A Baby Boy!

Our baby boy (surprise!) is here! Born last weekend, 7 pounds, 8 ounces.

He has lots of black/brown hair and it looks like Emilio's dimples have struck again! We are enjoying the second time tremendously now that we know the drill. Emilio was a great coach, but he didn't have to do much. My 5.5-year-old saw the birth along with Grandma and is very protective of his baby brother--just what he wanted!

Birth in a nutshell: Water broke Friday am, that night watched movie Hitch and laughed so hard contractions began 2 am Saturday morning. Went into hospital Saturday 6 am. Walked all over hospital, with Sebastian shadowing me (along with my mom and Emilio). At noon I was still "too comfortable" and my coaches were getting rowdy there on the couch so we induced active labor. After 2 hours of geometrically progressing intensity, I transitioned fast & hard (nurse Sonja kept me on track by lying and saying it wasn't too late for pain meds).

Somehow made it from the shower (a godsend) to the bed as the nurse sent husband running down the hall yelling for a doctor. Emilio got back in the room (doc never made it) just in time to see the baby come out in two pushes. Sebastian watched the last part with a blanket over his head and one eye peeking out, but was cool with it. I couldn't believe it happened so fast (glad it was in a hospital and not on stage). All told, 2.5 hours of labor, compared to 12 for my first boy. And I've almost forgotten how painful it was...