Welcome to the world Alex!

Hi All,

Well - the wait is over - Alex arrived on Saturday May 4 at 6:30 am - 9 days early!

We made it to the hospital just in time - checked in at 5:45am and welcomed Alex 45 minutes later.  I had had contractions Thursday night for about 6 hours and then they just stopped - so when I started having similar contractions Friday night - I assumed the same thing would happen - even sent Dave off to play poker thinking things would settle down.  Contractions stayed irregular (between 3- 7 minutes apart since starting) but started to get more intense, so had Dave come home around 1:30 am - stuck it out at home for a few more hours - still not completely sure I was in labour - but decided to head to the hospital around 5:00am.  Took a bit of time to get things together - get Nanny and Poppy over to the house to watch Ian and actually leave for the hospital (a 20-25 minute drive away).  By that time I wasn't having much of a break between contractions and told Dave just before we left that I may have left it a little late to leave.  I think he panicked a little at that point - because I've never reached Victoria Hospital faster...

I was already 9cm at triage - 10 by the time they wheeled me into the emergency delivery room and broke my water - then immediately started pushing... and then came Alex!   He weighed in at a respectable 7 lbs 6.5 oz and was 20 inches long - excellent for arriving so early.   He passed all his screening tests and was declared healthy and fit to go home the next day.

Brand New!

The big weigh-in

7 lbs 6.6oz

Taking a well-deserved snooze

Ian meeting his brother

Mommy and Alex

Ian getting a close up look at Alex

Ian giving Alex a welcome kiss

Mommy and her two little boys

Meeting Auntie Laura and Uncle John

Alex and Daddy

Taking a nap

After Alex's first bath

Sleeping again...

All dressed to come home

Ready for the car

Ian has been adjusting to his role as big brother amazingly well - both Dave and I have been really proud of him.  He is fascinated by Alex and has so far been really good with him.  I think all the extra attention he has been getting from Daddy has been  a big help.

Ian getting to know his little brother

Ian and Alex

Ian giving Alex a kiss

The happy big brother!

One more hug

Ian seems happy being a big brother so far

Alex has been a dream of a baby so far- cluster feeding during the day and sleeping very well overnight - to the point that its usually ME waking HIM for feedings rather than the other way around.

Alex sleeping in his swing

I hope things continue to go well in the weeks ahead - but I'm loving my new journey with motherhood so far.

Love Amanda