April’s water broke), we had a healthy baby girl. She scored 10 out of 10 on the whatever-it-is-that-test-is-called-right-after-your-born scale.
- By 10:15 we were in our hospital room, and our little girl was breastfeeding for the first time. If there’s one thing I can say about her so far, it’s that she’s a determined little person.
Today
Because the delivery went so quickly, April tore a little bit. She has stitches and has been in a lot of pain today. She’s also sick to her stomach, and because of the loss of blood that is natural during delivery, she says she feels like “the room is swimming” when she opens her eyes. She doesn’t seem quite herself yet because of how tired and uncomfortable is, but I’m hoping she will feel better tomorrow.
As for me, I had no idea how much a new dad does when a baby is born. I’ve been changing diapers, changing clothes, cleaning her umbilical cord, watching her take her first bath, and calling in April’s requests to the nurses.
And then there is our little celebrity, who actually slept for four and a half hours straight this morning and has been doing her best (despite some frustration) to learn how to breastfeed. In her spare time, she just sits there and looks cute.
Well, if I’m going to post a photo as well, I have to leave you all here. More news when we arrive at home. Besos.
For more, read April’s version of Alleke’s birth story…
MORE ON: april, baby, birth story, breastfeeding, dad, newborn, pregnancy
28 COMMENTS
She is gorgeous! I can’t wait to meet her on Friday and give you all a big hug.
Tia Heather 
adorable. definitely cuter than a puppy! can’t wait to meet her!
k
She is Beautiful!!! Congratulations! I am so excited for you guys and can’t wait til I get to meet her in person. My prayers are still with you guys!
October 4, 2006 at 2:29 pm
omygosh!
She’s beautiful.
Congratulations you two….er…three!!!
October 4, 2006 at 2:30 pm
Ooops, I was wrong. Congratulations, that’s a great start to parenthood (the quick labor i mean)!
October 4, 2006 at 2:38 pm
WOW! Congratulations. I was so surprised to see the picture I yelled at work I have been checking the blog multiple times a day to see if there is any news. I am so happy for you! She is beautiful and I can’t believe that labor was only 2 hours long – amazing.
Congrate from el sur!
You guys look happy and from the look of her, your little lady is in fabulous hands.
Bless you!
Jonah
October 4, 2006 at 4:45 pm
I am so excited. This is awesome. What a testimony to God that He worked things out so that you could have the natural birth you were hoping for–no epidural, no episiotomy, though they are so standard in Spain. God is so good! Congratulations. Like Angela, I also exclaimed out loud at work because of my excitement. Yippee!
October 4, 2006 at 5:01 pm
P.S. I can hardly wait to find out the name.
October 4, 2006 at 5:02 pm
Congratulations…i can hardly believe it 2 hours…and all those worries about cod liver oil!!!
Enjoy your beautiful little bundle of joy. Can’t wait to hear her name.
Well done April…and kelly of course.
Love from us
Ro and Sophie
Oh well done! Well done! Well done!
Can’t you just feel the kiss of heaven as you hold that little girl?
Hey guys, BIG CONGRATS!!!! She is so beautiful, and April you look really cute considering you just gave birth:)
Can’t wait to see you all, Crulls.
xxxxxxx
October 4, 2006 at 5:49 pm
I just heard from the Master’s grapevine that baby has arrived. I came here to the blog right away and there she is already. Big thanks to you Kelly putting down the baby to share the pictures with the rest of us.
Blessings, Mimi
October 4, 2006 at 7:59 pm
Thanks for sharing those gorgeous photos and the story of the delivery. What an awesome day for you both! I can’t believe labor went that fast!! It makes me a little nervous because our birth center is about and hour and 45 minutes away from us. Yikes!
Congratulations on a healthy baby and wife…hope she gets to feeling better soon.
You go, girl, April! Nice blogging, Kelly! ha ha. Blessings to all 3 of you!
October 4, 2006 at 10:32 pm
You guys rock! Your baby girl is just precious. Enjoy holding her and falling in love with her. Your world as you knew it will now be completely different- in the best way possible. Felicidades!
October 5, 2006 at 1:47 am
Hooray!!!! Congratulations little Crull for coming out so cute!!!!
Maggie and I are so glad to see this news–she’s here with me looking on. It’s so cool to see what you made!!!
Fantastic – well done, congratulations, and enjoy to the max! That’s a beautiful girl who is going to lead a very interesting life (with parents like you!)
Rogier
Congratulations to both of you!!! I too have been checking the blog to see if there was any news–didn’t realize when I called you, Kelly, that it would be QUITE so soon! Very exciting, and I also hope to see you all within the next month. besos, and take care.
-Kim
October 5, 2006 at 7:16 am
I couldn’t help but just smile and smile and smile as I saw those pictures. I am rejoicing with you guys and so excited for you!
God is good!
Troy
October 5, 2006 at 9:07 am
congratulations
October 5, 2006 at 6:23 pm
felicidades en tu angelito!! happily awaiting to call her by name. abrazos fuertisimos.
CONGRATULATIONS! I can´t wait to meet her!!
October 6, 2006 at 8:24 am
Congrats from Gabriella and I, great news!
October 6, 2006 at 10:09 am
Congratulations!
And i hope this blog will be continued …
October 6, 2006 at 10:32 am
congratulations from a stranger/regular reader of late !
I hope April gets back on her feet quick !
October 6, 2006 at 12:57 pm
Congratulations! Finally she’s here! I can’t believe how quick the hard labor went–wonderful for you! I have been gone the past week and just wondering the whole time if I would be missing the news of the new little girl. I’m so happy for you! She’s beautiful. I only wish our two little ones could get to know each other! Enjoy every moment, they are all so wonderful.
October 8, 2006 at 7:17 pmLEAVE YOUR COMMENT
Anonymous said...
Congratulations!!! -Andy & Sharla
October 4, 2006 at 2:15 pm