Anna's HERE!!!

My apologies to all...little Anna Sakura Turner is a week old, and I have yet to update the blog! She was born April 23rd at 1:30 am. She was 3798 grams (8.3 pounds) and 52 cm tall. Yuko went into the hospital on sunday morning around 10:30am. She was feeling discomfort and we went in, her serious contractions didn't start until 7pm that night. Her mom, Masako, was great as she came and helped give her massages and keep her company. Hideaki also came in as soon as he heard.
They moved us into the delivery room at 11:30pm, and it was the most amazing thing I have ever been a part of. I didn't see very much, but just to be present when this precious little baby came into the world was the coolest thing I have ever experienced. If you ever get a chance to to experience it, DO IT!!!
Yuko was a trooper and survived what I can only imagine was terrible pain. She never cried or got frustrated or blamed me for it, she toughed it out like a true samurai warrior. I am a lucky man...cute, smart, funny, lovely, and tough as nails!

Little Anna came into the world, took a little while to take her first breath, gave a few cries, and opened her blue-grey eyes to examine her new world. I expected her to cry like a banshee, but she was pretty tame. took a while for the doctor to clear out her nose and mouth, Yuko and I were a little anxious, but we soon calmed down when we heard her cry out and move around. She opened her eyes a few seconds after that, and has been flashing her big eyes ever since.
I'm writing this now on Monday morning, April 30th. Yuko and Anna have come home after a 5 nights in the hospital. This is standard in Japan as they give the mom some time to adjust, get used to the baby, learn about feeding and taking care of the baby, and have a break from cooking and all that. I had a few days off last week so I was lucky enough to hang out in the hospital with my girls. We came home on saturday afternoon, and it has been a learning experience ever since. We are getting used to the patterns of Anna (sleep, wake up crying, eat, change diaper, fall asleep, and start all over). I'm sure by the end of this week (called Golden week...a string of consecutive national holidays that are a "golden" time to be traveling) we will have adjusted better than our first day/night. I love holding her and I try to help Yuko out as much as I can. But as most people know, men's nipples do not yield any milk. (and no Adam, I did not try it...and neither should you!)
Have included a few pics. The first one is Anna 15 minutes old, then one of all 3 of us. A few pics of Yuko enjoying motherhood and then some cute ones of me holding her while taking a picture. Don't worry mom, I was supporting her neck and it was very safe!






I am working on getting up a video compilation of the first few days of Anna. I will do my best to get this up asap. Thanks for all the congratulatory emails, we are very thankful and blessed to have so many people thinking of us. Please check back here for new pics and new developments.
Love,
MAtt, Yuko, and Anna Sakura Turner