9.6.16-To due... To done!

After a long night of laboring every hour I woke up ate an avocado, read some stories, and proceeded into real labor, a hurried drive, and a quick delivery of this little big guy! Labor got real about 10:30 we left at 11 and he was born at 12:12. All good we were there and all was safe and fine. 

My prayers had been that his birth would be comfortable. I couldn't bring myself to pray for painless although I've been told that is possible too. I was more worried how he would fit in. How he would complicate all the schedules that run in our home. How we would ever fit in resting, nursing, and nurturing everyone else. So needless to say seeing a long weekend, no big activities, and hearing from Greg things were slow it looked like a really opportune day to have a baby!

I haven't had a natural birth during the day ever. This was new! We were rested, although the "We've got to go now!!" phone call interrupted an oil change- Harold was able to go to town and finish the oil change and it was all good. Some of my older kids are home this week and able to help out. The others were able to hold down the fort for the weekend while I recuperated at a very peaceful grandma's house. It's been comfortable!

The kids are in love. The boys especially are so happy! The girls of course think he's great but I'm touched at how tender Harold and Mark and John are with him. It makes me sad to think they will not be buddy play companions to him but hero's and role models. Different stages and phases our family is and will go through.

I was struck how much Anna looks like me in this picture. She is busy with high school activities and the backbone of our meal planning efforts. She does well and we are thankful.

And of course the biggest perk to new baby sitting and holding him and since we are all about productivity making the most of the time reading. The best part of new babies besides their sweet smell, calm, and peace is all the great reading that can occur! Yay!!!

So I had a fat and full to do list before I was due. I can happily say it all got checked off before he came. From sacrament bread for Sunday, to haircut for dad, to reorganizing visiting teaching, to canning, we got through it. Now on this side I am happy to report he is a very chill baby. Loves to be cuddled, nurses well, is gaining weight, sleeps long stretches and only cries when we sit him alone to keep him awake so he will sleep long stretches at night. I feel good not too sore and am amazed how quick it really went.

 I wish I could skip the anxiety of worrying about delivery but I guess that's all part of the hormones changing. I learned more about herbal possibilities and helps this time and the power of prayer and positive thinking. This time every time a nervous or scared thought would come into my mind I would think "I'm so excited to meet this new person in our family!" It helped a lot. I listened to a talk that said if we are prepared we should not fear so I tried to apply that I was prepared so I didn't need to fear. We are blessed. God is good and he is real. I also told myself all through the night of laboring 1x per hour- I turn this over to Christ he has already paid the price ... it was enough to go back to sleep. Some suffering makes it real and gives us the sense of accomplishment but it's nice to have it be quick and to have some relief.