Brooklyn Alice Gunnell

Thursday, March 8th our sweet baby girl entered this world and here is her story.

We got to the hospital at 5am. We got settled into my delivery room around 5:30 and the nurses got started with everything. Soon I had my IV in and all the paperwork filled out. The pitocin was started about 7am. For the next two hours I just tried to relax and not think about the inevitable. Around 9am my doctor came and broke my water. That definitely did the trick because I began to feel hard contractions right away. About 10:15 I got an epidural. Once it kicked in I was excited to be able to relax for a while. Well, that wasn't happening because about fifteen minutes after the nurse left she came back in saying she was seeing signs on the monitor that the baby was pushing down ready to go. I was shocked. She checked me and sure enough, the doctor needed to be called. He got there about fifteen minutes later. He suited up and within three pushes she was here!


As soon as she was out they put her on me. I just cried as I held her tiny hand and was amazed.

After a couple minutes they took her from me and examined her and cleaned her up. Then I got her back:)


Then Daddy had a quick turn holding her.


Everyone kept asking us what her name was...well, that was still undecided!

She was acting hungry so I fed her for the first time. I was excited that she latched on right away and ate for about 45 minutes. She has been the BEST little eater and we haven't had any problems in that area which I am very grateful for!

Once she was done eating, the nurse was ready to move us to our new room where we would spend the next day and a half getting to know one another. I examined every little part of her body and thought about how much she looks like my other babies. I personally see a little more Kyson than Caleb in her, but they all look a lot alike.


Her first visitor was my sister Natalie. Sadly I didn't take any pictures of her holding her. She left and came back a couple hours later with my boys and dinner.

My boys were not quite sure what to think at first. Caleb was concerned seeing me in the hospital bed. I know he has a phobia of them after seeing Kyson so sick in them. One of Caleb's first questions to me was, "Mom, can you get out of that bed?"

I asked Caleb if he wanted to hold Brooklyn and at first he said no. I convinced him that it would be ok so he sat down on the couch and held her.


Kyson was actually more excited to hold her than I thought he would be. I love the look on his face in this picture.


The boys didn't want to but we convinced them to get a few family pictures.



I'm pretty sure that the child most excited to see the new baby was Natalie's little girl, Claire. She was very cute with her:)


Soon it was late and they had to leave. All of my sisters (except my littlest sister who doesn't live here) came to visit that night. Thank you for the love and support Jamie, Natalie, Christy, and Katie! I have such amazing sisters!

As soon as all of our visitors left we tried settling in for the night. It turned in to a long night as Brooklyn didn't want to sleep and wanted to be held all night long. I didn't mind, I just kept falling asleep holding her and the nurses didn't like that too much.

Friday was just a day full of getting everything ready to go. I got Brooklyn dressed in her first little outfit while Jared was gone to go get our boys.


Jared came back with the boys and we spent about an hour together. Caleb was much more like himself this time and was constantly wanting to hold Brooklyn. I hope he is as good of a big brother as I think he will be!


Here Brooklyn is just before we buckled her up to leave...



The boys couldn't get enough of her this time:)


After leaving the hospital we stopped by Jared's parents house to leave the boys with them. Jared's Mom was headed up to the cabin so she took the boys to Show Low to stay with my Mom for the weekend. I am so grateful for my Mom for taking them for a couple days. It has been the best thing ever. I really enjoyed coming home and being able to just recover and sleep and spend time with Brooklyn. It has been absolutely wonderful!

I spent a little time trying to take some pictures of Brooklyn this morning. I didn't get very much I like because the lighting is awful in our house and she wasn't being cooperative but here's one I like...


I love the feeling of having a newborn. It is indescribable. The newborn stage ends so quickly...I am trying to soak it all in and love every moment of it. I am just so grateful she is here and she is HEALTHY. AMAZING!!!!!!!