...well, Wednesday afternoon we went and had a baby.
a baby boy named Guy Michael Bowman (subject to change--you KNOW us).
Here are some of the facts:
born: 11.11.2009 at 5:53pm
weight: 7lb 1oz
length: 19.5 in
He seems to have long feet and wide hands.
A prominent nose.
And dark red-brown hair.
His cry sounds like a cat, which might satisfy Harriet's desire to have one.
Harriet is one happy big sister, constantly trying to make him laugh, pry his eyes open, cuddle him, hold him, love him, love him, violently love him.
She's read him books, sang him songs and offered him lots of candy and toys.
We're loving falling in love with him.
Welcome to our home, Guy Baby!
(For the gruesome details of the labor and delivery read on. Warning: may not be for the faint-hearted!)
Surprise, surprise, 2 1/2 weeks early at 10:30am my waters broke. But then nothing happened, i.e. no contractions. I canceled my day (lunch and shopping with a friend and a PRE-natal massage), got my mind around the new plans, called our 'watch Harriet' team and called my midwife. Dave seemed to accept the new plan better than I and got to work getting as much post out for the day as possible. Harriet...well, she watched 'Dumbo'...a couple of times, I think.
1:30pm Still no pain. A visit from my midwife, the lovely Carol, who pulled at the cervix and left with a smirk. I then put Harriet down for a nap and went on a walk. And thus the contractions began. And once they began THEY REALLY BEGAN IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN! Came back, paced the living room in a panic because this was intense and coming on fast, Dave packed furiously for the post and Harriet slept.
3:45pm our lovely friend, Katy, picked up Harriet.
4:00pm postman picked up post.
4:10pm we were in the car and driving to the birthing center with food bag, camera bag, computer bag but SOMEONE forgot the baby and mommy bags (won't say who, Dave).
4:30pm we met midwife Carol, who had not lost that smirk, at the center and got to work. She checked me and I was only a 5, very depressing as I thought that, like last time, every centimeter would take more than an hour and as the pain was very severe I panicked even more. (Little did I know!) Dave assisted and coached me through contractions, got our labor music playlist going (for some reason only song that seemed appropriate was Neil Young's 'Harvest Moon') and stayed calm, which was grand. After about 15 mins. I got in the birthing pool and contracted some more and (I believe) started to scream a little. (I know I told them all there was no way I would ever do this again, which made Carol laugh.)
5:53pm After pushing 4 0r 5 times his head came out and next push brought the rest of him. Carol handed me our beautiful new boy and we all took a breather. PHEW!
Thoughts: I'm not the type who feels a rush of love and emotion when I'm given my babies, I think it may bother some people to hear me admit that. Of course, I've only had two but both times my love has grown as the new life establishes it's self in mine. When I first held him my thoughts were very practical, this is a new responsibility, a new adventure, the next step for our little family. Today I am head over heals for our son, just like I am for Harriet. I have started to dream of his future.
Coinsidences? Harriet and Guy were both born on Wednesdays. Both were born on the 11th of the month. And with both my water broke at 10:30am. CRAZY!
(Sunday dinner, thanks to Marks and Spencers)
(my attempt to greenify a close-up on my dad's eyes)
