Elie Maitland Harpster

As most of my friends and family already know, we were given the gift of our baby girl on Friday morning at 8:10 am via a planned C-section. Miss Elie was born at 37 1/2 weeks gestation which is a bit early, but we weren't too sure that her environment inside the womb would keep up....soo out she came! It was a much easier time than 2 years ago when I labored for 14 hours and then had to have a C with Jack. Our hospital stay went well, Elie slept and ate like a champ and even left the hospital at her birth weight of 6 lbs 13 oz, which is unheard of for most babes. At day 5, she is a complete angel....sleeping most of the time, but when she is awake she is incredibly quiet and alert and very in tune to her environment. She is eating like a champ (every 1.5-2 hrs) which can be tough on mom at times, but just looking at her makes my heart melt. She has her nights and days confused and likes to be up quite a bit throughout the night. She loves for us to hold her on our chest, and for now that is the only way she will sleep at night. She has seen her big brother Jack every day at least once since she was born, thanks to my mom and dad. Jack is officially coming home from his grandparent vacation tomorrow and we are excited but nervous too! Here are just a few of my favs from Elie's first 5 days of life. Again, we thank God so much for this second gift.