Michael Cruz McBride

Born 8/9/10 @ 8:43pm. 8 lbs 6 oz, 20 1/2 inch.

Our day started at 6am (mine actually started more like 3am because I couldn't sleep:) with the sound of the alarm and butterflies in our stomachs. It was the most surreal feeling to know we were finally going to meet our boy! We arrived at the hospital at 7am and started the very long process of check-in. We signed papers for about an hour before I actually got the pitocin, which would get my labor under way. The doctor checked me at 8:30 and I was 0cm dilated and 70% effaced. The pitocin did it's job within minutes. The contractions were 30 seconds long about 2-3 minutes apart when they started. They continued to get more and more intense but nothing that I couldn't breathe through:). The doctor came in again at 10:30 and I was 1 cm dilated 70% effaced. At 12:30 the doctor decided to break my water to help try to speed things up since I was still only 1 cm and 70% effaced after four hours of labor. After he broke my water the contractions came on really really strong. They immediately went to about a minute long and 1-2 minutes apart. After 2 hours of these, I made it to 2cm dilated 70% effaced. After this check my contractions went off the charts. They came about every 30-45 seconds and were a minute and a half long... usually what you experience during the transition part of labor, not when you're only 2cm dilated! At 4:00 the doctor came to check me and I still had made no progress. He strongly advised me to get an epidural to help speed things up. Finally at 5pm, after 3 hours of really strong contractions I decided to get the epidural and I was SO happy I did. I went from 2cm-10cm in 3 hours! I started pushing at 8:10 and had little Cruz Man at 8:43pm. The doctor pulled him out, layed him on my chest and Cruz put his mouth on my face and looked into my eyes. It was honestly the most overwhelming experience of my entire life. It was unbelievable to see the beautiful face of the baby I've been carrying in my belly all this time... the baby I've been dreaming about... the baby who's been kicking me in my ribs and giving me heartburn:). Chase and I fell in love instantly and the emotions have only gotten more intense since then.

We got home Wednesday afternoon and are finally feeling settled. Our first outing was yesterday to the pediatrician's office and Cruz is perfectly healthy and gaining weight, which is a huge ego booster for mama:). When we were in the hospital it was really hard for me to get comfortable breast feeding but once we got home Cruz and I have teamed up and have been dominating his feedings. He is a great eater and a great sleeper. He already sleeps about 5 hours at night which makes mom and dad REALLY happy... we're just praying it stays this way. We are so in love with our new boy and want to thank everyone for all the prayers, encouragement and support throughout the entire pregnancy and continuing into his life outside the womb:)... we couldn't have done it without you! Here are some pictures of the little man...