A Minor Miracle Occurred, and Now We Have A Miracle

Sometime between Tuesday and Wednessday I went into active labor. The transition from cramping to contractions was so gradual and gentle, that I honestly have no idea when one left off and the other began. In fact, the build was SO gentle and gradual that I really didn't think I was even in labor for the longest time. Every story I've heard recently seems to involve a "sudden" onset; I had NOTHING sudden, other than a realization that I should probably start working on getting to the hospital.

I am going to post more on my birth experience later (because it was quite the experience), but for now I wanted to get a few teasers up:

This was the very first photo ever taken of our little Thomas Jaden Glade. He has been ex-utero for only a few moments.



I am really proud of this CONE HEAD because it PROVES that I pushed this 8lb 9oz kid out. Ha. What do Doctors really know anyway? (sorry Dr. Glade) Maybe my determination to push was augmented by having been told I was likely too small to deliver him. There's no greater incentive than being told you can't do something.
And he's got pretty dark eyes:
Still a little bleary-eyed from a REALLY TIGHT FIT:
I didn't feel so good, but I sure was proud of my work:
I can't seem to get him to hold still for pictures... Do they ever mind? Where are the instructions written, anyhow?

Rob was an all-star dad, and changed almost every single diaper while we were at the hospital. There was NO nursery, so from almost the moment TJ was evicted from Hotel Utero, he was our responsibility. Needless to say, after labor and delivery I was kinda checked out. Rob was left with all the heavy-lifting; or in this case, Meconium Space Poo wiping. He has earned his sleepless-eyes honorably.



His poor hands are all battered and bruised-up from the blood draws. He had to have SO many because he was a little hypoglycemic (don't worry, this has all resolved).