"10 Things I learned on Ella’s birthday" -josh

1. “In my head, I pictured that going differently”

2. That you can never take a patient’s blood pressure or temperature enough.

3. If you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say it at all, or in some stages of labor just don’t say anything!

4. Eleanor is a family name, or at least that is what everyone else seems to think.

5. How grateful I am for women. We were blessed with the most amazing three nurses and Doctor that anyone could ask for. Labor should be judge on how many nurses you've had. Twice I heard "well my shift is over, and this is your new nurse". CRAZY!

6. How amazing our mothers are. Mari-Lynn is a Saint, and I appreciate her support, encouragement and her down to earth attitude with me. Karen is by far the best caregiver there is, and we have yet to have someone swaddle Ella as tightly and with the amount of love as my mother did.

7. Testosterone is an essential part of my diet. When your three best friends consist of your wife, her mother, and her 17 year old sister you tend to impulsively cry, eat brownies, and hold an extra 25 lbs of water weight. I learned how thankful I am for my brother, Brad, and David for coming and supporting me by bring the spirit of sports onto the 3rd floor of estrogen central.

8. Epidurals are not just for the mothers. After giving all that she had to go “all natural”, about 1 hour after Mari-Lynn and I had thrown the towel in for her, Lindsay decided to go with the epidural. I'm glad she did because I didn't have it in me to endure the next contraction. I know that my prays were answered on this one.

9. How much I support, admire, and love my wife. Thanks for adding Sunshine to my life. I love you Lindsay!

10. At the 1st second of her life, Ella has her father wrapped around her finger.

***Additional Pictures in no particular order***

In the parking garage of the hospital, the "final" pregnancy shot. I know, I was huge!

Our little sweetness.

I can't get enough of her.

She turned into quite the little girl when we put some real clothes on her today.

She got lots of grandma love tonight with both grandmas.

Showing off a full length shot.

Family picture tonight. Side comment on this one. I am a little self concious about this shot, but what the heck. Here's the reason why: Everyone always told me that a lot of the weight will actually be water weight and will take a week or so to actually come off. They said, "you actually leave the hospital looking 6 months pregnant, rather than 9." For some reason in my head I thought I was the exception to the rule. Well my friends I can tell you I am not. I look forward to lots of water weight coming off soon, please cross your fingers for me. ;)