Even though it was a couple weeks early, we were very excited to meet Elon Harris Opp on April 27th, 2009. After planning on having a May baby I was quite surprized to find out I maybe having an April baby. The week before his birth we still needed to move back into our house, our parents were in Nicaragua, and I had pregnancy pictures scheduled for Sunday. We got everything finished just in time with the wonderful help of many people, esecially my friend Sherry. I have to give her a special thanks becasue she stayed with me most of the week, help me move things, dealt with my crazy brain, cleaned, organized and generally did what ever I asked. Thanks Sherry!
On Sunday the 26th, we had a house full of people which was fun. That is when it was pointed out that I was leaking amniotic fluid. So we called my midwife in late afternoon and where on our way to the hospital. We got to the hospital they broke my water and labor commenced. Labor was quick and I was ready to push by 10:30PM. That is where the fun started. After 3 hours of pushing (at the end of a really long and tiring week) I was exhausted and Elon was not coming out. Elon had decided that he like his watery world and was not coming down the birth canal. That is when I was given an epidural which was not really helping. Sometime in the wee hours of the morning it was decided to bring in our my midwife's OB and had to consider a C-section. We tried some other techniques to get him to come down but no luck. So around 5AM I was off to the OR for a C-section. It was scary because I had planned on having a natural birth and here I was about to have a c-section. The goods news was that at 6:02AM I delivered a beautiful baby boy who was 8lbs. 6oz. and 20 inches long. During the whole labor ordeal he was like a rock and never showed any signs of stress. Thanks goodness!
It took us 3 days to decided on his name but when we did it fit. Elon is hebrew for "oak" or "tree". We loved it because we love the outdoors and during the hard labor he was like a solid, strong tree. His full name is Elon (E-lawn) Harris Opp. Harris was my father's middle name. Another cool thing is that he was born on my Grandpa Kenny's birthday.
The first 5 weeks have flown by. Elon is a pretty happy baby who is gaining weight rapidly. It has been fun to watch him change. In the last week he has started to hold onto things (especially me). His smiles are becoming more associated with us and less associated with farting. It is amazing to think I can spend hours just staring at him. Aaron and I are still in disbelief that we are parents to such a wonderful little boy.
Last weekend we took Elon on his first camping trip to Chinook Pass with our friends, Sherry and Bram. Elon liked being outside and near the river. He slept just as well camping as he does at home. Good thing since camping is going to be a constant in his life.
There are lots of pictures fro these last few weeks. I have uploaded all of them since I do not have time to sort through them. If you would like to see them go to this link.
http://picasaweb.google.com/AKdogtownFor those who have called, emailed, or facebooked, I need to apologize for not getting back to you. I have been bad about communicating. Hopefully I will get better after next week once classes are over.
I hop to post more picture and happening in our lives soon so you can see how Elon is growing.
Thanks to everyone for their good wishes and gifts.
Trip to South Dakota to see Grandma Dorothy and many of the Jones. http://picasaweb.google.com/AKdogtown/SouthDakota2009#
This was the first hike we took Elon on in the back pack. He loved it.
Hiking in the Teanaway and crossing the Wilderness boundary
This was the first hike we took Elon on in the back pack. He loved it.
Hiking in the Teanaway and crossing the Wilderness boundary
