Welcoming Mitchell Maas!

Wednesday morning I had just laid down to take a little nap when I got a phone call from the Doctor's office. He had been worrying about me and wanted me to come in. I had been in on Friday and didn't schedule another appointment as we scheduled an induction for the next Friday if I didn't go into labor before then. However, my blood pressure has been borderline high and my feet constantly swollen (maybe I was doing a little bit too much???), so he just wanted to make sure me and baby were still doing okay. I went in two hours later, dilated to a 3, 80 % effaced and with even higher blood pressure. Thus a phone call to Andy who meet me at the hospital 45 minutes later!

It took awhile to start the pitocin. Nothing really happened until the Dr. came in to break my water at 6pm. At 8pm, I was just at a 6. A little after nine I was having a really hard time breathing through the contractions (even with an extra dose in my epidural), but the nurse wasn't planning to check me again until after 10. She came in a little before 9:30 because the Dr. called asking where I was. "Oh! Let's call that Dr. and have a baby!" Well, doctor was helping at another hospital and hurried over. He came in at 9:55. Mitchell was born at 9:59 pm (we had to wait about 2 minutes for me to have another contraction). He was born with the cord around his neck, with his hand underneath it.

Happily, I only yelled at Andy once. He was planning to cut the cord, but because of how the cord was wrapped, the Dr. told him to cut it with only the head out. Not the most comfortable position for the mom! And, stop taking time to pass the scissors around and let me find out what this baby is! Alas, 9:59 - it's a beautiful little boy! Our sweet Dr. This was his second day without sleep because of so many cute babies all wanting to be born on November 10th!

Andy finally agreed to Mitchell's name. (I kind of figured he would have some pity on me.) Looking at our precious angel, about 15 minutes after his arrival!

From the very beginning, he has been a very content little guy. He loves to look around and has even started to turn his head to sounds. His eyes are very dark blue and incredibly intense!

Meeting the siblings! Because he was born so late, the kids were already in bed. We had some fabulous friends stay the night with them (and get up with them at 5:30 am) to share the happy news! Andy picked them up after school, got some balloons and flowers, bought happy meals, and brought them to meet baby Mitchell!

They all love to hold him, but this little girl just can't get enough! She will happily sit on the couch for 45 minutes, just still and holding Mitchell.

Love those kiddos! And, yes, his hair is incredibly soft! We all find ourselves stroking it!

Our happy family!

Checking out his fingers, toes, and bracelets.

My favorite snuggly-baby position!

Time to go home! Our little 8 pound baby completely filled out the newborn outfit we bought. It is in the laundry right now so he can wear it at least once more before he grows out of it!

That is all for now! I have more pictures on the camera, but downloading and uploading all take time (and two hands), both of which are a precious commodity!