Abigayl Marie Stamper

It was a long night and day bringing you into this world! I went to the hospital on May 22nd to begin the inducing process (4 pm). I had to lay in a hospital bed and not move for 2-4 hours. I began having some contractions in the middle of the night but it wasn't anything too terrible.

Then at ~7 am on May 23rd, Dr. Gehring broke my water. That's when the really bad contractions started. I had back labor and it was not pleasant. I went ahead and started the process for the epidural. That took about an hour so I had to feel the contractions for that long. After the epidural, I didn't feel a thing for the rest of the day. Oh except for when they came in to change out my epidural medicine and the doctor forgot to turn the machine back on! That was another hour of having to feel some of the contractions.

Finally, by around 6 pm Dr. Gehring decided we should do a c-section because I was not progressing at all. I was wheeled into surgery at 6:25ish and I heard your first cry at 6:40 pm. I loved hearing your first cry Abigayl. It was music to my ears. From that moment on every time you cried I felt like I was going to cry. I didn't want you to have to feel pain or be unhappy. I think my heart grew a million times bigger the moment I heard you. You weighed in at 7 lb 3 oz and you were 19 3/4 in long. You had red hair like your daddy and you were perfect.

Daddy was able to go watch you be cleaned up and they let him cut a piece of the umbilical cord off. But I was the first one to get to touch you. The doctor brought you over to snuggle with me for a minute. I got to kiss you and smell you. I was heaven!

Daddy then carried you down to the our room where your grandmas Diana and Patty were waiting with your grandpa. You became the apple of thier eye and you were loved by so many people. I think everyone fell in love with you the moment they met you. You are so perfect.

We were able to bring you home today! It was really warm outside but it was so sunny. You looked so cute in your overalls. Even though they were newborn they were far to big! You looked like you were swimming in them.

Daddy ordered a stork sign for the yard announcing your arrival. It is 6ft tall! But it is so great to announce your arrival to the world. Thankfully grandma Diana is staying with us for a week so she can help me learn to be a mom! So far you don't make that too hard. You are just so sweet.

Already you are so alert. I think you are much wiser then your young age. You have had a few visitors and I think they all love you!

One month old! The time flies. You already sleep through the night! We are blessed with a good sleeper. You have gained some weight too, you are now 10lb and 20 1/2 in!

You have started so smile a little more and our favorite thing is when you wake up from naps and we undo the swaddle blanket. You stretch those arms above you and arch your back then you puch your little bum out. It is the cutest thing in the world!

My goodness... two months went by so fast. You are such a big girl now! You are up to 13lb 5oz and 23in long! Sort of short and chunky. I love it though. Your my little rolly polly!

You smile so much now... not so much laughing yet but you smile when you see me.

I love getting you up and out of bed because you smile so big at me. You melt me heart so many times a day.

I love you honey. More then my words could ever express.

No one would believe what a chunky girl you would be!! 15lb!!! You do enjoy your bottle though! You are such a good eater.

Also, you rolled over! You went from your tummy to your back for one whole day. I even captured it on camera! It startled you when it happened. You just started crying the minute you were on your back. Once I started talking to you though you calmed down.

You smile ALL the time! You are so happy. And, you giggle. I love making you giggle because it makes my heart 100x bigger! I love the way you make my heart feel. I think I could burst with the love I have for you.

Your family from Alaska came down to meet you. I'm so glad everyone was able to meet you. It means so much that I had all of us in a picture together. We all had such a fun time playing together.

At four months you did so many things. First, you are 18lb 7oz and 24in long! I already have to put you in 6-9 month clothes!

You had your first taste of rice cereal on September 29! You absolutely loved it. Also on the 29th, you rolled over from back to front! I was so proud of you. You had been trying for so long to roll over and you finally did it that day. I wish I would have been able to get you on video. But, it is all in my mind to replay.

Not only that, but you have gotten to the point that you can pull the string on your bouncer to make it play music. It is so neat to watch you do things all by yourself. You are getting so big!

September 30, 2008 started out so great. You woke up and had your bottle and we played for a little while. After some awake time I put you down for your nap. You woke up just in time because daddy came home for lunch that day. You two played on the floor together before it was time for your lunch.

After daddy left and we played for a while it was time to take your next nap. I took you in your room, rocked you and sang to you all of your songs. When you started kicking me in the tummy I knew it was time to put you down so you could sleep.

I went in and started a movie. When I looked at the clock and it was 4 pm and you hadn't woken up yet, I thought you must have been really tired. So, I let you sleep for another 30 minutes. When I went in at 4:30pm you weren't breathing.

I picked you up and carried you into the living room and dialed 911. The dispatcher walked me through cpr and that is what I did, for what felt like an eternity. The ambulance finally arrived and they started the cpr and other things. I knew you were in heaven already though. I knew when I walked in the room that something felt different. I don't know if that was God's way to help prepare me but I knew before I got to your crib that something was different.

We went to the hospital and the doctor told us it was SIDS. We were able to hold you though. It wouldn't be the last time but both daddy and me thought it would. We cherished those moments with you. We held you and rocked you and sang your songs.

Baby girl. It was the hardest day of my life. Of your daddy's life. Life hasn't been the same for either one of us. But you did something amazing for us both, you helped us find a church family that comforts us and brought both of us closer to God. We know that we will see you in Heaven and that is what brings us comfort every day. Your 4 months on this Earth impacted so many people... some people didn't even get to meet you but they still love you.

We love you angel baby.