A big day

The Boy’s first bath. Not as much fun as you would think for someone who seemed so content to make his arrival in the water. He hardly cried at all when he was born, unlike his bath today. Oh, and he peed his towel.

The Boy has a name. Since Daddy hasn’t made a public announcement on his blog yet, I’ll defer. But keep an eye out.

The Boy got to meet his birthday cousin, my little nephew John Rian who was born on Grandma’s birthday last year. Taking pictures of little girls is easy: you show them the camera, and they stand and smile patiently until you’ve had your fill. Boys are very different, aren’t they? I can see that already. The only pictures we have of the front of John Rian are the ones where my sister is holding him in place. Otherwise, we just got to see him lay rubber on the carpet as he took off. All blurry backside shots. Those of you with boys already knew this, didn’t you? You’re laughing at me, aren’t you?

Now Hubby and the children – er, the girls - are off to swim at the lake after the traditional trip to WalMart (how can you go to town w/o stopping at WalMart?). The Boy and I stayed home for some R&R.

Open for business

To our friends and family: the C. household is open for visitors. I’m resting frequently, but I’m just not a daytime sleeper so don’t worry about waking me.
We’re being a little lazy about answering the phone or making calls, but feel free to call us or just stop by and admire The Boy. If you can pass a brief physical, we’ll even let you hold him!

more labor notes

So thankful during labor for:

• Hubby, who knows and reads me better than anyone else in the world. After so many labors, I hardly have to ask for anything. He seems to know instinctively when I need a back rub, when I need a gentle hand or an encouraging word, and when I just need some privacy.
• Liquid calcium, still my drug of choice for labor pains and after pains.
• Birthing pool, filled to the brim with very warm water. The deck ended up being a great place, as we didn’t have to think twice about spilling and sloshing. As the water cooled, we just turned on the hose (hooked up to the hot washer valve in the house) and let it overflow, slowly heating the water.
• The shade that Hubby set up, using stepladders and a blanket.
• My frozen frapuccinos to sip – they sit so nicely in a nervous, laboring tummy!
• The fact that the computer was right between the pool and the bathroom. This certainly made blogging easier!
• A beautiful south Texas day. Warm and dry, but not blistering hot – perfect for an outdoor delivery.

Wish I had thought of:

• A tennis ball for massaging that same spot in my back that (as Hubby reminded me) has plagued me with every labor.
• Something to sit on in the pool during the actual delivery. The cushioned bottom was comfy for laboring, but a low underwater stool of some sort might have been more practical for pushing and delivery.
• More practical pool attire. I wore a short gown of cotton/polyester. This worked, but a lighter fabric would have held far less water. Mom joked that I should wear a negligee next time.
• A birthing ball. The more I think about this, the better it sounds. There were several times during labor when it seemed like the perfect idea. I want to remember to have one on hand next time around.
• The acoustics of our hilly neighborhood. Sound can sometimes carry in amazing ways here. I wonder how many neighbors heard me yelling during the last moments of delivery? And how many of them didn’t assume it was just our girls playing loud girly games? Gulp.

The Boy

The Boy and I are doing fine, and Hubby is still blissfully uploading pictures and videos – in between cooking, cleaning and cracking the proverbial whip over the older 7 children.

I feel fantastic after a long but fairly easy labor. I always feel a bit like a phony for lying about in bed when what I really want to do is run laps around the house, but I’m obediently resting while Hubby is home. I’ve learned the hard way that it’s much easier to rest now when I don’t feel like I need to, than in a week or two when I start to feel run down because I didn’t rest enough at first.

Thank you again for the outpouring of prayers and encouragement during labor! It was wonderful to have so many “visitors” that I’ve never met before, and I’m glad that so many people enjoyed being able to share in The Boy’s birth. I thought live-blogging was a fun idea (I think it was originally Hubby’s idea), but we never imagined how special it would be to so many people!

Just a few more quick details

Born at 7:03 PM, 13 minutes after my water broke. 3 long pushes, I think. And yes, born in the little birthing pool outside on the deck. Not a swimming pool, mind you. Nice warm water.
8 lbs, 9 oz. Our biggest by one ounce.
21.5 inches long
Dark hair
Proud daddy has already posted lots of pictures. My favorite is here.

Whew!

I’m glad that’s done!

Thank you for all your prayers, well-wishes and encouragement. I didn’t get a chance to read every comment, but I look forward to doing so in quiet moments.

Now I have to relearn how to type with one hand as I nurse in front of the computer. Blog posts may get a lot shorter from now on.

And happy birthday to my beautiful Mom! How many 52yo mothers of 14/grandmothers of 16 do you know that look this good?

PS After having a good look at my belly, our 4yo is pretty sure the little guy will having a twin.

My boy!

Pc3

it’s it’s………………

a boy 7:03 pm

no name yet……

Poolside update…

Not quite pool side…but Kim joked about coming in and makeing a post “just to be a show off” and then started getting some strong contractions with a bit of the urge to bear down. So she stayed put.

This may be the last update for a good while

Pc3

Quote from the midwife

five minutes ago…

“8cm and not fully effaced”