Welcome to the World, Caleb Ryder!!!

Caleb Ryder was born on June 29th, 2009 at 7:59 a.m!!! He weighed 7lbs and .5oz and was 19 1/4 in. long. It was a perfect labor and delivery and we're both doing great.

I was scheduled to be induced and the doctor wanted me to come in at midnight on the 29th. The plan was they'd hook me up to the monitors, start pitocin gradually, then break my water and have a baby by late morning/early afternoon. Well, it turns out, after much prayer and special labor foods, I started going into labor on my own. As I was sitting on the couch ready to go to the hospital, I was having cramps that I just chocked up to nerves. Then, since we got to the hospital a bit early, we had time to go to the store. As we were walking back to the car I felt a lot of pressure and felt extra waddly and mentioned it to AJ. I said it would be funny if I was going into labor now, but never gave it another thought. Well after checking in and getting into my room it was about 1 a.m. I was hooked up to the fetal monitor and the contractions monitor and was started on a very low dose of pitocin. About an hour later I was having some contractions and they gradually became pretty painful. At about 3 a.m. my water broke and my contractions really became strong. The nurse said that I must have been going into labor on my own, because the amount of pitocin I was given wouldn't do this. Well, they stopped my pitocin and my labor progressed on it's own for the rest of the way. About 5 in the morning my doctor came in and broke my water (the rest of it) and then started me back on pitocin (not sure why) for about an hour. Well just before 7, the nurse said I was ready to push soon and since she knew I was waiting for my mom to arrive (after dropping William off with our neighbor,) we were just going to do some practice pushes. Well after 1 push the nurse said that I was a "good pusher" and if we do any more the baby will be here. So, we just hung out for about 30 minutes and gave my mom a chance to get there. Four pushes later Caleb came into the world!!! My apologies if that was all too much information, but after a long labor with William and 2 hours of pushing I want to make sure I remember these details too.

Right away Caleb started exercising his lungs and for the second time in my life, it was the most beautiful cry I'd ever heard. I don't know what it is, but it seems as though from the moment the baby is born I just hold my own breath and wait anxiously as the doctor clears the airways until I hear the first cries. It's like music to my ears and then I can breath again. Once the baby is home I'm not loving the cries so much though (wink, wink.) Caleb looked just like AJ, just as I suspected. I could tell from the latest ultrasound pictures that he had AJ's chin and mouth. Although, I think he does have my eyes. And like William, he has blonde hair and not much of it. My hospital stay was really great and I enjoyed that time getting to know my new son. I remember just trying to comprehend having two children and feeling my heart just grow with more love by the second.

Later that morning, AJ went to get William and bring him to meet his new brother. I was so excited and couldn't wait to see him. I was looking forward to holding both of my babies. William thought Caleb was fun to look at and he said "Baby" a few times, but he was much more interested in the buttons on my bed and the doors in the room. The next few days went by pretty quickly and on Wednesday I was able to go home. William didn't seem to mind that the baby was there, but it was clear that he did not like that I wasn't home for 2 days. He acted out a bit and didn't want AJ or I to leave his side. That initial clinginess has gone away some over the weeks, but William is still getting used to things. He absolutely loves Caleb - that is one thing I am sure of. However, he is absolutely testing his limits with me and I'm not sure if that's jealousy or his age since he is approaching 2 in September. When William wakes up from a nap, he always goes to the pack n' play and looks for "Baby." When I'm holding Caleb he likes to come over and kiss his head and point out his body parts.

It has definitely been quite the adjustment for me, having 2 little ones. I can't speak for AJ, but I know that he's been very busy with work, school, and kids. BUT I must say that my mom was here for a month and that was a HUGE help in getting adjusted. She played with William and gave him much needed attention and then held Caleb when William needed "Mommy time." Debbie also came down for a few days and was helpful in keeping William busy. After my mom left, I had about a week of doing it on my own before Vance and Annette came into town. They are here right now and both are also a HUGE help! We've also had some friends come by and bring dinners for us during the week no parents were here which was amazingly wonderful. I must say we've been really lucky too, because Caleb is a great sleeper. He quickly got on board with the whole sleeping longer at night and waking more in the day routine. Afer 1 week he slept 5 hours at night. I had to check with the doctor to make sure that it was ok and he assured me it was. The next night, he slept 8 hours! That's not typical, but he does sleep about 5-7 hours at night now. I was just hoping that he'd sleep that long by 7 weeks like William! He's defintiely spoiling us in that regard.

OK, well that's all for now. Below is a slideshow of our newest addition. If you click on the slideshow and view it on the separate page, you'll be able to see some captions I've added. Love to All!!!