Introducing . . .

Miss Tasiana Dionne Brown

Quick Details:
When - Saturday, 10/4/10 at 3:08pm
Where - Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia
Size - 4.645kg / 53cm long

A few more details . . . :)

On Friday we went to the doctor and I was already dilated 3cm and the doctor said baby would be coming on the weekend. Don was a bit shocked and went to work to finish a few things up while I went and got a pedicure - I have my priorities! Saturday morning my friend Susie came over to watch Koa - who got to play with Tis and Tex at the Aquarium, while Don and I were at the hospital.

My petite baby girl on the scale . . . she came out 30 grams smaller than her brother and 1.5cm shorter.


She cuddled with me for a long time before she was cleaned up and the proud Daddy was able to hold her.


At this point we still hadn't decided on a name, while I was in labour Don seriously bought a baby name book on his Kindle and we were trying to find something we both liked! It is so hard to choose a name, you have to think about rhymes and initials and nicknames . . . so much pressure. Before Koa came we had at least decided on Tasi (sounds like Cassie with a T) but were still making up our minds about the full name - good thing in Australia we don't have to register a name for 60 days! Koa came over before 7 and after a quick cuddle with Mommy wanted to check out his new baby sister on her birthday - they waved to each other!


We said to him, "This is your baby sister, called (pause)"
He said quickly, "Grady."
"No, Tasi."
"Ok, her name is Grady and Tasi."
Either way, he was of course SO excited to hold her.


And give kisses.


The whole family . . . oh my goodness it is so surreal that there is now 4 of us!


It was getting late so Don and Koa had to go home and Tasi and I moved upstairs to the post natal ward.


I was a bit bored in the morning so thought I'd show you all what my lunch in an Australian hospital looked like!

That is a vegetarian cottage pie (so has veggies in a tomato type sauce covered with mashed potatoes). There are some differences having a baby in Australia, for example, in the morning while I was in labour I was asked if I had eaten. In the US they don't let you eat so I had some snacks in my bag this time and said timidly, "um, I had a little snack." To which the midwife replied, "would you like a tea or coffee? And a breakfast box?" YES, I would love to have enough energy to make it through the next 12 hours! The labour room was huge with a big shower and bath tub . . . then I was moved upstairs to the post natal ward, and I couldn't believe it when the midwife was leaving she politely showed me how to CRANK my bed up and down.

Don and Koa were able to come visit at 2pm - Don had his work cut out for him, especially since when I called at 8am Koa said "Mommy, the clock just changed to 8, now I have to wait for 9, 10, 11, 12, 1, and 2 to come to the doctors with you." Needless to say we were all happy to be together again!



At about 5pm on Sunday I asked when I could leave and the midwife came back and said, "your good to go, just pick up your papers at the security desk near the door." OK, so we quickly packed our bags, changed clothes, and Mommy and Baby were ready.


I literally walked out with baby in my arms. It was so weird we felt like we were stealing her. I had given birth 27 hours earlier and there was no signing out, no wheelchair, no checking of car seat, we just walked out!

When we got home the girls were surprised with a beautiful 'Welcome Home' poster made my Daddy and Big Brother. (It said 'Welcome Home Baby' and in smaller letters 'Grady and Tassy' - Koa hadn't forgotten and we were still deciding on the spelling too!)


So now we are all home and settling in. We finally decided on a full name, obviously. Tasiana is like Tatiana but with an S and Dionne is my great-grandmother's maiden name. She is a quiet girl, barely crying, with 10 fingers and 10 toes, eating and sleeping well. Koa is a very good and helpful big brother who can't wait for her to play with him.

Well, that's the news with the happy Brown Family . . . off to feed and change a baby :)