It's a boy!

We've been home from the hospital since noon yesterday, but it's been a challenge finding a time to sit down at the computer. I do a lot of sitting down, but usually there's a baby in my lap! 

But we do want to give Frederick his proper introduction to the world...so I'll write while he's sleeping and the big kids are outside with Pete. 

The stats are: 

Frederick Ross Herr

Born Tuesday, September 25th at 7:20 AM

weighing in at 9lbs, 11oz.,  21 1/4" long

I started noticing contractions during the night and started keeping track of them around 1:30 AM. I actually downloaded an app to keep track because I wasn't sure about keeping track in my groggy state, and I didn't want to wake Pete too soon. I guess it was 2:30 or so when he did wake up and asked me what was going on and then he was immediately up, getting dressed. We called the midwife around 3, when contractions were about 5 minutes apart. I was still able to speak through them and walk around, but we decided to head to the hospital anyway. We kissed the kids and told them we were leaving, then headed out the door. Mom reported that Henry, whom I thought had fallen back asleep, woke up and stood sort of groggily in his doorway- wondering if it might be a good time for a midnight snack. 

Our midwife was Mara Evans. The midwife we'd had with the previous two had retired and at our new office there are several midwives, so we weren't sure who we'd have on call. We like them all, and Mara was really amazing for us through the labor. She stayed in the room the entire time and was very hands-on, coaching me through contractions. I think this helped Pete to be calm as well and just to be present for me. He took her cues well and was very steadying and encouraging for me. 

Once we got to the hospital, it wasn't long before the contractions became more frequent and painful. We took one walk around the lobby, sat on the big ball-thingy in the room, tried a few different positions and, when I was at 7 cm. and wondering how I was going to keep going, got into the labor tub- which I hadn't ever experienced before. It was very soothing, but also made things get pretty serious. I thought I was in there about 15-20 minutes, but Pete said it was more like an hour. I wondered how I was ever going to get myself out of it (it's basically a deep spa tub) but I somehow managed that as well. I think after that it was about another half hour before I started pushing. I was pretty sure I wasn't going to be able to do it. I felt very emotional and just worn out, but Pete and Mara really talked me through one breath at a time and somehow we got to the pushing part. I guess I've gone into enough detail already...suffice it to say the pushing wasn't easy. I think it was maybe 7-10 pushes and I just didn't think I had the strength, but then out he came! Pete was the one to say "it's a boy!" and they plopped him right on my chest. Poor little guy was bruised about the face- due to the speed of descent, I have since gathered. He had also taken on a bit of fluid- the nurse said he was 'juicy'- so we rubbed him a lot and tried to get him to cry some of that stuff out. He just didn't feel like crying a whole lot. I get the feeling he's a bit unflappable. 

Anyway, here's one of his first photos. I couldn't believe when they told me he was 9 pounds, 11 ounces! That's bigger than either of the other 2 kids, and he came earlier than either of them. 

Here he is after a bath and moving up to the other room. You can see that his hair is fairer than the other two kids as well. You can see a bit of the bruising on his face in this picture. 

We had to wait a bit for the kids to arrive and be the first to meet the baby. They were pretty excited, not only to miss school, but to find out if they had a brother or a sister. Henry spotted the blue card on the cart and was so happy. Clara seemed confused that it really wasn't a girl after all. (Yesterday, though, Henry said he kind of likes girl babies better because they're cute, like Penny. And Clara decided she still really loves him- even though he's a boy.)

They each took turns holding him and talking to him. 

After a trip to the cafeteria, they brought back a blue balloon and an arrangement with bubblegum cigars. Clara could not get past the idea of the bubblegum and was maybe most upset about leaving those behind when she had to go home. 

Here's the first of what's sure to be many awkward family photos. 

We finally decided on Frederick's name by the evening- at which point we were able to share it with Pete's parents. They had been in Cincinnati in the morning, with their other new grandchild, and made it back in time to visit. 

These pictures are from Wednesday and yesterday. He took a while to start opening his eyes, and it's still a rare event. 

 We did have a cute little outfit to bring him home in. Of course, it didn't last too long because the first time I changed him he peed all over the place. Boys!

 Clara was excited to come home from school and have her new baby here.

After Henry got home we all went outside to try to get a family coming-home shot. You can see the kids still have their hospital stickers on. They hadn't been to visit yesterday, but they wanted to wear the stickers to school. Today we had some pictures printed out for them to share. 

 It's funny to have a picture of a baby of ours in the sunshine. Since Henry and Clara were both born in the colder months, we have very few early pictures of them outside.

 Here's Frederick this morning. We sat down on the couch to nurse a bit and had two phone calls and a video chat. He felt so popular it made him smile a little bit.

 He has spent most of the afternoon napping and the kids are getting very anxious for him to wake up. I'm sure he's working hard to get on his awake-during-the-night, sleep-during-the-day schedule.