All My Favorites: The day we met Thing 3

Monday August 18th was my due date, and much to my surprise I woke up that morning the still pregnant mother taking her 2nd grader to the 1st day of school. Mike and I spent the day just spending time together, and relaxing. That evening after picking Jenna up from school we decided to make a cake to celebrate the 1st day of school. While it was baking I started to have more uncomfortable then usual contractions. When I explained to Jenna why I was uncomfortable we decided it would be a birthday cake for the baby!

By that evening my contractions were getting worse, so we called my sister Grace to come over to babysit just in case we needed to leave in the middle of the night.

By the time she showed up Mike had started timing my contractions. Until about Midnight they were about 5-8 mins apart and 2-5 mins long... Grace, Mike, and I stayed up talking while I did crazy things like curl my hair and pack Jenna's lunches for the week to distract myself.

I decided we have an apt at 7am anyways I want to sleep, so we turned off the timer and went to bed.

Tuesday Morning at 6:30 am as we drove to the hospital we were both overcome

with the fact that today we would meet our son!

We went straight to Labor and Delivery to check in and meet my midwife.

My ring that no longer fit me was now on a chain around my neck.

My nurse (who I knew from being in the hospital back this spring) and I spent time catching up, and talking about our nails as she checked me in. I know that God hand picked her to be my nurse she was wonderful she could talk nails and football to calm me down, and was great at advocating things go my way.

Baby's heart rate was good, he was in the perfect position according to the ultrasound, and my contractions were picking up.

As of 8am Tuesday morning I was in labor.

Today was the day we would meet baby James!

My mom and friend Becky were the 1st there, and I spent the morning trying to stay active.

Mike took me for a walk that stopped every few mins for me to have a contraction.

We stopped to raid the fridge, so I could eat!

My best friend Sara joined us to keep me talking and distracted

But I still had to stop every few feet.

At one point I was laughing so hard, and looked down to having wet legs!

My water had broke!

Once my water broke I was put on monitors to watch baby's heartrate, and had to sit on a puppy pad... they say it wasn't one but I know ;)

Also once my water broke my contractions picked up quite a bit.

My sister Eva came to entertain me seeing Mike and Sara were busy watching the monitors to tell me when I was having a contraction... like I didn't know ;)

Around 3pm my contractions had picked up to the point that I couldn't be mobile anymore. Mike and Sara went into full comfort mode. Between contractions they kept me laughing and smiling as much as possible.

At 3:30 I decided I wanted an epidural. The anesthesiologist came in around 4pm, and at 4:30 my midwife came into check me. She looked at the nurse and asked, "do you have a delivery cart ready, because it's time to have a baby". I had gone from 4cm dialated at 3pm to 10cm dilated.

Mike and I were about to have a baby!

He called my mom, sister, and friends back into the room, and contacted his mom and Grace who had the kids to have them come to the hospital.

At 4:45 pm I started pushing.

Mike was great about encouraging me and helping me push

Though I did have to tell him if he said "just one more" one more time I would hurt him unless it was true :)

After 25 mins of pushing at 5:11 pm we finally got to meet James Scott Reece

We both cried... I cried a lot

He was perfect with all 10 fingers and all 10 toes!

It took them a min, but they got him to cry.

After all his cord blood was gone daddy cut his cord.

Love at 1st sight!

And 2nd sight!

And 3rd sight!

Since the day I married his daddy I have never felt so much pure joy!

We adore my midwife she followed everything we wanted, and made the experience so perfect!

Mommy and the boys she loves the most!

James weighed 8lbs 9oz

And was 21 1/2 inches long

Daddy was so proud he just stared at his boy!

He already has us wrapped around his tiny finger!

Once baby was cleaned up and nursed for the 1st time we had brother and sister come in to meet their baby! Their reaction was priceless. The asked about 100 questions in 2 mins, and wanted to hold him and play with him!