Meet Scarlett.

Once Britt was admitted and settled, Bill's parents (my oh-so-gracious chauffeurs, as I was car-less) and I excitedly went to visit. (I had acquired what I call "sympathy cankles" from all the walking and hiking we did... clearly no ankles in this pic. I've also apparently gained sympathy baby weight as well. Hah.)

Austin and Britt were excited and ready for their sweet baby girl to finally make her entrance.

From the info Britt passed along (they only gave her a half-dose of Pitocin and told her to relax and sleep through the night), I could tell that the DR. didn't want to deliver until morning. I'll admit, I had a few not-so-nice "you knew what you were getting into when you chose this career" thoughts.

Just before 1am (bummed we missed Gma and Gpa's anniversary), the nurse came in for a routine check. Britt was 8-1/2cm. With ALL my children, once I was at that point, I was a 10 within 30 minutes, most times less. The nurse waited another hour before checking Britt again. (Grr.)

She was fully dilated and ready to start pushing. 

I impatiently waited outside the door of the room. After about 30 mins, the nurse came out to call the DR. Then we waited some more. I was frustrated that they had waited until the baby was literally ready to come BEFORE calling. Another 30 minutes and the DR. strolled in. Two pushes later, at 4:02am, sweet Scarlett made her entrance. FINALLY.  I shed a few tears to go along with the healthy newborn cries coming from the room. I'm a Grammy now!

Scarlett and Grammy time, at last. 

I couldn't resist a few phone pics.

Couldn't you just gobble her up??

That morning before flying out to CO, the GREATS stopped by to meet Scarlett.

Then Austin's parents and brother came to meet her 

Bill and I definitely look more Grandparently (meaning old + cankles + wrinkles + gray hair) don't you think?

I left with the GREATS, not knowing what my plan was, as I had rescheduled my flight to that evening but still needed to pack up, clean up, and arrange a rides to and from airports. I also had anxiety about making it to Shi's graduation the following morning (it would start at 9am), since I would be flying stand-by and was scheduled for the last flight out of the day. What if I didn't make it on?

I decided to reschedule the flight once again to mid-day, just in case. The true desire of my heart all along was to make it to both daughters' BIG EVENTS.

I felt sad and a little guilty when I texted Britt that I wouldn't be back that day because I needed to get to the airport. I hated my predicament, but was so grateful that Scarlett's birth had gone well, and that baby and mom were doing good. And I was there. 

I'm sure Britt will have a much different story when she gets around to posting.

She's more patient than I.

Perhaps it wasn't as big a deal to her that I be there as it was to me.

I am so grateful she and Austin were accommodating and gracious.

I can't wait to go back to UT (Monday!) and hold Scarlett some more.

She is so precious.

(Not in a creepy Lord-of-the-Rings way, although I may have seemed a bit Gollum-ish once I got my hands on her {wink}, but in a greatly-loved-or-treasured-precious-gift-sent-from-heaven kind of way)

Here's a few of Scarlett's early pics courtesy of Austin and Britt:

 

See? Precious.

My baby had a baby.
Perfect job, Britt!

Can't wait for Monday.