Steadman Family

We finally uploaded a handful of photos to my Flickr account for your viewing pleasure.

Baby Rowan joined us at 10:26 PM this evening. Weighing in at 7 lbs. 13 oz. and stretching out to 20.5 inches.

Both Mom and baby are doing just fine. In fact, Rowan latched on for nursing on the first attempt and hasn't let up.

Better pictures coming as I get a better connection.

We're in hour 14 of Melinda's labor and she's resting fine now that the epidoral has kicked in. Everything is moving along at a nice, slow pace and the baby is doing fine. The doctor is pretty happy with her progress so we're sticking with it for a while longer.

I might try to catch another nap before things get too busy, but I'm not too sure that this "couch" will be accomodating.

It was a good plan.

We got up at 4:45, grabbed (and then forgot) a few last minute items to bring to the hospital, relenquished control of Chez Steadman to my mom and jumped in the car to make our 7:30 AM scheduled c-section.

And then Melinda went into labor.

Rowan is estabilishing himself as the man of the house by setting his own timetable. He's calling all the shots and will come out when he's damn well ready.

I'm full term now and still no baby. He's decided to wait and force the issue, so tomorrow he comes out via scheduled c-section. I am having a hard time with this. It's entirely my decision and what the doc believes to be the best course of action (based on his size and my history of difficult deliveries). All of us (Dean, the doc, and I) want to avoid a repeat of what happened with Lily's birth. Yet, I can't get past feeling like this is a cop-out. Just going into the hospital and having the baby surgically removed isn't the way it's supposed to be. Then again, none of my birthing experiences have been great; they've mostly been both complicated and traumatic. This, in fact, will probably be my easiest one, so how come I'm struggling with this decision? Maybe it's just plain old fear. It is major abdominal surgery after all, and the recovery is so much more difficult. What if something goes wrong? What if something happens to the baby or I? This is my fear. Of course, something can always go wrong, even with a regular delivery. There is also a little bit of sadness on my part, since this will be my last pregnancy. I know I will miss "the belly" and feeling life grow inside of me, it's such a wonderful thing and I so appreciate the experience of it all!!

I am also very excited to finally meet the newest little man in my life. I hope he knows what he's gotten himself into by choosing us as his family. Two very headstrong and independent older sisters who will fawn over him and love on him constantly!! Hopefully the girls will let Dean and I spend some time with him as well. :) Madie is excited to have another brother and plans on telling him all about Ben. I am so grateful that she feels this way. It will help her to keep her memories of Ben strong within her mind and Rowan (as will Lily) can have some sort of tie to Ben through her. Lily will be her nurturing, baby loving self, which means fighting to get the baby back once she has her hands on him! I am concerned about making sure the girls still get the personal attention they need and deserve from both Dean and I. This will be the hardest for Lily since she is used to all of the attention given to the youngest. Somehow we'll manage, there’s too much love here for it not to reach everybody!!!

Well, I guess that’s all for now. We'll post again soon with new pics and how things are going with everyone.