A Thousand Words

Laura, he's never 'just playing quietly'.

Never.

Some Recent Pics

15 Minutes of Fame....

Here's Brian's:

http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/content/feb2009/bs2009022_191866.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index+-+temp_news+%2B+analysis

What could be better than notoriety for unemployment? At least it's trendy right now... :)

Ezra Jackson Hall

The newest installment to the Hall family joined us yesterday, January 17th at 8:43 am!

First the stats, with Felix's to compare:

gestational age: 37 weeks, 5 days (F: 37 weeks, 1 day)
weight: 5 lbs, 14 oz (F: 5 lbs, 3 oz)
length: 18 3/4 in (F: 19 in)
eyes: nondescript gray (F: ditto...his turned bright blue after a few weeks)
hair: tons of soft, dark, wavy hair, with some serious sideburns (F: a fair amount of dark straight hair)
features: Laura's eyes, nose, ears, mouth we think (F: a little Brian clone!) [this is so subjective, and could and does change over time!]
labor: 5 hrs start to finish--all of it pretty intense (F: 10 hrs--5 hrs of it intense)

Now the story:

I'd been having contractions off and on for a few days, but nothing continuous, although I knew from my last two OB checkups that I was moving in that direction. Then on Thursday I woke up at about 3:30am to increasingly strong contractions that were first 10, then 8 to 6 minutes apart. I tried to rest in between contractions, and began to realize that this was really labor!

By 6:30 things were getting painful, and so I let Brian know. I took a nice warm bath, which really helped me through those moderately intense contractions. I guessed I was at about 5 or 6 cm when I was through with my shower at 7:00, because the contractions took a lot of focus and effort to sort of “stay on top of” mentally, but they weren't horribly painful.

By 7:30 Brian was up, Felix was getting ready to go to our friend's house (with all of 5 minute’s notice…thank you SO MUCH, Shakespears!), and I was really having to work to get through the first few contractions of transition (7 to 10 cm), in between drying my hair and putting on makeup, of course. Brian was very supportive and helpful, switching from “super dad” mode to “super labor coach” mode as he got Felix ready and the car loaded up. From then on the contractions came about every 2 minutes, and lasted about 90 seconds… so not much regrouping time in between! And boy were they intense; it took everything I had to work through them. But I just kept thinking about the light at the end of the tunnel—how we’d get to meet our baby boy in just a few minutes!

So we arrived at the U of M hospital triage at about 8:15: 9 cm, 100% effaced, with the baby at a +3 station (as low as possible before pushing), and the amniotic sac bulging. So after about 4 more super intense contractions I was in a delivery room, and they broke my water. That triggered the urge to PUSH, and so I did! The doctor told me to “bear down” continuously, but I chose to listen to my body and line it up with the waxing/waning muscle tension during the contractions. (This might be too much info, but that really helped me not to tear much at all, the only thing I wanted to do differently this second time around!)

Well, after 2 or 3 pushes Ezra was born!!! He was placed him on my chest, and all I could think was how GORGEOUS and perfect and tiny Ezra is—and what a beautiful miracle labor, birth, and families are!

Momma and Ezra, a few minutes old

A rare glimpse of Ezra awake!

Brothers

My little boys!

First bath--should I use the whole bottle of shampoo?!

Sweet baby Ezra

There's nothing in the world like a newborn babe

Introducing...

Our new baby!

...stay tuned for more details!

Belly

33 Weeks

Felix loves to interact with the baby, usually just by giving the sign for "baby"when he sees my bare belly. It's fun to see him think about baby brother more often now that I'm getting bigger!

Turkey Day

We traveled to Iowa this year for Thanksgiving, taking a much needed break from school and recruiting to bond with family (all 5 siblings + significant others, and Grandma Barnes!), relax, and enjoy the gourmet fare provided mostly by Rachel (with help from siblings as assigned).

Food prep by Spencer, Kelly, Aaron, and Brian

The menu was fit for a 5-star restaurant, so I wanted to record it for posterity:


Hors d'oeuvres: (by Christy and Steve)
*hummus & pita
*devilled eggs
*crudites

The meal: (by Rachel unless noted)
*apple-onion-bay scented turkey (by Dan)
*fruited cornbread dressing
*yum-yum salad (by Polly)
*mashed potatoes (by Spencer)
*seared green beans (by Brian & Laura)
*sweet potato-gruyère soufleé
*cranberry chutney preserves
*rolls (by Rachel Dennis, family friend)

Polly, Spencer, Dan, and Kelly

Rachel D., Amy K., Polly, (Spencer), Dan, Kelly, Rachel, Aaron

Christy, Steve, Rachel D.

Dessert:
*Rock Band

*and card games Second Dessert:
*Pumpkin cheesecake
*Maple-pumpkin pie
*Kentucky Derby Pie (by Kelly)


And of course, Felix had plenty of time to cuddle with Grandma Polly!

and with Great-grandma!

And lots of playtime with Aunts and Uncles.

And time to get to know the cats.

Then, sadly it was time to leave beautiful Cedar Rapids and return home to Ann Arbor. But thank goodness for Dean Bear and a comfy carseat. :)

What is the Meaning of This??

Is that a baby?? It sure is! Surprise--the Hall family will be welcoming a new member in February! (2-2-09, to be precise... but since when are due dates precise?)

Let's face it, secrets are fun! And we kept this one well hidden from family until my mom came to visit and we surprised her with a little trip to the Maternal Fetal Unit of Columbia Medical Center... complete with tickets to my 10-wk ultrasound!

hi!

At my 13-wk ultrasound, the little guy would not wake up for anything (to allow them to measure the back of the neck), despite my best attempts to rouse him. That and the way he had snuggled so well into the wall of my uterus (and even found a little pillow) got my hopes up that we'd have an ace sleeper on our hands!

Pretty cute profile for an embryo, eh?

Then yesterday, it was finally time for the big 20-wk scan!!

We were so excited! I had a hundred reasons why I'd just love having either a girl or another boy. But it turns out, it's a...

Hooray !!!!!!!

(no room for doubt there...)

Our first family portrait with both kiddos

My mom cam into town for this ultrasound too--how cool! Felix loved sitting in her lap and watching the ultrasound, and seemed to want in on the action: he went up to the technician afterward, pulled up his shirt and smiled at her... as if to ask for a scan for himself!

I think the best part, though, was hearing Felix say hi to his baby brother for the first time!

I hope it's the start of a special friendship that will last forever.