Welcoming Eric!!!

Brian and I didn't spend New Years Eve at any parties this year.  We didn't watch fireworks, play games, go out to dinner, or any other traditional ways you ring in the new year.   We welcomed 2011 in the best way possible, but snuggling our hours old son.

Eric Brian was born at 5:09 PM on December 31, 2010. 

Biding my time waiting for the pitocin to take effect.

Minutes old

 Visits from grandparents (all except my mother who was behind a camera the whole time.)

Three generations

Proud Daddy

And mommy is in heaven

Our pride and joy

**Birth Story

On Christmas morning, I could tell things had started to happen.  I couldn't stand or walk for more than a couple minutes without getting contractions.  As much as I expected to go into full blown labor soon, my contractions stayed irregular and unpainful throught the whole weekend and into the next week.   Finally my weekly appointment rolled around on Wedensday.  This was the first one since the 9 week appointment that Brian was able to come to with me.  I suspect that he had a feeling it would be a big appointment, and it was.  After talking to the doctor he let us know that he could schedule an elective induction if we wanted.  Wahoo, the baby was coming. 

We scheduled the induction for Friday the 31st, New Years Eve :)  I know it seems like we were aiming for a baby New Year or the tax deduction, but our decision was actually based on Brian having time off work starting that day.  My entire labor experiance was as lovely as labor can be.  We showed up at the hospital and my sweet nurse, Heidi, was ready and waiting to show me to my room.  I got all settled in for a long wait.  Then the resident dr. stopped by to okay my induction plan, my dr, stopped by a bit later to chat with me, and Heidi started the iv after an unsuccesful attempt to find a vein in my right arm and then blowing out the first iv attempt in my left arm. 

Then the waiting game began.  Brian watched college bowl games to pass the time while I did crossword puzzles and slept.    My wonderful anesthisiologist gave me the epidural before I really needed it.  He was even very careful to not show me the needle or tell me what he was doing.  Finally, just after 4, I let the nurse know that I felt like pushing.   After 20 minutes of pushing (which is hard work even with an epidural), Eric was born at 5:09 PM.    Brian was by my side through the whole process and his support and smiles kept me going. 

Some of my favorite memories from Eric's birth:

Hearing Eric cry for the first time ~ Brian cutting the umbilical cord ~ When they put Eric on my chest he lifted his head and just looked at me ~ Our first family prayer ~ Watching Brian change his first diaper and give his first bath ~ Being able to calm my baby just by holding him ~ Waking up with Eric in my arms and realizing that it was all real :)