Axel Samuel Roth

Axel Samuel Roth was born on a gorgeous sunny Sunday, October 13th, 2013, at 4:14pm.  He was a whopping 9 lbs 3 oz (as suspected) and measured 21 inches. 

Blissed out mama moments after birth

 

He immediately reminded me of Hudson, but then quickly started to look like his own person...I think he looks pretty identical to Brian's baby picture. 

It was a wonderfully perfect drama-free labor/delivery, and we are just so blessed to be so in love with this baby and our growing family.  Big brother Hudson was immediately smitten.

Labor round 2

Juliet 38 weeks pregant, Oct 1st 2013

My due date was Oct. 14th.  Considering Hudson arrived ELEVEN long days after his due date, I was very prepared, and perfectly content, for another late arrival.  So when we agreed to attend our friend's 40th birthday 'square dancing party' on Oct 12th I thought nothing of it.  The other guests were dying that I was bouncy dancing just days before my due date, though I assured them all I felt fine and could very well be pregnant for 2 more weeks...We arrived home at 11pm, and at 3am I woke up to discover that my water had broke (actually, it was just a small leak to be specific) - the joke was on us!  One of my first thoughts was 'everyone at the party is going to laugh about this.'

Labor didn't begin at all, so luckily I was able to go back to sleep.  In the morning, my midwife assured me that labor would likely come on it's own, but I might as well put plans into place since she'd want to see me by evening.  Being a planner, I was given the gift of time and made all the necessary phone calls to all the folks we had placed on call to take care of Hudson over the next 2 days.  Our friend Kate would take him for the day Sunday, sleep over Sunday night, he had school Monday, and conveniently, my mom was flying home from Hawaii (where she competed in the Ironman) on Monday where her plan naturally stopped in SF en route to Chicago.  She was ready to stay in SF should this baby arrive.  We were all set. 

Pretty much as soon as Kate took Hudson out of the house around 12pm, labor began fairly quickly and strongly.  By 1pm I was 'dealing' intensely in my bedroom with Brian by my side. By 2:30 we were heading to the hospital (where Brian parked the car and I had to walk with him from the parking garage in full on labor all through my contractions).  We were immediately greeted by my midwife as she took us to a labor and delivery room where I labored for the next hour.  Around 4pm my water officially broke. At 4:14pm baby was born.

It did not begin as I had though it would, of course/famous words, but once it started it was just as fast and intense as I had heard it would be.  But it was amazing and well worth the journey...