She's Here! - The First Three Days -

And we're off to the hospital early Monday morning, April 7 for 7:30 a.m. check-in:Time for surgery at 10:10 a.m.:
Weighing in at 8 pounds, 9 ounces and 20 inches long, Katelyn Victoria Tepker joined us at 10:25 a.m.:
All I could hear from behind the surgery curtain were comments about Katelyn's beautiful, thick hair, my amazingly red, huge, healthy placenta, the "thick as a hose" umbilical cord, and rhetoric of "good scarring" on my insides.

Finally, I was wheeled into recovery where Kevin handed me my little girl:

The boys arrived to meet their sister just in time for her first bath:
Snug as a bug:Both Grandma Y and Grandma J found Katelyn's hair irresistible and took turns throughout the afternoon combing it into hairstyles ranging from spike-tops to Elvis-influenced sideburns:

Katelyn amazed the pediatrician and all of us with her strong neck muscles! She is already - as you can see in this photo, taken after only a few hours after her birth - able to lift and hold up her head and look around. On her tummy, she can also already lift up in a yoga pose!
Proud Daddy and Daddy's Little Girl:

DAY TWO

Collin got up close and rubbed Katelyn's cheeks, which she found extremely soothing. She turned her head to him and closed her eyes:
A healthy burp produces Kate's first smile:

"That's enough photos, Paparazzi Mama!"

Kisses and quiet talk calm Katelyn after an especially poopy diaper change!

DAY THREE

Our little princess:

Our adorable little lady has her first "real" photo shoot with the hospital staff: (This photo is posted on the hospital's website.)Then we got Katelyn ready to go home!
Home at last!!
Collin: "What's that on her belly? Look! She has a steak on her belly!"
Grandma: "A what?"
Collin: "It's like a steak or bacon!"
Grandma: "Oh that's her belly button!!"

...

Grandma: "Do you want to hold her, Collin?"
Collin: "Not while she's got that steak on her."

Owen jumps at every opportunity to hold or touch his sister. He learned to give her her pacifier if she's sad "to make her happy!"
Last night before bed, Owen was sitting on my bed with Katelyn when Katelyn started fussing slightly. Owen jumped down, and I wondered, "Where's he going??" Within seconds, he jumped back up, pacifier in hand, and held it ever so carefully in Katelyn's mouth until she started sucking, patting her hair gently with his other hand and saying, "Don't cry, Baby Katelyn." It was soooo sweet! Talk about a moment for tears!
Check out this pouty face:Katelyn is an angel! She took naturally to the breast and is hardly ever fussy at all. Every three hours or so she makes a few whimpering peeps to let you know she's ready for her meal - otherwise, she's as patient and angelic as could be. We are wonderfully blessed by this most beautiful and special little girl:

Welcome to the family, Baby Katelyn! We love you!!!!