9 months in the making...

It's been a long 9 months but when I think back (and look at all those pictures I just downloaded the other day) we've done quite a bit, the most difficult thing, I think, was growing another baby:

(arriving at the hospital for my induction

my only official belly shot of the entire pregnancy)

7:30 am Arrive at the hospital

8:30 am Dilated to a 1; get the cytotec

10:30 am Still dilated to a 1

12:30 pm Dilated to a 3; Dr. breaks my water

2:00 pm Receive epidural and get put on pitocin

4:30 pm Still dilated to a 3

My sister spent a few hours with us at the hospital, keeping us company but both of us were discouraged that I was progressing so slowly--she wanted to see the baby born but had to leave at 5 for another commitment. I called my parents to bring the boys by because I missed them terribly and like I said, the baby was showing no signs of a quick arrival. They spent a short time with us after Carter got home from school.

5 ish pm Danette leaves

5:20 pm My parents and boys leave

Around 5:30 or 5:40 I suddenly and I mean suddenly felt one contraction (only the pressure of it--thank goodness for epidurals!) Then I felt the pressure to push. The nurse checked me and I was ready. The dr. walked in, (he was on his way to my room anyway; he had come earlier and said he'd come back when the kids left) got his gown on, sat down, and I could tell he was basically holding her head. I pushed on the next contraction and she came right out at 5:45 pm. Since pushing for a mere 15 minutes with a nearly 9 lb boy my first time around 7 years ago, I've always said if I could have a teeny little girl, she'd fall right out. I was always joking a little and had no idea it would actually happen exactly that way someday! It was a whirlwind few minutes and laughable that her arrival was missed by everyone by just a few minutes.

(Christian laying on his sister just minutes before she was born.

What you can't see in this picture is that Christian's shirt says 'I'm the BIG Brother.'

Should they even sell that shirt in 12 months size? Probably not!)

Baby Ella
Born 5:45 pm
6 lbs. 14 oz.

(My parents rushed back to the hospital after feeding the boys some dinner.
They saw her and loved her instantly, even though she hadn't even had her bath yet and was still quite gooey!)

(I usually fore go posting terrible pictures of me on this blog, but so far this gives the best idea of what she looks like. And no I did not color coordinate us--it just happened that way.)