Here it is! Libby Lu's birthstory. It does include actual surgery footage so if you're squeamish beware :)

BIRTHSTORY

Libby Lu from Kelly Manno on Vimeo.

The still photos were taken by my great friend and fellow photographer Kelly Park who did a spectacular job capturing every moment!

Baby Libby Lu is almost a week old. Sometimes I really think I'm the luckiest girl in the world. Especially now that God has blessed me and my family with Baby # 3.


I had a wonderful labor surrounded by family and friends, spending most of it with my own kids in bed with me. I wanted them to be a big part of the process.

I was really happy that I went into labor on my own Sunday afternoon, but after about 24 hours of labor things just weren't moving along as planned so we did end up with a C-section, but that was perfectly fine with me, I told my Doctor I didn't care if this baby came out of my nose as long as she got it out healthy.

And at long last she was here! A perfect Baby Girl! A BIG baby girl as well, tipping the scale at 9 pounds...no wonder my belly was so big.

She is here, and I think her daddy is a little overwhelmed at having 2 little girls but he has Rocky to help him out :)

Momma is thilled to have 2 little girls...and yes I will totally dress them alike. Libby Lu is the spitting image of Luci. If they were closer in age they could be twins. It's like I am holding the same baby all over again.

Her name is "Libby Lu". Back when Jimmy and I were dating there was this store in the mall called "Libby Lu" and it was the girliest store in the world, little girls could go in and make their own sparkly shampoo, or get a baby make-over, they would listen to party music and play dress up, even coming out into the mall to put on little "shows" - I loved this store so much, it was like a little girl dream-land and everything I wanted for the day when I had a little girl. So I threatened him and my family for years that I would have a little girl and name her Libby Lu, I'm not sure anyone ever thought I was serious :)

But then I found a way to make it work, Elisabetta is a beautiful Italian name that conveniently could be shortened to "Libby" and her middle name, Leola was my grandma's name, but I used to call her Grandma "Lulu" - so put those 2 together and Elisabetta Leola, becomes Libby Lu :) I am fairly sure when she is older she will just go by Libby, which is fine by me. But she will always be Libby Lu to her momma.

I have alot more to tell and I could talk about her for hours, but I will wait until her "Birthstory" of photos and videos is done to share the rest. I cannot thank my amazing friend Kelly Park enough for sticking with me in the hospital to capture some beautiful photos. As well as my awesome family, the aunts, cousins, sister-in laws, and more who kept me company and kept me laughing throughout. I love you all.

IT'S A GIRL!

Okay, it's time for the "Manno Baby Pool"~ I think most of you know by now my husband and I are expecting Baby # 3 sometime in January, so what better way to celebrate than by giving away a $100 Kelly Manno Photography Gift Certificate.





Is the baby a boy or a girl? (Helpful Hints):

I have not had any heartburn with this baby and very little morning sickness.

This baby moves ALOT, far more than my other two.

When I peed in Drano it turned dark green (Yes, my crazy mother made me do this)

The baby's heart rate has been high (above 150) and I also "carried" the baby a little high.

We also have a pool going with my family and 13 people think this baby is a boy, and 7 think its a girl. So the majority say boy, but it may be important to note that both my mom and dad guessed girl.

When will it arrive? (Helpful Hints);

We haven't had much luck nailing down an exact due date for this little one, but our best guess with the Doctor is January 19th.

Rocky was a natural delivery 8 days overdue

Luci was taken by C-section 10 days early

What will the baby weight? (Helpful Hints);

I've always had little babies, Rocky weighed 6.12 and Luci weighed 6.15 but an ultrasound at 36 weeks showed the baby already topping out at over 7 pounds so there is talk of this being a much bigger baby than my other two.

Okay! That should be all the information you need to make and educated guess! Keep checking this blog daily. Hopefully the next time you hear from me will be to announce the birth of this little one~

RULES AND REGULATIONS: Your $100 gift certificate is good towards any Kelly Manno Photography session, this is includes weddings and portraits. This gift certificate cannot be used for product such as prints or albums. The gift certificate will expire 12/31/2010 and the photos must take place in the St Louis area.