It's true what they say - everything about a second pregnancy is different. Instead of spending hours poring over our Pregnancy Week by Week book, Jeremy and I were still mostly focused on every new and adorable Avie moment. The odd symptoms that had me rushing to the computer to research barely got a moment's notice this time around. I do not have a single picture of my baby belly progress. And it's not that the sweet baby kicks and hiccups weren't amazing, it's just that I was often too tired to stop and contemplate the miracle taking place inside my body.
One thing, however, remained the same. There is nothing as amazing as seeing your newborn baby for the first time. The miracle of birth was no less amazing the second time around. We are so thankful that God blessed us with an "easy" (I say that hesitantly...), complication-free delivery and a beautiful, healthy baby boy. Here is the story of how he entered our world...
I read about "Braxton-Hicks" contractions when I was pregnant with Avie, but I don't remember having any. At least not any significant ones. This time, however, the contractions were noticeable (although not predictable) a few weeks before baby Zeke actually made his entrance. I convinced myself that this baby was going to come at least a week early. Although I had planned to work until I actually went into labor (I think I was making my students a little nervous), I decided that my body could use some rest and took off a week early. I did some nesting, but mostly spent as much time as possible with my daughter during her last days as an only child.
After several nights of going to bed in hopes of waking up in labor, I finally gave up. This baby was obviously not coming early and would probably be a week or two late. At my last prenatal visit with my midwife we made an appointment for six days after my due date. She believed that it would be a post-partum visit; I was not convinced.
On my actual due date (April Fools day, just for fun) I went about life as usual and even made a major shopping trip to Wal-Mart. I ran into some old friends there who asked if I was expecting another baby. They were a little shocked when I said, "Yes, I'm due today." That night I went to bed expecting nothing. Ezekiel arrived less than 6 hours later.
I woke up around 11 with a strong contraction. I knew immediately that this was the real thing. Since Jeremy is not the easiest person to wake up, I left him and Avie sleeping and went to the living room. I called my mom right away because I wanted her to be there for Avie. I walked downstairs to unlock the door for her and discovered that stairs are very unpleasant in labor - even early labor.
I ate some cereal, grabbed Jeremy's cell phone to time contractions, and laid down on the couch. My mom and Steve joined me a few minutes later and the three of us sat in the mostly dark living room waiting for the action. My contractions were about 5 minutes apart, so around 12:15 I called Kathy (our AMAZING midwife)to let her know what was going on. She of course told me to try to go back to sleep so that I would be well rested later. I told her I would try, but I knew there was no way I could sleep at this point. I was too excited about meeting Baby Rex!
I tried to rest on the couch, but as the contractions quickly became more intense I wanted to use the handy-dandy contraction timer website we had found. The computer is in our bedroom, so I decided it was time to wake up Jeremy. Avie gets worried if I say "Ow" when I stub my toe, so I certainly didn't want her waking up to mommy having contractions. I woke up Jeremy and asked him to take Avie to her room, or to Grandma, who was in the living room. Did I mention he doesn't wake up well? He was confused and thought I just wanted more room in the bed, so he left Avie and got up to give me his spot. I gave up trying to argue with him and went to the desk to time the contractions myself.
The contractions were pretty painful at this point, and I soon zoned out everything except a spot on the wall beneath our window. Jeremy took Avie out of the room (I'm not sure when, because I was still screaming for him to get her out after she was already gone, lol) and came to help me. Throughout the rest of my labor he let me pull on his arm (he was standing and I was kneeling) through every contraction. He tried comforting me in other ways, but I informed him (in a not-so-nice-tone) that I wanted to be left alone. Just having him there and holding his hand was a comfort that I wouldn't trade for anything in the world.
At some point (again, I was zoning out here), I asked him to call Kathy back and let her know we were progressing. The website we were using kept data on the timing of the contractions, so he called her and gave her the info on how they were going. Hearing me in the background, she decided to start driving this way. I'm guessing she arrived around 1 or 1:30, but again, it's a little fuzzy.
I was trying to remain as calm as possible throughout the labor. One of my goals was not to scream. When a contraction began and I started to scream I would stop and tell myself over and over again, "Don't scream. Don't scream. Don't scream." That worked some, but what worked the best was recalling scripture about God's love and care for us. I mostly just repeated Psalm 23 and Philippians 4, but I cannot put into words the peace that flooded through me by just saying the words over and over, "Be anxious for nothing...be anxious for nothing." It was then that I realized anew that God was with us and that He would take care of me and my baby. It was such a blessing to hear Kathy quietly praying in the background for God to give me the strength I needed.
A few minutes later Kathy asked me if I felt like I needed to push. I didn't realize (or didn't remember) that I could push before my water broke. "Sure," she said. "Sometimes the water doesn't break until the head is coming out. I won't rush you. You just push whenever you feel the urge." She had barely completed the sentence when I felt the urge to push. Jeremy offered to help me move to the bed, but the thought of moving anywhere made me shudder, so I stayed kneeling on the floor, one hand pulling on him and the other on our poor desk chair (which held up remarkably well!). As Steve told my mom, he heard me from downstairs murmuring (or screaming...) the familiar words, "I can't do this! I can't do this!" and figured we must be getting close. The next thing he heard was, "My baby boy!"
The pain vanished almost instantly. I saw my beautiful baby boy in front of me and actually asked if I could pick him up. "Of course!" Kathy replied, and she and Jeremy helped me pick him up and get settled so I could hold him close. The time was 2:25 am (and I thought Avie had come quickly!). The next hour or so was filled with snuggles, kisses, and an introduction to one of his big sisters. When Avie and Grandma heard "Baby Rex" cry, they came to wait outside the bedroom door. When Avie came in and saw me holding Zeke, her face lit up and she said, "Hi baby!" (Later she would shake his hand and say, "Nice to meet you!" No joke.) She of course just wanted to hold him!
Kathy cleaned up Zeke, weighed him (7lbs, 130z), and measured him (22 inches). She helped me clean up and made sure I was eating and drinking. Then she went to the kitchen to work on paperwork while our family bonding time began.
I know most people reading this think we are completely insane for having a baby at home. A few years ago, I am sure I would have agreed with you. I can tell you sometime about all the reasons we chose to have a home birth. I could explain to you in great detail about the research we did both before Avie was born and with this decision. But statistics and reasoning aside, one of the most beautiful moments of Ezekiel's birth was resting in my bed, with my husband sleeping next to me and our daughter sleeping in the next room, nursing and snuggling our new baby and watching the sunrise outside our bedroom window. God is so good.
Not exactly painting or sewing, but Elizabeth, Avie, and I had fun making these little gifts. They smell yummy, and make Avie's skin super-soft after her bath!
Christmas present for "Baby Noah." (If I ever get to see him again to give it to him!!)
Scented rice pillows. Quite a learning experience. The first one I made (handcrafted for my Dad) ended up wrong side out on one side. I think I finally got the hang of it...well, sort of anyway!
Avie's apron. She loves helping me cook and has always been fascinated with my apron, so I thought she might like one of her own. I made it after she went to bed one night, so when she woke up, Daddy told her I had a surprise for her. She now thinks that "surprise" is just another word for apron! 
Avie putting her apron to good use in her kitchen!
She loves the stars! 
Mommy's favorite are the elephants of course!
Her too-cool magnet board Daddy made for her: 
