Welcome Ashley Evangeline!!!!

My beautiful baby girl was born 9-16-09 at 1:16 AM. 9lbs 3 1/2 ounces! 14 inch head and 14 inch chest! Elizabeth was able to be right next to me and was the first one to look to see if she had a baby brother or a baby sister. She was a little confused by the black stuff on Ashley's bottom but finally realized she has little girl parts! How blessed Elizabeth was to be there!

Now that I've given you the nitty gritty I'll back up for those birth enthusiast like myself and fill in all the details...

I started having "bloody show" the morning of the 15th. I went to the chiropractor and got my neck and pelvis put back in. I had random contractions with increased "bloody show" through out the day. I went to sleep around 9:00 PM hoping we could start up serious labor in the morning. I had a couple of contractions that woke me up between 9 and 11:15 but was able to sleep most of that time. At 11:15 however the intensity of the contraction got stronger and the next one came just as strong 10 minutes later. I stayed in bed until a little after midnight having contractions every 10 minutes except for the last two were about 8 minutes apart. Hans had just got home from work and I asked him if he was ready to have a baby! He said he better hurry and get a nap in...I laughed and told him I didn't think he would have time for that.

I called Ann, my midwife, and let her know. I went to the bathroom and then woke my mom up about 12:20 or so. The contractions changed from 8 minutes to one right after another. It took my total concentration to get through the contractions. I'm so grateful that Hans and my mom were there to answer my one word requests between contractions...puke bowl... water...cold rag...etc. They were so great to meet my every need.

My sister Lanaya got there about 20 minutes before baby's arrival. She was my video-ographer. Ann was about five minutes away when I said, "oh baby!" She was coming! I laid down on my left side and breathed out and focused on not pushing. Ann came fly'n in and had just enough time to set up the birth stool...one long push and and short one later Ashley was in her hands and up on my chest. PHEW! That was intense and fast.

I had put together worship CD's to have a worshipful labor...that didn't go anything like I had expected. Although the worship music was on, my focus was totally taken up with the job of having a baby. So very different than Isaac's birth!

45 minutes of intense labor was enough for this mama! I'm so very grateful to my God, the giver of life, for entrusting me once again with one of His dear little ones.

Hans woke Morgan up to see if she wanted to cut the cord but she was more interested in sleeping. Elizabeth had no interest in cutting it so grandma Debbie was the one to do the honors! Hans said he's done it four times...he didn't need to do it again.

Hans woke Haley up to meet her baby! It didn't take her long to weasel her way into holding her new baby. And once she got her she did not want to let go!

Ashley is loved so very much! Morgan (who has been waiting patiently for her sister Ashley to come ever since Isaac was born) has been cherishing her holding time this morning with her long awaited baby sister! Isaac even had a few special moments with his sissy in his arms. Haley is waiting patiently for her turn this morning! This baby girl will not lack arms to cuddle her!