Helpless

It is amazing to think about how helpless babies really are. They are completely dependant upon others for years. What a responsibilty! Of course, they can't defend themselves against taking silly pictures either.

Easter Day

We ate Japanese food and shopped at the mall so not much of a traditional day, but still had fun and took lots of pictures of Roxy's first Easter.

Afternoon at the Slopes

Trish got her wish. She got to go snowboarding this season. We took a short trip to Okunakayama today. It snowed most of the time so this is the only picture I took. She did well and we had fun. Soreness for sure tomorrow.

Roxy on the Ball

Not much to say, just like the picture.

More Beautiful

Roxy is getting more beautiful everyday. Someone mentioned today she looked a lot different than when she was first born. I hadn't noticed till I went back and looked at the pictures. Sure enough! She is 2 weeks and weighed exactly 9 pounds at her doctor appointment today.

More Clothes

Someone gave us some more baby clothes. Yep, all of these clothes are from one person. 0 to 12 months, literally a whole wardrobe. Some have never been worn, lots of name brands, and more than one can ever wear so we'll pass on the blessing. Roxanna now has more clothes than Oprah.

New Furniture

We splurged. Ever since I saw a Japanese step chest almost three years ago, I've wanted one. Trish also picked out the Tibetian armoir at the "Far East Bazaar" on base. Both pieces were made in Korea though. The step chest is actually three pieces, two of which are constructed as steps, and you can place them any way you want. We have them stacked for the time being.

I have a hard time buying things like this because I always think that I really didn't need it and could use the money in a better way such as supporting a missionary. It is a struggle that I am not sure where the balance might lay. We support missionaries so I am not buying things instead of giving, but we could always do more. We are still saving money as well so we can definitely afford it. It may just come down to my convictions, but I guess I am not sure what my true heart is telling me.

Lost Umbilical Cord

On Day 10 Roxanna lost her umbilical cord (as pictured). We were then able to give her her first bath. She didn't like it, and I didn't get a picture of that. So now the question is do we save the umbilical cord? Or, is that just too gross? I think I would be mildly interested to see mine. How about you?

A Million Faces

Like I mentioned, my favorite pastime is to watch my baby. So far I have counted about 984,387 faces that she has made. Well not really, but here are a few. She just seems to be experimenting with all of her tiny little muscles. By the way, if you click on the picture, it makes it bigger.

Future Girl Scout

Well, maybe if she wants. However, that is how the local girl scout troop presented Roxy with a gift basket. They chose the girl born closest to the anniversary of the Girl Scouts, March 12th, to give the gift basket to. Well, that was us! Isn't that cool?

Nanny is Here

My mom, which after much consideration with her first grandchild, goes by Nanny. Well, she arrived after a 30 hour trek across the US and Pacific Ocean to see her first female descendant. We are happy to have her and I am so glad she is able to see Roxanna. I wish all of you could as well, but someday soon.

Sleepy Time

Everybody is doing well and sleeping as well as can be expected. The last two nights we only woke up twice. We still having to wake her up sometimes to feed her instead of when she is crying. Everything also went well at her first pediatric appointment yesterday.

The days are going by so fast. I have spent numerous hours just holding and staring at her, my new favorite pastime. Happy times! I have to go back to work on Thursday and I'm not looking forward to that. My mom will be here Thursday as well and I am looking forward to that.

Nephew Cousin

Sheila, Trish's sister, gave birth to Michael Joseph Long on March 13th at 6:31 pm. He weighed 8 lbs 3 oz and was 20 3/4 inches long. We are so excited for them and thrilled for Roxy to have a cousin her same age.

Miraculous. Emotional. Unforgettable.

The miracle of birth. We've all heard it before, but it now has so much more meaning to me. The possibility and intricacies of birth are amazing. I stand in awe of God's creation.

Trish was incredible in labor and delivery. She handled everything so much better than I could have ever imagined. I am so thankful to God and the prayers of our friends and family. I know they helped us throughout the process. It's hard to explain, but easy to understand that I feel so much closer to Trish. I feel our relationship is deeper and stronger just from that one moment of birth.

As I knew we would, we cried when Roxanna came out. Since then I cried a few more times and got choked up a few times on top of that. I love tears of joy and I love being a father. I cannot imagine anything more memorable or special than that glorious day.

Labor and Delivery Synopsis

We got to the hospital about 9:00 pm after Trish's water broke. Trish still wasn't feeling any contractions although she was having them based on one of the monitors she was connected to and was 3 cm dilated. About 1:30 am they put oxytocin (a hormone that stimulates contractions) in her IV. A little while after that she finally started feeling her contractions and about 4:30 Trish opted for Stadol (a narcotic). That gave us both some time to sleep. About 6:15 Trish woke up. She was 8 cm dilated and really started feeling the pain of the contractions so she requested an epidural. It took about 50 minutes (way too long) for the anesthesiologist to come so that hour was very painful for Trish and awful for me to witness. The epidural is a wonderful thing. Trish went from moaning to drifting in and out of sleep. By 8:00 she was fully dilated and she was instructed to let the nurse know when she was ready to push. At about 8:50 she was ready and at 9:23 the beautiful Roxanna Mae Dinkins entered our world. She and Trish were found to be in good health. Trish is amazing!

Introducing

Roxanna Mae Dinkins
Weighing in at 8 lbs 15 oz (4060 grams)
Measuring 22 1/4 inches
Born 9 March 2005 at 0923

Heading Out

We think it has happened. Trish's water broke, not all at once, but it's trickling. So we're heading out and hopefully Roxanna is too. We're going to the hospital so if I don't blog again in the next few hours that means Trish is in labor. I feel euphoric, Trish is calm, all is well, and no contractions yet.

Still waiting, but not for long

Yep, we're still waiting. Now, it's week 40 day 4. However, guess what... this afternoon we scheduled an induction: Thursday March 10th. We have to be at the hospital at 6:00 am. There is the chance it won't happen so don't give your hopes up. If perhaps they have another delivery or whatever, then we would have to reschedule. Wow, what a weird, wonderful feeling to have it scheduled. Now, that we're not watching the pot boil, Roxy will probably decide to come out. We hope.

Poll

When polled "What day do you think Roxanna Mae Dinkins will be born?", people voted as follows:
March 7th - 2
March 8th - 5
March 9th - 6
March 10th - 3
March 11th - 1
March 12th - 2

Times Up

This is another post letting you know Roxanna hasn't arrived yet. Today, March 4th, is her due date so hopefully the next post will be her much anticipated, glorious announcement. You know, it still doesn't seem real that any day now we will have a baby girl. I am so excited for that day, yet I think all the emotions haven't hit me yet. I know I am going to cry like a baby (pun intended) when she is born though.