Welcoming Alena Lynn!

She's here! After a pretty rough week of contractions that never seemed to regulate, Ashley finally went into labor on Monday morning! It was an all day event, culminating in the arrival of Alena Lynn McReynolds after 10 pm Monday night! I stayed long enough to see her arrive in the nursery after 11 pm to get a first look.

She had some fluid on her lungs (poor thing). The nurses suctioned her nose numerous times and had to use a rubber hammer type thing on her back (ouch!).

But it was all worth the effort to have a healthy baby girl to take home. Isn't she cute?

The next day, I took Sarah to meet her first ever "real" cousin. Here is video of the meeting.

Welcome Alena! from Angela Coleman on Vimeo.

Sarah was a trooper. She is really calm and speaks quietly to the baby. She even holds her for 20 minutes at a time. I am impressed! Isn't it interesting how females are hardwired to be drawn to babies?

The happy family (plus one little squirt).

Sarah is soooo proud to have a baby cousin!

Here is that "motherly" look in action.


Ashley is exhausted (I am sure). She is doing a great job as a new mommy.

I even took a turn with the baby. Notice Sarah remained perched right next to her the entire time we visited the hospital.

She is beautiful.

Mom moved in for a close up.

Here is the best photo I snapped of her face today. Get ready of many more photos of my first niece!