More pics from Elliana's first week

In her cozy jammies

So sweet with daddy

All ready to go home!

Getting ready to leave the hospital

so sweet!

She wants kisses, and I have no problems giving them!

Noah rocks his sister so gently

I love my Grandma!

Getting ready for her first home bath...she stayed this way throughout the whole bath!!

more to come..........

One week

***Warning: Picture Overload!***

I can hardly believe that one week ago today we met our sweet girl for the first time! I remember all of the emotions so well. Everything happened so quickly I remember wondering if I was really ready for this. I remember thinking about Noah, he was probably just waking up, and little did he know his life was about to change...dramatically. Would he adjust well? I remember praying and asking the Lord to give me peace as I went in for surgery, I remember wondering if I'd be able to love her like I love Noah. I remember the peace I had as Hylke held my hand and we prayed for a safe delivery and a healthy baby girl, I remember the excitement I felt when the dr. told Hylke to stand up so that he could watch as the pulled her out....and the joy and relief I felt when I heard my sweet girl cry for the first time. I remember the concern I had when she struggled to clear her lungs, but the peace I had as the NICU team worked hard to clean them out. I remember the love I felt when I saw and held her for the very first time....overwhelming! The nurse wheeled my bed to the NICU and my sweet girl was NOT happy. When they handed her to me, I whispered to her that I was her mommy and she was ok, she immediately stopped crying. What a special gift it is to be a mommy.

Waiting for surgery to begin:

Just after birth, getting a little O2:

Hylke cutting the cord:

Seeing Elliana in the NICU:
Holding her for the first time:

When she got to my room:

Noah meeting Elliana for the first time (but first, hugs for mommy):

He knew this was Elliana right away, he couldn't wait to "touch" and "kiss" her:

He is the BEST big brother:
Daddy is certainly in love with his little girl:
Grandma and Elliana
Noah and Grandma reading the new book she brought him:
Proud Grandparents:

Crazy pre-bath hair:
Kisses for Elliana:

So many emotions this past week! I can honestly say it's been a WONDERFUL week. I am so in love with my little Elliana. I feel like my love for Noah has grown too. I am watching him love on his little sister, he's my big boy now! I am blessed. I have a husband who loves and serves me, with joy. I have a son who brightens each day with his smiley face and cheerful personality, and I have a sweet baby girl who has made my heart grow!

I've run out of time for some of the home pictures, but since my mom will be back out today, I'll try to find some time to update with more pics.

Elliana Joy Hylkema

IS HERE! Elliana Joy arrived on Friday, February 27th at 6:46 am. She was 8 lbs 8 oz and 20 inches long. She is absoultely perfect in every way, we're in love all over again. Big Brother Noah loves his sweet sister sooooo much. Every time he came to visit us he would say, "Hi, Mommy! Baby? Elli-nana? Kiss? Touch?" He's so very, very sweet with her.

My c/s was scheduled for yesterday, March 2nd, but I ended up going into labor late Thursday night. We stayed home for awhile making sure that this was it, and finally at about 3am, I realized yes, this was really it! We got to the hospital just after 5am and she was born an hour and 45 mins later! After the doctor hooked me up to the machines and checked me (4 cm and 90% with contractions every 5 mins) he said, "we need to get this baby delivered" (he had a feeling I would go quickly). Hylke said, "so, we'll have a c/s in a couple hours?" The doctor looked at him and said, "no...the team is getting ready now!" He was not kidding...before I knew it we were in the OR getting ready to meet our sweet girl! The c/s went so well....a very different experience than the one I had with Noah.

Elliana was born with lots of amniotic fluid in her lungs and was having a harder time breathing, she ended up going to the NICU for about 4 hours to have her O2 levels checked and her breathing observed. She bounced back right away and is perfectly healthy!

We are home now, and I'm trying to take it easy and recover from the c/s. Many more pics to follow.

Date night picture

After our dinner at PF Chang's

My most recent prego pic:

Baby gifts

My dear friend, Janna, whom I grew up with, but just reconnected with about a year ago, made some of the most adorable little baby gifts for Elliana. She is so crafty and creative! I was going to take pictures of everything to post, but she already did! So, check out her blog, and the cute goodies she sent me.

Thanks again, Janna, for thinking of us!

A little longer...

I know that it was just a couple of days ago that I was saying I was ready for Ellie to arrive (as soon as we had our date :)) now, I'm asking her to wait a little bit longer. Not that I wouldn't be thrilled to meet my sweet little girl, it's just that Noah is just now getting over a nasty cold/cough and Hylke and I are both beginning the fight with nasty head colds. We are a nasty bunch to be around. I certainly don't want to feel like I can't kiss and snuggle my new little bundle because I'm sick. The same goes for Hylke.

I was able to get a prescription for my sinus infection today, so hopefully it'll be gone within the week. My doctor said that it does take a little longer for sinus infections to clear up...hopefully in a week I'll be feeling much better.

So, sweet Elliana, go ahead and stay nice and cozy inside for a little bit longer. Mommy, daddy and big brother Noah want to be nice and healthy when you arrive!!

Date Night

Even though I am ready to have this baby, I'm so glad that she's held off making her entrance into the world. :) I've had a few activities that I've wanted to have happen before the baby arrives.

-This past weekend a friend threw me a baby shower with some of my mommy friends from T-moms, we had a fun time celebrating together.

-My parents have been on a two week crusing vacation celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary (which is actually in March, but since that's when Elliana is due to arrive they decided to move it up so they'd be home!) They just returned home on Monday evening. I know my mom really wanted to be home for Ellie's arrival and I'm glad they made it back in time!

-Yesterday Hylke had a big night at JH as they lauched their new name, Elevate. The launch party was awesome and they had about 120 students come to celebrate!

-And finally, tonight my dear friend Kelly has offered to take Noah OVERNIGHT so that Hylke and I can have one last night together before Elliana arrives. We're going to go out to dinner and then do whatever else we want to do and not worry about when we get home (not that it'll be very late...:)). One of the things I'm most looking forward to is laying in bed tomorrow morning...just being lazy!! I'd say that I'm looking forward to sleeping in, but chances are, I won't be able to sleep. But, I will certainly be able to lay in bed and rest. This is only the second time that we've left Noah over night (not b/c we haven't wanted to, just hasn't worked out). The only other time we left him was when we went to a pastors and wives retreat...not really a relaxing time away. :) Needless to say, I'm glad that we're going to be able to spend this night at home together, and not in the hospital. Although there are a couple more events this weekend (it is Valentine's Day weekend, of course) I think that this was the last BIG event I wanted her to hold off for. :) I figure if she comes after tomorrow we'll both be well rested and ready for her. haha.

I'll try to remember to take a picture tonight to document our last date night before the baby arrives.