.: April 2012

Happy 1 Month

I can't believe you're already 1 month old baby girl. Time has gone by too fast and soon you'll be up on your feet. Yikes! SLOW DOWN TiME! Lol. You were born a very strong baby! Kicking off of me or the floor. You were only in newborn diapers the 3 days you were in the hospital and when we came home we went straight into size 1 diapers. You never really fit into newborn clothes because of how long you are. You started wearing 0-3 as well as 3-6 month clothes. :) By week 2, you started drinking 3 ounces and when burping you over my shoulder, you'd start trying to stand on my lap. Lol. Yes, you are a very tall baby and might I just add, smart too! Week 3, you started drinking up to 4 ounces. I rather feed you the breast milk I pump because you eat more. By breast, you eat just to fall asleep and then wake up an 1-2 hours to eat again. You love to smile and I noticed you've already started making little noises that almost sound like you're giggling. Haha. It's too cute! You now no longer fit into 3 month clothes. You have more leg space in 6-9 month clothes. Lol. You only wake up 1-2 times during the night to eat and Mommy loves it! Mommy&daddy love you baby girl and enjoy every minute watching you grow!

One month ago....

I was admitted into Cottonwood hospital at midnight. I was 4 cm when we arrived to the hospital and the nurses advised that I walk around. I walked 1 hour and then returned to my room for a check up. I repeatedly did that cycle until 4 a.m. By 4:30ish, I was at 6 cm and my contractions came more frequently. I had the best coaches, my sister in-law Tina, my cousins wife Shayla, and my moms sister Latu. I wouldn't say my husband was a coach, but rather more of my supporter and punching bag. Lol. I'd pull and squeeze him whenever my contractions came. My other sister in-law Lota later came about 1-2 hours before baby arrived and was my photographer. She also bought us treats in a cute little bag as well as a boppy pillow. Greatest older sister ever! My mom booked the earliest flight in and she landed right when I gave birth. I was trying to go without the epidural and it wasn't even on my mind, but two hours before giving birth I got the epidural. I remember I stood up and I felt horrible and in my mind this voice was telling me 'Just get the epidural'. The more I avoided it the louder the voice got. I was at 9 cm when I screamed for the epidural. Usually they don't give you the epidural then because the baby would be close to coming. I was lucky enough to get it because my baby girl was still high up. Yes, I was screaming for it when they told me I still had two hours before they think she would arrive. 2 hours later...

Our baby girl Tina Nevaeh Tai arrived at 10:53 a.m. on March 4, 2012

22 1/2 inches tall and weighing at 8.5 lbs

The happiest day of our lives! Officially parents! :)

Named after her aunty Tina, one of John's 3 sisters. In the Tongan tradition, the first born is always named by the father's side or the fahu. Fahu would be Lota, she being the oldest amongst John's sisters. Since John's oldest niece is already named after his mother Cynthia, oldest sister Lota's name already used by one of John's cousins (Lota is also the name of John's father's mother), and youngest sister Angela whom John named, John decided that he wanted to name her after Tina. I totally left it up to him and his family and John came to the conclusion that our baby girl would be named Tina. So we really didn't stick with the whole Tongan tradition completely.We then decided that Tina should come up with the middle name. Nevaeh is 'heaven' spelt backwards and was John's favorite girl name that he wanted to someday name one of his daughters. We loved it when Tina made it her middle name. Tina Nevaeh Tai it was! She also has the same initials as aunty Tina, T.N.T. :) Baby girl, you are definitely heaven sent and we are blessed to have you in our lives! Mommy&daddy's little angel!