Our Solstice Baby is Here!

What a blessing to have our boy arrive in this world on Summer Solstice. Emmett Quin delivered on June 21st at 12:41p mid-way through the longest day of the year. We're thrilled to have our little crab of a Cancer who would have been a Gemini had he been born 7 hours earlier.

The birthing experience was nothing short of a miracle. We were blessed with a healthy boy after 11 hours of labor. After 1 hour of contractions, my water broke at 2:30a. We were at the hospital by 4:30a and my cervix was fully dilated by 9a. One of my favorite friends of the day was Anesthesioligist Eric who relieved the excruciating pain, but also slowed the labor. The trade-off was 3 difficult hours of pushing. Three, VERY difficult hours made more bearable by the four individuals cheering and encouraging me to go the distance: Nurse Anita, Dr. Matin, dear friend Nurse Beckie Merce and loving husband, Justin.

My fondest memory is having him on my belly with the umbilical cord intact. Beckie leans over and asks, "what is the sex?" while Justin opens his legs, turns to me with tears rolling down his face and says, "it's a boy". The new proud daddy cut the cord and we officially began our lives as two separate beings. All 8 lbs., 7 oz. of him came out perfectly except for the double-scoop ice cream cone head. He looked like the boy with 2 brains, due to him being rotated incorrectly while passing through the birth canal. Fortunately, after only 24 hours, he looked almost normal and mommy and daddy could rest a little easier.

Being new parents is the most fulfilling, crazy experience of our lives. We never knew how much we would fall head over heals in love with this little pea-punker.

6/20/2006

This baby is taking after mommy being fashionably late. If s/he arrived yesterday on the due date, we know it would have inherited daddy's timeliness trait. We're ready for Baby Arnold!

3-2-1...blastoff!

Is Monday really the 19th and I'm due to give birth in 3 days? Did I really surpass my 9-month mark this week? Will contractions begin while I am driving my car, walking through aisle 5 of Safeway or sleeping soundly (for one of the last times) at night?

My words to describe what I am going through is excitement and nervousness. Not knowing the sex, I have never been more elated and anticipatory about something to come. To hear our baby's first cry and then discover if we're blessed with a son or daughter will be the most fulfilling, exciting news of my life! Everything leading up to it is what I am trying to concentrate on right now. My formula for calming the mind: massages, cranial sachral, meditation and phone consultations with my doula and dear friend, Nurse Beckie Merce.

Beckie and I talked last night about what to expect, how to prepare and keeping things in perspective. It felt good to get my fears out on the table. I told her about my intense dreams lately concerning hospitals and large bodies of water (symbolism = life). Hearing her say that Swedish Ballard is a non-hospital hospital with an intimate, community environment made me feel so much better. Then she jumped right into labor coach mode, pumping me up with a reminder that I have a high pain threshold and push myself to the top of Mt. Rainier. I can see her and Justin now, "push, push, breathe, push, push, breathe". The analogy of Mt. Rainier has come up before in preparation and Justin says he will bring our favorite, we-made-it-to-the summit treat, Nutter Butters. I'm so lucky to have these two by our side!

Justin officially started the "Free Baby Arnold" campaign this week. I told him we have to hold off because I have a house to sell in Fremont in the next few days. Fortunately, I have been working hard and getting around albeit slow, but at least, I am moving. Oh, and it looks like an offer will roll in, so that is a huge relief. I asked the daddy-to-be to jump-start the campaign come early next week. Then again, if I go into labor and give birth on Father's Day, I can't think of a better gift for a man who will be an unbelievable daddy.

38 weeks, oh my!

My 38th week of pregnancy officially begins today! We visited the hospital last week. Since our dear friend, Beckie, was doing her clinicals at Swedish Ballard Labor & Delivery and it was her last day on Thursday, we knew we had to take advantage of it. Justin and I rolled in with a bunch of donuts to win the hearts of the nurses and their large appetites. They looked tired and confused as to why this happy, refreshed and very pregnant couple was in there with big smiles saying, "we'll be here soon, we'll be here soon."

So many moms have told me the last month is brutal: little sleep, very uncomfortable and ready to take ownership of your body again. I have been sleeping like a champ despite the 5-6 times I wake up to pee. I'll even throw in a nap here and there, which I know I will have no problems doing once little one keeps us up in the wee hours of the night. One of the best pieces of advice came from our pregnancy class to get the sleep you need. Stay in bed until you get your 7-8 hours. Even though the sun is up doesn't mean you get up and start your day. After each feeding, go back to sleep until all 8 hours add up even if that takes from 11p-12p into the next day. Can you say breakfast in bed? Ahhhhh, Justin will definitely be my night in shining armor bringing me food and juice while making sure mommy and baby get their needed zzzzzz's. We're going to be a great team and getting so excited to dive into parenthood!