Word of the Day: alienist Penelope was born on 22 November, 2008, at 10:04 PM. Once again, I was told earlier in the day that I had a UTI [which is what happened to trigger labor with Patrick, but I think I really was in labor but just a little dehydrated], and, once again, I gave birth without the help of pain medication. Not by choice, but because there was just no time. They sent me home to rest, but by the evening, my contractions were worse than before and we decided to just go back to the hospital. We got there around 8:45-ish, and Penelope was born at 10:04. It was agonizing, but also very short, so I wasn't much bothered by the labor after the fact. And now, the most important thing: Very first picture. On the scale, the reading is 7 lbs, 1.5 oz. The nurses were so unprepared that they didn't have the scale in the room nor did they have anything to write her stats down on, so they jotted down the time, weight, and length on a paper towel. She was 7 lbs, 2 oz and 19.5 inches long [though they first measured her at 18.5 inches long]. Penny, meet Mommy. Daddy and brother Patrick. Pretty eyes. Close-ups of Penelope while in the hospital. Chillaxing at home in her bassinette. One of my favorite pictures of Patrick when he was in the hospital, for comparison.