Introducing...

[nikkiARNGwife]

Miss Ella Augusta :) :)

Everything went well and it turns out it was the right thing to go ahead with the c-section b/c this little bug of mine weighed in at a whopping 9 lbs 6 oz and 21 1/2 inches long! You should have heard all the people in the OR when they delivered her...every person in there was like "dang what a big girl" lol My doc said that had we tried to have her vaginally he was most positive we'd have ended up with an emergency c-section anyway.

But she's absolutely beautiful and somehow ended up with a head full of dark brown hair which really surprised me...when they first brought her in to me after she was born I thought...that can't be my baby..she has brown hair! lol So far she's wonderful..she's nursing like a champ and sleeping 4 hour stretches at night. She hardly cries and is so alert...I swear she doesn't act like a newborn lol

I'd also like to add that c-section SUCK!! lol I mean the section itself wasn't bad and she was delivered by 7:00 am..and the day of I was so drugged that I thought...this is the way to have a baby...and then came day 2 and 3! Holy crap I was so sore I thought I was dying. Thankfully today it's getting better and hopefully the worst is over. Having had it both ways though I much prefer a vag delivery.

Here are some pics...her first born pics are all on my mom's point and shoot which I haven't had a chance to get from her yet so these are from her first day in the hospital and then when we got home with big brother :) Yes..she's already addicted to her paci :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v444/NikH28/100B6101.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v444/NikH28/DEC1010.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v444/NikH28/DEC1014.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v444/NikH28/DEC1019.jpg

[AnnieBananie]

OMG SHE IS GORGEOUS! Congrats girl, we were all rootin' for ya! ;)

[SamaraGugler]

Congratulations!!! She's beautiful!!!!

[Darcy Baldwin]

awww, congratulations, Nikki! She's beautiful - and I'm glad it went so well!

[juliemarie]

Oh she's beautiful!!! Congrats Nikki!

[KristinCB]

congrats!!! she is beautiful!!

[Julie Billingsley]

Congratulations on your princess!!!

[lhaslem]

so pretty - congrats!!! And I love the picture of the little guy kissing her!

[Teresa]

Congratulations!!!! She's absolutely beautiful- what a perfect little present for the holidays! Hope you continue to heal quickly!

[lauren grier]

awww she is beautiful!!

[melmos75]

Awwww, she is absolutely gorgeous!! And beautiful name (would have been my girl name, had we had a girl.)

I feel for you on the big babies, all 3 of my boys were almost 10 lbs (no c-sections here though.)

[wildblueeyez]

She's absolutely beautiful! the photos of big brother brought tears to my eyes!!! just adorable!!! Hope you're on the mend soon - just don't over do it!

I had a premie - 6 pounds 7oz, my big one almost 9 pounds and then my dd who was 7, 6. I popped my big one out LOL....

[Jenn Barrette]

Congrats on little Ella! She is beautiful :)

[Misty Cato]

She's beautiful Nikki! Congrats.

[Robin Carlton]

FINALLY! Congrats chicklet! She is just gorgeous! And your little man with her is soo soo adorable!

R

[junebug]

she's gorgeous! big brother looks so proud!

my oldest was 9 lbs. even and i think 20 1/2 inches long. no c section for me either. but also, no stitches ;)

[ColleenSwerb]

She's gorgeous Nikki!! Congratulations!!

And I ADORE the name Ella. That's what I want to name our first girl :)

[sjford0419]

She is gorgeous!! Congratulations!! (and her little outfit is adorable!!)

[Tracie Stroud]

Awww, she's beautiful! Congrats Nikki!

[Linz]

congrats, Nikki!! she's beautiful!

[Juno]

She's beautiful! :wub: Congratulations!

[Claudi]

oh, sooo cute! congrats to your beautiful little girl

[Paula]

She's just adorable. Congratulations!!

[Tracyfish]

Congrats Nikki! So glad everything went well (except for being sore...don't worry it goes away before you know it).

[banana1282]

Congrats Nikki! I am glad she is home with everyone.

[Kat Stokes]

Congrats Nikki!!! She's absolutely beautiful!!!!

[BrattyMeg]

Oh she's beautiful Nikki!!

[*Kelly*]

Congrats Nikki! She's amazing!!

[SirScrapalot]

What a cutie! Congratulations!

[Melissa Bennett]

Oh my gosh, she is just so precious and beautiful!!!!!!!!! Congratulations!!!!!

[MelindaH]

Aw, congratulations! C-sections are definitely different for everyone. My first two weren't so great, but my 3rd one actually went the best of all of them. I hope you have lots of help and that you remember to take it easy! HUGS!

[alansrock]

Congrats Nikki and I love her name! Enjoy your precious family moments while you can and thanks for posting an update and sharing this joyous occasion with all of us!

LOTS OF ((HUGS))!!!

[isaacsmom]

What a beautiful baby! Congratulations and I am so glad that everything went well.

[ditzyscrap]

Awww, she's adorable...congrats Nikki & family!! :) I'm so glad they scheduled you for a c-sec, she really was a big baby, wow!

[Shawna]

Aww she is absolutely precious Nikki!! Congrats!!

[AmyM]

Awwwwww she's beautiful NIkki, congratulations! I hope you'll have a speedy recovery from your c-section. She's a doll!

[SeattleSheri]

Congrats! She's beautiful!

[Traci Reed]

awww she's lovely!! Welcome Ella!!

[HeatherKS]

She is just adorable Nikki! Congratulations!

[nikkiARNGwife]

Thank you everyone! I'm just in love with her! :)

She's just so big it's funny. She definately looks more like a 2-3 week old than a newborn. I'm pretty sure if she would have cooperated and dropped down I could have delivered her but she was still way up high on Wednesday and I was "uninducable" (if that's a word) and waiting would have meant her being even bigger at birth so doc said it was the right call. There's just so much I want to be up and doing and it's hard not doing it kwim? DH leaves Monday morning and we're going to try and do Santa for Avery tonight. DH is really helping..he's cleaned and washed clothes and attempted to cook for us. I'm trying not to think about him leaving on Monday and just enjoy the time we have.

[pewtertm]

She is SO sweet and precious...the perfect Christmas blessing!!

[Becca Bonneville]

OMGosh she is just precious!! Congrats on your newest addition!! Glad it all went well! Hope you have a speedy recovery!! ((hugs))

[iJenny]

She's just perfect, Nikki! Congrats honey! Get some rest. I know how much a c-section takes out of you so take it easy. xoxoxox

[FireWolf]

Awwww Nikki, she's absolutely gorgeous! Congratulations!

[Libby Pritchett]

So happy for you! Congrats!!! She's GORGEOUS!

[dmogs]

Oh she is sooo beautiful!! Congrats to you and your family Nikki! :)

[Siryn]

Aww, what a little beauty! Congratulations!!

[rach3975]

Aww, she's beautiful! I love the photos of big brother holding and kissing her. I hope you heal quickly and she keeps on sleeping well for you.

[Jennifer]

Awwwww!!! Nikki, she's gorgeous!!! I'm so glad she's doing so great. :) Good work, Mama!

[fluffypuppies]

OMG!! How wonderful for you and your family!! Congratulations!! I pray things continue to go well for you!! :)

[Kim]

She is so precious! Congrats!!

[kscwgirl]

She's GORGEOUS Nikki!!!!!!!! Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!

[LibbysMommy]

Congrats Nikki!! She's absolutely beautiful!!

[cindys732003]

Congrats Nikki! Glad everything went so smoothly!
She is beautiful, love that photo of 2 of them....so cute!

[cheltzey]

She is a big girl! And she's gorgeous! Congrats!

[Brooke W]

Congrats Nikki, she's a real doll!

[Laura_A]

Aww Nikki... she's beautiful! I'm so happy for you. Congrats to you, Daddy and big brother.

[mlewis]

She's just beautiful - congratulations!

[Penny Springmann]

so beautiful! Congratulations on your big girl!

[DawnMarch]

Yay! Congrats hon!

[DogwoodMama]

She's gorgeous! :)

And just a tad bigger than my first, who was 9 lbs 4 oz, 21 1/4 inches long. (vaginally, but a near-miss c-section.) Anyway, her hair was black but now she's blonde, I bet the same will happen with your sweetie!!! :)

[ZaCola3]

Ohhh she is PRECIOUS!
Wonderful photos Nikki!
Congrats to you!

[lisabranka]

She's darling :)

[jaylensmom]

congrats on your little bundle of joy....i had a csection too and it gets better...i actually was in the hospital for 5 days and by the time i came home i thought i could do just about anything...i didn't do it though :)

[Jennilyn]

She is so sweet Nikki...congratulations to you and your family!

[krystalhartley]

Congratulations, Nikki! She's beautiful!

[jennpage]

How sweet! congrats!

[mixedclawzz]

She's BEAUTIFUL!
Looks like she's got great big brother too! Is he wanting to help with her?

CONGRATS!

[Chels85]

Congrats!

[ajoyfulheart]

Oh Nikki...is she PRECIOUS!!!!! :D Congratulations to all of you <3

[~Julie~]

She is gorgeous Nikki!! Congrats!

[meems]

she is adorable! Congrats! I hope your recovery goes quickly! is your hubby totally smitten with her?

[bellbird425]

congrats! glad the c-section was planned in the end, even if u are quite sore still - hopefully it will pass soon- avery looks very happy too!

[lovely1m]

How sweet! She is beautiful and the pictures with big brother are adorable! Congrats! I hope the soreness fades.

[tracey]

Congrats Nikki!! She is beautiful!

[sammi]

Big congrats...she is beautiful! What an amazing early Christmas gift for you all! :)

[crecia27]

She is so beautiful! Congrats Nikki!

[nesser1981]

She's beautiful Nikki.

[suzann]

Congratulations! She is beautiful!

[Joan]

AWWWWWWWWW!!! :wub:

Congrats, Nikki! :)

[amandabarugh]

What a beautiful Christmas gift you received this year! Congrats!

[lizzyfizzy]

i'm so glad she is here and happy and healthy!! good job nikki!!! she is just sooo gorgeous!! congrats!!!!

[KirstieGai]

congrats, my second DD was 10lb and slept so well because she always fed well as the big babies always seem more hungry and then more content.

[Dottie]

Congratulations and welcome to little Ella, she is just so adorable.

[nikki81]

Awww she is adorable!! Congratulation!! xx

[meganmecrazy]

I saw your post over at MSA first and responded! I'm just in love Nikki! She is SO BEAUTIFUL!!! :) Congrats again! I have to fully agree with you that C-sections SUCK! No fun at all! At least the prep & surgery went well for you. That didn't happen for me which makes the horrid pain afterwards worse.

Well, enjoy your sweet little bundle there! I love her name too! She's just perfect!

[Keely~B]

She's beautiful Nikki! Avery looks so happy too. Congratulations!!!

[Sari]

Congrats! She is beautiful! :)

[Nettio]

Yay! Congrats!

[crystalbella77]

Congrats Nikki!!! She is beautiful!

[switchwiz]

Oh Wow how precious she is!!! Congrats!!!

[jessica31876]

congratulations...shes a cutie

[Nonna2Dreja]

CONGRATULATIONS to your family! She is beautiful and I love the pics of her with her big brother!:thumbup:

[mormishmom]

Congratulations!

[suzyqscraps]

Congrats, sweetie! What a darling "little" babe! Love her little outfit, too, and big brother looks so proud. Way to go!

[kresta]

She is just beautiful!! Congrats! I'm glad everything went well, and I'm glad you're starting to feel better!

[Winter Ivy]

She is beautiful! Congratulations! :thumbup: :thumbup:

-Diana

[CA Dreamer]

Congratulations!!! She is such a beautiful baby! I hope you and your family are all enjoying this special time.

Take it easy recuperating. C-sections are no fun!

[pbumbaca]

Awww, she's beautiful! Congrats Nikki and welcome Ella!

[my4boys]

JUST GORGEOUS...CONGRATS to you all !!!!

[sannajeannine]

Awwww, she is beautiful!! Congratulations :)

[Top Chef]

She's so beautiful! I love the pic of them in the striped outfits!! The look on your son's face is priceless!!! And the one of him kissing her. Those are always so sweet!

My FIRST baby weighed 9lbs,12oz and was only 19" long. When she was in the NICU for an infection, they called her Bubba bc she was so big. I had her vaginally-only 5 stitches. :blink::blink::blink: I suppose my body is just made for havin' babies! I HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER SOON!!!!!!! and hugs on hubby leavin' Monday (yesterday or next Monday?)

[nikkiARNGwife]

Thanks so much everyone! I was just looking at the first pic again and omygosh that is so not my boob y'all lol! It's my elbow but it just caught my eye this morning and for a second I thought DID I take a pic of my boob and post it all over the net?! lol

I'm am SO much better today. I got my clips out yesterday and the sorness is almost completely gone. Brian left yesterday morning. It was hard, especially with the overload of hormones I've got going right now. It was doubly hard watching Brian kiss Ella goodbye, knowing the next time he see her she'll be changed so much. He left before Avery was awake and the first thing he wanted to know when he got up was "where's Daddy" when I told him he had to go back to work he had a total meltdown which was REALLY hard. So we both just sat and cried...what else could we do ya know..but today is better and tomorrow will be easier still until we're back into our old groove again. The good news is that we're now on the downhill side of this deployment..only 6 months left.