It's a BOY!

We are thrilled to introduce our SON, Declan Michael, to the world! He arrived yesterday morning, Friday May 18th, at 10:30am.

His name is Irish and means 'man of prayer' or 'full of goodness': we hope he lives up to both. His second name is after my Dad, and means 'who is like God?'

(Here follows two paragraphs on the birth story, if you're interested... otherwise skip down to the photos!)

**The short version of the birth story, is that he took either 11 days or 2 hours to get here, depending on which way you look at it. 11 days ago I went into labor (on his due date, Jeremy's birthday), was admitted to hospital and labored for several hours.... and then labor stopped. The midwife asked if we wanted to break my water or take a walk to get things going or take a rest. We opted for rest - and the contractions never started again.

We spent the next week waiting for labour to resume, and it didn't. 9 days later my water broke... but only as a very slow leak. so still, nothing happened. And then yesterday, we went in - they broke my water - and after that it took two hours. I had done a lot of hypnobirth/deep relaxation exercises, and I wanted to have a water birth. So I hopped into the tub, put my headphones in, and then sat dead still for over an hour and just let nature take it's course. When it felt like it was time, I called the midwife, she did one check - and he came out on the next contraction with two pushes. AMAZING! No strain. No exhaustion. I honestly could not have imagined a more peaceful birth).**

Declan is a strapping young fellow - weighing in (at 2 weeks overdue) at 10lbs 13oz - that's 4.9kgs!! He is tall too at 22.5oz. He is a great eater and great sleeper so far, very alert when awake, very content, very easy to soothe so far - a DREAM BABY!

Here are a few photos!


 Seconds old!!

Two hours later, he had met BOTH his grandmothers, and got to meet his proud and excited sister and brother:

First family photo - IN the labor and delivery room!

His very relaxed and VERY thrilled Mama (still wearing the same hair clip she'd left home in that morning!)

So alert:

Teg would hold him all the time, if it were allowed:

Callum can already tell you: "This is Declan Michael. He is zewo. I am two. and Pookie is four. I yuv Declan." (Don't they look alike already??)

My handsome little guy after his first bath:

Teg's comment on why he came so late: "It's because his cheeks got stuck."

Proudly bringing baby home:

Rejoice with us! We are so thrilled!