First 5 days of life outside the womb

Levi's first 5 days of life in pictures! Looking back over these is such a joy...wants to make me go wake Levi up and just snuggle with him!  I love my boy!

All bundled up for his first night

My parents decorated our home inside and out!

Levi slept on grandpa for quite a while the next morning!

Since the next day was Thanksgiving my mom and dad made us a Thanksgiving spread and my mom even folded the napkins like diapers!!!

My midwifes assistant Nina came to check up on me and Levi on Friday! I love her!

Friday night Levi got to meet Heather, Paul, and Heidi when everyone was on their way back from Thanksgiving in LaVernia. We toasted, prayed, cried tears of joy and sang songs over Levi it was a beautiful evening!  

My dad even changed Levi's diaper!  

He's just beautiful!!!

Family Nap

Sunday morning Levi met the Gross family!

Levi meets Aunt Kate and Uncle Shane!

What a doll!  He was so alert and attentive from the start!

First Bath! We took an Herb bath together made from some healing herbs that came in our birth kit! He loved his first bath and still loves to take baths!

Blissed out!

Levi Grady Summers

Levi Grady Summers(Just baby boy at the time though since he didn't have a name yet), born 11.23.11, at 2:06pm at home in Austin Texas, 39 hours after my water broke.     He arrived letting out a sweet short cry and then opened his eyes and stared right into mine and then into Tristan's shortly after. He seemed so alert and mature for a newborn and perfectly sweet. Tristan and I couldn't believe how beautiful he was..the most beautiful newborn I had ever seen. I remember being worried that I would think he was funny looking. But I had nothing to worry about, he was BEAUTIFUL!  Tristan and I were just soaking him in.

Even though it was long, hard and painful..the moment he came out the pain was gone, and I was so happy and ready to do it again. I remember thinking over and over again, "I did it". I felt so empowered and strong.  Doing an Iron-man Triathlon no longer seemed too hard for me!!

 I am so glad my mom was there to witness it all and my dad was up the stairs in no time to come see as well.  We were so full of joy we wanted to share it with the whole world. I don't remember how long it was after he was born that I started nursing him but I think maybe only 5 to 10 minutes???  He latched on great right away and acted like he had been nursing for years!  I was so thankful and relieved that it seemed so natural and came so easy.
I remember kissing him over and over. His skin felt wet and soft. I can still remember how he felt and smelt.

Shortly after, Tristan's parents and his sister Holly headed over from Dan and Em's(more on their amazing hospitality later). If I remember correctly everyone oohed and ahhed for a while, the umbilical cord stopped pumping after and hour or so, Tristan cut it and then everyone(except Tristan of course) left us alone for awhile.

At this time Julia and Nina did Levi's apgar(he was 9 at birth and 10 the second time if I remember correctly) score again... I think, weighed him and measured him.  He was 7lbs 11oz and 20 inches.
Then Julia and Nina packed up and headed out, family returned for a little bit and then Tristan, Levi and  I bedded in for the night and our family hung out downstairs.  What a day! The best day!