He's HERE!!!

So our boy is here. He couldn't have come at a better time. Samson Manrique Sanders was born at 8:10pm on Tuesday, November 24th. He was 7lbs, 3 0z., and 20.5 inches long. Same length as his big brother, but over a pound lighter.

We were hoping he would come this week, because Josiah had taken the whole week off anyway for Thanksgiving. Monday night I was having some contractions, but that was totally normal for me. Pretty much every night I had contractions. However, when I woke up Tuesday morning having contractions, I thought something might be up. I timed them starting at 7am and they were about 8 minutes apart. They weren't too painful, but they continued until 10am when I decided to just take a shower, and get ready for whatever the day held. I was supposed to be at McDonald's for a playdate at 11:30, but when I got up and going, my contractions started getting more regular, and a big stronger. We decided to go to McDonald's and drop Zeke off with some friends, and then we would just go to the hospital. I felt really stupid, because my contractions weren't even bad, and they were still at least 5 minutes apart.

I was super nervous getting sent home from the hospital. It is such a pain, and I feel like I'm letting everyone down. We went to traige, and they hooked me up to a monitor. I was definitely having contractions, but they weren't too extreme. Finally the midwife came in and checked me, and I was at a 5!! I almost started crying. Well, there were definitely tears in my eyes. I was SO happy to know that I was staying. The baby was coming out today! We finally got admitted to our room around 3, and they hooked me up to monitors. By about 4 they let me get off the monitors and use the restroom. After I was standing behind a chair, and I started having a contraction. Before I knew it there was a puddle on the floor. I started cracking up. I felt so bad for the nurse that had to come and clean that up! For the next few hours, I just chilled in and out of bed having medium contractions every 5 minutes. In between the contractions I was making phone calls, and chatting with Josiah, and just resting. It didn't even feel like real labor. Then at 7 my midwife came in and checked me again. Now I was at a 7, but there was still a little bag of waters there, so she broke it. In the next hour, I started having real contractions. By 7:45ish, they started getting really hard, and I didn't know if I was going to be able to make it. I thought I had made the biggest mistake of my life by not getting drugs yet. I was always open to it, but I hadn't been in bad pain yet. I was still standing through my contractions, but the baby's heartbeat was dipping, so they made me lay down. I got in bed on my side, and the midwife came in to check me one last time. I told her that she would have to wait because I was going to have another bad contraction. She was coaching me through it, and Josiah was telling me how amazing I was doing. I was in some serious pain, and making some really nice noises, and then I was like, "I think it's coming out." and the midwife said, "I think you're right." Then things got intense, as she jumped off of my bed and scrambled to get ready. I just rolled to my back, and within 3 minutes, he was out. I don't even remember what was going on, just feeling his head come out, and then they said one more push for the shoulders. It was INSANE!!! I was cracking up and shaking and just a big old mess. I was so amazed that in 20 minutes I had gone from scared to death, to having a baby in my arms. For the next 20 minutes or so I just sat there shaking, maybe a little in shock, and then I calmed down enough to nurse him and hold him and love him. We're so glad he's here, and I am feeling AMAZING! I don't want to brag, but this was the best delivery EVER! I feel totally different than with Zeke. Not that I'm saying I want to do it again, but this worked this time.

So excited to be admitted!!

Did I seriously just have a baby!?? Pure adrenaline!

Our precious baby!

Just getting cleaned off.

Sleeping like a sweet boy.

This is a good picture of what he looks like awake. I took it with my phone so it's not super clear, but he has lots of dark hair, and he's just adorable. To us at least!

Oh, and here's one for Jacqui. He's extreme thumbsucking.