Snug as a bug in a rug

Look at me! I'm cute!

My 3rd day alive ct'd

My 3rd day alive

Happy Birthday!!

After nearly twelve hours of labor, we are the ecstatic new parents of the most beautiful baby boy. We got to the hospital at around 9 AM, Shaina started painful contractions around 12. After a few hours, she decided against her initial plan of not having an epidural and had one around 4 PM. They put an oxygen mask on Shaina because whenever she had contractions, the baby's heart rate went down a little - but thank G-d, everything was fine. At around 5 PM, Shaina started pushing. Nearly two and a half hours later, (around 7:21 - he was born at 7:21 PM on 7-21-06!) we had a gorgeous child staring back at us.

Of course, when it's that close to Shabbos, you can't really make any type of Shalom Zachor, so we just kind of had some cookies and that was that. =) Anyway, the Bris is going to be on Friday the 28th!

Bubbe Roz, Grandma (Shaina's mom), and Aunt Meira stayed with us at the hospital over shabbos and kept us great company, brought us everything we needed, and spent time with the most precious little boy on earth.

Here are pictures, in reverse order of birth.

****WARNING**** there is a picture in this set of the baby IMMEDIATELY after he was born. If you are squeamish, do not scroll all the way down to the beginning of the set.

The following pictures are from the day of the birth and immediately afterward. He got 10x cuter on his first day of life, but it was Shabbos and we couldn't snap the photos. I'll put more of those up tomorrow, along with the video of him being born (nothing graphic!)

Cutie Pie

 

 

Hi Mommy!
Hi Grandma!!
Hi Bubbie!
Cutie pie

Welcome to the world
Mommy and Abba...new parents!!

 

Oxygen time
It's Grandpa!
Almost ready!!
Happy Birthday!! (Not for the weak of heart) 

Grandma and Mommy to Be
Mommy and Abba to Be
Waiting......
 

False alarm!

Went to the doctor this morning for a routine checkup at 10 AM. Everything was fine.

Come 12:45, Shaina has some spotting and we are told to come to the hospital "and prepare to stay for a while." So, we got our bag packed and headed to the hospital. Nearly 7 hours later, we went home knowing that Shaina is in the early stages of labor, but is only having mild contractions. I would say that the baby is due any day now.

Here are some pictures from tonight!

Ready to Pop

Officially, there are 4 more days to go. As far as Shaina is concerned, that's 4 days too many. =)