He's here!

Sunday night (Monday morning, technically) I woke up at 2 a.m. with a terrible backache that would come and go. Zach kindly pointed out that my backache was coming and going exactly every five minutes. Then every four. After a couple hours he convinced me that I was in labor. We called the hospital and they proved him right even though I'm not due until the 21st. I didn't want to show up at the hospital too soon out of fear of being sent home so I hung out at the house as long as possible. I took a bath, and then between contractions, rummaged through the boxes of still-unpacked baby clothes and blankets, frantically trying to find his newborn-size clothes and some sheets that we could wash so we could put them on his crib (I had big plans to wash everything and put it away after my Monday evening pedicure with my friend Joelle. Lesson here: DO NOT PROCRASTINATE.)

We arrived at the hospital at about 5:30. I was quickly put into a birthing room and examined, they told me I was already measuring a 6.5 (if you're not familiar with childbirth terminology, just know that this means things were quickly moving along). After getting an epidural about an hour later when I was at a 7.5, I was still in a lot of pain since for some reason it didn't work on me. The doctor removed it, put in another and I was then about a 9. Let's just say I was glad that I didn't doze off during the relaxation breathing techniques section of my birthing class. It really helped and I was able to get through the intense pain OK (more or less).

Everything had happened so quickly that by a little before 9 a.m. it was soon time for the baby to make his grand debut. And then things slowed down. After a little more than 3 hours of pushing he was here! And it was wonderful. And totally worth the pain. In fact, although it's only been a day since the event I don't even really remember that part of it. The combination of adrenalin and epidural is a beautiful thing.

Meet Anthony Jon:

Our 7 lbs., 5 oz. little conehead (being stuck for three hours will do that to you)

He already had quite a fan club waiting for him, both sets of grandparents and his Aunt Amie were able to greet him just a few minutes after his birth.

Proud grandmas

Aunt Amie and Uncle Derek

His dad is a shoe-in for Dad of the Year. Anthony is pretty much glued to Zach, who has been the #1 diaper changer/baby comforter/bath-giver. Z was the perfect birthing coach and cheerleader.

First bath. Notice the four smiling grandparents in the window.

Mom & Anthony

We enjoyed our first day as a family cuddled up in our hospital room with snow falling outside. It was perfect.


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