Braden is here!
So I've neglected this.. mostly because it's so much easier to post on Facebook, and a lot of people on my friends list here are there. But he's here!
The doctor offered to induce me, and I jumped on it 1) to make sure Braden didn't get too big (I was afraid of another 10lb baby.. or larger!) and 2) I wanted the boys' birthdays to be as separated as possible. So on the 15th, I headed off to the hospital to start the induction. They hooked me up to the pitocin drip, and at 11:45am, they broke my water. Soon after, the contractions started in earnest (OW), and at 2pm they finally put in my epidural. As soon as they got me situated, the midwife decided to go ahead and check me, and said I was good to go. About a dozen pushes later, Braden Leland was born at 2:55pm. He was 7 lbs 13 oz, and 19 inches long, and came out with a head of red hair.
We are in love, of course. He's a good baby, only crying when he's hungry or uncomfortable (of course), though he has a tendency to pee on Daddy during diaper changes. Kelen so far is doing great as a big brother. He's asked to hold Braden a few times, and likes to snuggle him. When Braden is quiet, Kelen tells me "We need to give him love," and gives him kisses. In the first few days home, when Braden was crying, Kelen would cover his ears and tell me to take Braden to the other room or give him Froggy (pacifier with a stuffed frog sewn to it).
The real test is when I start working again next week. Work changed my status to a work-at-home contractor so I could stay home with Braden and not put him in daycare. I have no paid maternity leave, so I'll be starting work again sooner than I'd like, but at least I don't have to go anywhere much. It'll be interesting to see how I can work around lil man's schedule. At least it's easy in these early months when it's eat, sleep, and diaper changes.
And now the requisite baby picture. And yes, he's already holding his head up!

And the brothers:

The doctor offered to induce me, and I jumped on it 1) to make sure Braden didn't get too big (I was afraid of another 10lb baby.. or larger!) and 2) I wanted the boys' birthdays to be as separated as possible. So on the 15th, I headed off to the hospital to start the induction. They hooked me up to the pitocin drip, and at 11:45am, they broke my water. Soon after, the contractions started in earnest (OW), and at 2pm they finally put in my epidural. As soon as they got me situated, the midwife decided to go ahead and check me, and said I was good to go. About a dozen pushes later, Braden Leland was born at 2:55pm. He was 7 lbs 13 oz, and 19 inches long, and came out with a head of red hair.
We are in love, of course. He's a good baby, only crying when he's hungry or uncomfortable (of course), though he has a tendency to pee on Daddy during diaper changes. Kelen so far is doing great as a big brother. He's asked to hold Braden a few times, and likes to snuggle him. When Braden is quiet, Kelen tells me "We need to give him love," and gives him kisses. In the first few days home, when Braden was crying, Kelen would cover his ears and tell me to take Braden to the other room or give him Froggy (pacifier with a stuffed frog sewn to it).
The real test is when I start working again next week. Work changed my status to a work-at-home contractor so I could stay home with Braden and not put him in daycare. I have no paid maternity leave, so I'll be starting work again sooner than I'd like, but at least I don't have to go anywhere much. It'll be interesting to see how I can work around lil man's schedule. At least it's easy in these early months when it's eat, sleep, and diaper changes.
And now the requisite baby picture. And yes, he's already holding his head up!
And the brothers: