Alex is here!

I had forgotten what hard work labor is! Yeah, yeah, I know...they don't call it labor for nothing. Well, they also say that they're supposed to be easier the more you have! Let me tell you - not true! Compared to my last birth, I had to really work for this one. Not that it was too terribly bad. I was in labor for about 6 hours, and only 1 of that was really bad ( I didn't have an epidural - I went natural). And after 4 pushing sessions (again, that could have been a lot worse), I had a new baby boy! Alex Cole is perfect, and exactly how I imagined he would be. Well, that's not true. He's much much more! So here are the stats that everyone always wants:

Alex Cole Hutchinson (he shares my initials)
Born September 16th, at 1:51 p.m. (on my birthday)
7 pounds, 10 ounces
21 inches long

Here he is just minutes old


This is in the hospital, after finally calming down


Just before leaving the hospital


At home, 3 days old

Last HD Before Baby!

Finally! I made myself get that spool of #4 braid to finish up my Emerald Mermaid, and spent about a week beading. But she's done! And three days before Alex gets here. I don't know how much time I'm gonna have for stitching after he's born, but I'm guessing not much. So I'm glad I was able to squeeze in one more finish.

Here she is! She is stitched on 32 ct Aphrodite linen from Sugar Maple. I substituted 015 #4 braid for the second lightest color in the seaweed, to give it that mossy sparkle. I also had to cut a little off the sides, because it was getting really close to the edge of my fabric (I was cheap and went with a small cut). See a close-up of her here.

7 Days and Counting...

Well, I'm still here, and still VERY pregnant. I'm tired of sharing! I no longer want to be a hostess! But the good news is that I only have 7 days to go. I will be induced on the 16th, if nothing happens before then. And I know it won't. All my babies had to have their water broken before the fireworks would start. But it's only a week, right? I've made it this long, I can do 7 more lousy days, can't I? I've been doing a lot of research on relaxation techniques and self-hypnosis. I'm determined to have this baby with absolutely no medication! I've never had an epidural, but I usually have at least one dose of Demerol. Not this time. I can do this!

I haven't been posting much lately, because I have been carrying my oldest DD around town for the last week. We had a slight scare - she lost the vision in her right eye for a half day. The doctors couldn't figure it out. All they could find were that her optic nerves looked swollen. So she had an MRI, and she was pronounced completely normal (whatever that means for her age)! Relief!

Well, off to do more preparations for the baby. Gotta get hospital bags packed and the nursery straightened up, etc. Sigh....this will end eventually!