Highlights from Sage's first week at home!

So Sage has now spent one week at home with us and already has had many adventures and met many new friends. Mommy has been very diligent as a round-the-clock milk producing, storage, and dispensing operation. Daddy has been promoted to Chief Diaper Changer but still moonlights as Bottle Washer. Overall we are absolutely loving being new parents and especially being blessed with a perfect baby girl.

Click here to see the top pictures from her first week at home.

Here are recaps of some highlights (click on photos for original size):


* Watched her first French Open Finals and witnessed history-making Li Na become the first ever Chinese tennis player to win a Grand Slam title by defeating Francesca Schiavone. Li Na is blazing a trail for Asian female tennis players that Sage will no doubt follow in the not-too-distant future!


* On Monday she met godfather CPC (that's "Chen, Paul Chen" as in "Bond, James Bond") for the first time fresh off his return flight from China. CPC is already working his charms to induct her into his large fan club.


* On Tuesday (6 days of age) she got out of the house for the first time with a trip to Day One Center, Calafia Cafe for lunch, and then Sharon Park where mommy and daddy had their wedding pictures taken. It turns out Sage really does not love being strapped into her infant car seat. After a 1/2 mile (that seemed more like 10 miles) of driving down the road with baby crying, mommy had to move to the back seat to make an attempt at consolation. We have definitely explored and tested the effective limits of various pacifiers.


* On Thursday she had her first scheduled well-baby checkup with her pediatrician who said she's doing very well and has regained the weight she lost in her first two days of life. She was born 6/1 at 9lbs, 8oz. Then by 6/3 she had dropped to 8lbs, 10oz. After a week of ravenous feedings she surpassed her birth weight reaching 9lbs, 10oz by 6/9.


* On Saturday she was fitted for cloth diapers. Shu and I are trying out the Tiny Tots cloth diapering service (they pickup old diapers each week). It's really not that much more effort than disposable diapers but it's softer for baby. And those diaper covers are the cutest!


* Went to her first church service on Sunday. Mommy and daddy sat in the back row with Sage mostly sleeping the entire service in the Baby Bjorn carrier. Thankfully no meltdowns or mishaps. Afterwards Pastor Alex even prayed a blessing over baby Sage.


* Sunday afternoon attended Infant Massage class with mommy and daddy. It turns out that she really likes massage and especially on her little bum. Sage was a model baby by not crying or fussing at all the whole 90 minutes!


We have been blessed this past week with many people bringing over meals that we would otherwise have little time ourselves to prepare: Sunday (Michael & Pearl), Monday (Grandma & Grandpa), Tuesday (Yasmin & Rajesh), Thursday (Arnisha), Saturday (Simona & Kurt). You all are angels to us!

We've also enjoyed reading her Bible stories (thanks to Marie and the Kilners for the Bibles!) and singing praise songs with her (well, okay may more like "to her"). Click here to see video of one worship session with Sage.

Thanks again to all of you for the encouragement and support you have provided. We could not do it without you!

Love and hugz,
Paul, Shu & Sage

Introducing baby Sage Grace Baty

It's 3am and things have finally quieted down enough for me to pen this quick announcement to you all. Shu and I are happy to announce that baby Sage Grace Baty arrived on the scene two nights ago on Wednesday, June 1st at 8:14pm. Because of Sage's extraordinary size Shu got to enjoy 2-1/2 hours of pushing in labor before our delivery team finally all agreed to move the party to the operating room for a Cesarean procedure. As promised she was born in the top 5% for weight (9 pounds, 8 ounces) and top 5% for length (21.5 inches)!

The last 48 hours have been non-stop getting to know Sage's unique personality. We've learned that she cannot get enough to eat as she can eat for an hour and then be hungry again 30 minutes later. And when she's hungry she doesn't like to wait more than a few milliseconds before she will vociferously inform mom, dad, or the whole maternity ward if they'll listen! Her breastfeeding class teacher today said that she's remarkably smart but also prone to be a high maintenance drama queen.

We are still checked-in at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital most likely until Sunday morning. (For Cesarean deliveries the standard practice is to keep mom admitted for four days instead of the usual two.) As it turns out we are taking full advantage of all the professional help available from nurses, pediatricians, and lactation consultants who seem to be popping into our room every hour around the clock.

Click here to see the pics of our stay in the hospital.

And here are some fun videos you might like:

Video: Sage weighing-in
Video: Sage licking her chops in the nursery

Special thanks to our birth doula and friend Christl Kirchner who stuck by us throughout the pregnancy and over that first night of labor in the hospital! And to our parents who are always ready and willing to help in any possible way.

And thanks to all of you for your well-wishes, prayers, love, and support both throughout the pregnancy and now in our lives as new parents and growing family.

Love and hugs,
Paul and Shu

p.s. Well I did start this email at 3am when it was quiet, but it took a while to complete since it was interrupted by cries, feedings, and diaper checks. :)

Welcome Pookie Cub!

Shu was dilated to 10cm by 4:30p when her OB came and we started pushing. After 2 hours of pushing the OB started prepping us that she thought the baby may be large since there had been absolutely NO progress through the birthing canal. She suggested we give another 30 minutes of earnest pushing before considering C-Section surgery if there was still no progress. Shu bless her heart really gave it her all for a total of 2.5 hours of exhausting pushing. Then by 7:00p we decided with the OB to proceed with C-section surgery.

After an hour of surgery our beautiful little girl was born at 8:14p. She weighed in at a whopping 9 (yes NINE!) pounds, 8 ounces and measured 21.5 inches.

Mommy and baby are doing well after a loooong day for both. Right after baby was placed on mommy she immediately went to town with an all-the-milk-you-can-drink buffet feast.

More pics and stories to follow as we are now bonding with baby and getting much needed rest.

Thanks again for your love, support, and prayers!
Paul and Shu

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.9

Checked into hospital

We're checked into hospital today while Shu has been in labor since midnight. Dilated to 5cm as of midnight but only to 6cm as of 7am. Hasn't progressed for past few hours so they're administering Pitocin to speed up process. Thanks for your prayers for smooth labor and delivery process!

Love,
Paul & Shu

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.9