The Harwards

Little Ruby came into the world a few weeks ago on her big sister Addison's birthday! (Dr. Jacob, my OB who delivered her has his b-day on the same day!)
I knew it was a possibility that she would be born on Addie's b-day, but never thought it would actually happen!

I started laboring around 5pm the day before and decided it was the real deal a few hours later. My contractions got closer and stronger and around 11:30pm, with the contractions 2 1/2 minutes apart we decided to head to the hospital. At midnight, I was checked in and not too much later I was in a hospital room.

The labor wasn't as fast as I'd hoped - she was born at 7:01am. This time around I decided to go epidural-free, so it probably seemed longer. :) I prepared by taking a hypnobirthing class, which helped, but was still quite the challenge. Around 6:45am the dr arrived and he broke my water (not exactly approved of during the hypnobirthing method, but I was ready to be done!) and 16 minutes later Ruby was born. That's all my body was waiting for!

We are glad she's here!

The first moments after birth.

It's such a good feeling immediately after birth - the relief, the happiness, the feeling of a new baby against your chest immediately relaxing because of the contact - just joyful.

The birthday girl holding her sister!

Ella contemplating all that's happening. She's had the hardest time of anyone, but is gradually adjusting to the reality of not being the baby.

Her happy loving personality shines through in this picture.

James and Ruby - Father of three girls now!

Ruby at 1 1/2 weeks

Ella stealing a drink out my water bottle. :)

The much anticipated Halloween day came and went yesterday. It almost didn't happen for Addison because she refused to clean up her room for awhile. She was simply told that she couldn't go anywhere until it was cleaned. It took her about 4 hours to decide to do it versus the few minutes to actually clean it up. She told her Aunt Ali that she made a "really good choice."

Ali came over for a little bit and helped me get some strawberries ready to freeze and make a pumpkin for my belly. It turned out cute - thanks Al!

I made yarn hair for the girls - really the only picture with a glimpse of it is of me and the pumpkin belly - Addie's head is in the shot and that's the top of it. Pretty much the rest of the night I was carrying the hair. Why did I make it again? At home that's all they want is Rapunzel hair.

Ella

Addie snuck into the tree house with her bag of candy and went to town. Look closely at her face and you'll glimpse the sticky, candied mess she was.

We had to visit Gma Great (Harward) too. It was a bit chaotic and I was so exhausted by the end of it all. Since James took the pictures he isn't in any, but he was there!

The weather was perfect yesterday, but today it is snowing outside. I thought the change in weather would bring on the labor - nothing is happening yet though. What I need is a good thunderstorm! The baby is so low now that it has got to be soon. A few weeks ago the baby was +1 and she's even lower now.

This time around I'm not going to be induced for anything other than a medical necessity and I can't say I'm enjoying the anticipation and uncertainty of it all. I keep telling myself it won't be too long - it's hard to wait patiently. The hormones and emotions of pregnancy really don't help much either - or fussy girls who are tired from the day before and probably having sugar withdrawals.

We did have a happy halloween and later on this week we'll have at least one more celebration for Addison's birthday and hopefully another birthday will occur!