Here's a couple videos filmed this past Sunday evening. (Aunt Donna is doing the whistling in the first video...)

Home Alone

This is my first week at home alone with our little one. The help from our family and friends in the past 2 (almost 3) weeks has been wonderful. So is this chance now to spend my first big blocks of time alone with Sonia. More pictures below of the cutest baby ever...

Sonia and Daddy Watching the Discovery Channel


Sonia Grasping Daddy's Finger


Sonia with Aunt Donna


Sonia with Mom and Cousins Heather and Holly


Sonia Napping with Daddy and the Orange Cat


Mug Shot #2845


Sonia Focusing Her Eyes on Cheryl


Sonia Sleeping with Daddy

My Mom

My mom is the best. She flew in from Iowa to help me with Sonia for a whole week and we have been having a blast. We went to lunch and shopped for Sonia (see snowsuit at left...). We talked to my brother on a video conference call. We visited with Don's mom so that Sonia was able to get double love from both grandmas at once. Mom and I had a great time just hanging around my house sharing motherly advice and each other's time. Mom even made breakfast in bed for Don and I one morning! Wow! This has been a wonderful week for me, and I can't thank Mom enough for all she's done. I really wish our time together didn't have to end quite so soon. She's headed home tomorrow and she will definately be missed.

Daddy's Little Girl

This past Sunday, Sonia turned 10 days old. She is getting to be such an old lady already....
Sunday afternoon, Daddy (Don) took us (me, Sonia and my mother, Mary, who arrived here from Iowa on Saturday, Jan. 12th) out to lunch at In-N-Out Burger (got to start the kid out right...). We also stopped by the Olive Garden to reclaim the diaper bag that we left there on our first trip out of the house with Sonia the previous night. At least we remembered to bring home the baby....

Sonia's Cousins

Three of the Sonia's cousins came to visit on Jan.12th. Cousin Stephanie provided the "little girls" with a trip to our house, which was their first chance to see and hold their new, baby cousin. At first Heather and Holly were a little shy, but that didn't last long. :-)

First Bath at Home

Wanting a seasoned expert by my side when I gave Sonia her first sponge bath, I waited for my sister Amy to arrive to help me. She flew in from Wisconsin to be here with me (and, of course, to see Sonia) from Jan. 11th through Jan.13th. Amy helped me give Sonia her first bath at home, and here are some pics taken just after. Being a proud mother, I just couldn't choose between all of the good pictures of my beautiful little one, so I included a whole slew of them. :-)

One Week Old Today

This morning, Sonia got to visit with her Great Grandpa Don. This afternoon, she took a long nap on the couch with her mommy and spent some quality time with the furries. Sonia's dad has determined that she has a long way to grow in order to be as big as the black, 17 lb. furry. Thank you to my work who sent the beautiful bouquet of flowers you see below. The accompanying greeting card read, "Congradulations! We knew you had it in you." Thanks guys...you never fail to give me a chuckle. :-)

First Day at Home

Today was our baby'a first full day at home. She slept most of the day. Don's mom came out to help with Sonia and filled our cupboards with a ton of groceries. While Don ran some errands, she waited on me, cared for the baby, made lunch, made dinner and provided me with wonderful company. She also, for the first time, placed Sonia in the cradle that Grandpa built for her.

Going Home Today

Well, this has been a truly memorable week. Sonia, Don and myself are doing well and are preparing to leave the hospital sometime today. We have been well taken care of here and we've been here so long (5 days now), that this place is beginning to seem like home.

Anyway, the plan is for me to get as much rest as I can for the next couple of weeks. My mom and sister will be here Jan. 11th (this coming Friday) to help me until Jan. 19th. My sister-in-law and mother-in-law have volunteered to help us out (food, cleaning, errands, etc.) until then. Don is planning to take the rest of this week off too, so that he can take care of me as I recover.
It will be interesting to see the furries' reaction to our new, non-furry addition (since our two cats don't have names, we sometimes refer to them as "the furries").

IN CONCLUSION, our little girl grows more beautiful every day. Her demeanor is wonderful. Her face is that of an angel. I am so lucky that I get to be her mom. Thank you all for your well wishes and for your support during these last months. Our little family is truly blessed. :-) -m

Grandma and Sonia


Dad and Sonia

The doc that delivered Sonia.

Third Day at St. Mary's

What a crazy last three days THIS has been... I have a beautiful daughter now. Just beautiful. I keep staring at her and thinking that every time I see her she just gets MORE beautiful. Wow. She has beautiful facial expressions too... She's very content. Doesn't cry hardly at all... More later...

More Pictures

The First Video

Baby's Measurements

Sonia Grace
Born at 11:17 am January 3rd
7.6 lbs
20 3/4 long
Everyone is doing well.

Breaking News

So they did a check on Michelle to see how far she was dilated. Things did not seem the way it should. So they did an ultrasound and found that the baby is not head down. So we are going to have a c-section. Other than that, all is well. -DG

The Call

Setup a video conference call on the internet last night. Most of the Gustavson side of the family was in our room. So we brought Michelle's two sisters and brother in on the conversation. Michelle was very thankfull for that. It was real cool that they all could see and talk to eachother.

Resting

Got the epidural in this morning. And it is working. The anesthesiologist was great. Having contractions about every two or three minutes. Michelle is sleeping now. Getting some more rest while she can.

Wow. I look small in that big chair.

At the hospital

Been here since yesterday at 10:00 am. Blood presure was up a little high so the Doc. sent us in to induce laber.
It is now 6:45 am and the Doc. just brook the water.
Still could be this afternoon or later. But you never know. DG