the arrival of Oliver Douglas

And just like that.. our much deliberated, much anticipated third child has arrived.  How does 9 months go so slow and so fast at the same time?!  I will say, despite my days being consumed with feedings and little sleep and figuring out what a 1 week old baby could possibly be mad about, being on this side of pregnancy is much better than being pregnant!  To meet the little baby you've been carrying and get to snuggle them and watch them grow is so sweet.

I had previously joked in this post that the baby would probably be overdue and I wondered if his delivery would be like the other boys.  Well, Oliver was almost overdue and came just one day before my due date and his delivery was Nothing like Beckham or Creighton's.  It was so much better, faster and smoother... such a blessing.

For starters, my water didn't break first like it did both times before, which I've heard makes the contractions more bearable and I think I agree.  Of course it was still painful, but maybe just a smidgen less.  Second, everything progressed very fast!  A little timeline:

around 2p: started to feel some mild contractions but didn't want to get my hopes up b/c I had them on the Saturday before and they had stopped.
2:30-4p: hung out with a friend and chatted since the boys were at Sheli's house and I had the day to myself (yea for friends that are neighbors and live around the corner!)... still having the same contractions, maybe getting slightly more painful
4-4:30p: went home and showered, contractions getting a little more painful.  We were supposed to go to Sheli's house for dinner and I let her know I was having contractions but I thought we could still come to dinner.
4:30-5: got ready, finished packing my hospital bag, as I was pretty sure this was the real deal.
5p: called Chad (who was on way home from work) and let him know that we wouldn't be going to Sheli's for dinner b/c my contractions were too painful.  Called the doctor.  By this time I was breathing through contractions.
5:15p: Chad gets home from work and we leave for the hospital.  It felt like every contraction got more painful on the way there.  I was hoping I would be at least 5 cm dilated by the time we got to the hospital.. Chad told me not to hope for more than a 3 and was expecting another 10 hours of labor.
5:45p: Arrive at hospital and check in.  I'm dilated to a 7!!  I was hoping to not get an epidural this time (mostly b/c I thought it would help me push better/faster than with the other boys) and once I realized how far along I was, I knew I wouldn't have to get one.
6:30p: Little Oliver is born!  Such a different experience without an epidural.  It's hard and painful but better in the sense that you feel everything your body is telling you to do and there's such a sense of satisfaction when it's all over!

6 lbs 15 oz. 20" long

such long little toes!

the boys didn't know what to think of Oliver in the hospital... Beck has tentative and sweet with him and Creigh kind of acted like he didn't exist and tried to be the center of attention as much as possible... not too different than what we expected :) 

Oliver had some jaundice and had to be under the lights at the hospital...  I was loving that cute little mask he had to wear until I realized how much he didn't like it, or being under the lights!

amazing how those teeny tiny newborn clothes can be baggy on a baby!

we're thinking Oliver looks a lot like Creighton!  I even find myself calling him Creighton... 

a newborn pic of Beckham

and one of Creighton

I don't want to forget...

How their little fingers and cheeks smell of sweet slobber after a night of sucking their fingers.

When they come into our bedroom at night and whisper "mom, can I lay with you for just a little bit?"

How Beckham corrects me when I don't say things Exactly right, especially in relation to... well, just about anything.

How we look for trucks and construction sites while driving and point excitedly and talk, talk, talk about them when we find them.

How Beck gently rubs my shoulder and says "I love you mom."

That Creighton likes to lay his head on my shoulder while I sing songs to him before bed.

How much they love to wrestle with dad after dinner.

The one day after BSF when Beckham said "mom, I want to tell you what I talked to God about during quiet time."

Their simple joy for digging in the dirt.

When they enthusiastically say "I love you so much, mom!"

How brave Beckham was before his first swim class, as he sat alone and wiped tears from his cheeks, while I watched from the observation room.

How they excitedly say "you're right mom!" when I am (surprisingly) right about something. :) Or "good job, mom!" when I do something nice, like make them food, or fix their toy.

About Creighton's weird obsession with rubbing things with texture while sucking his fingers... like "bumpies" and bug bites and scabs and my dry feet.

How they both love to push the mower and pretend pull start it, just like daddy.

That Beck loves to sing and dance, but he's too shy to dance in front of other kids and sings so confidently, whether he is saying the right words or not.

The moments the boys show love and kindness towards each other... Beckham protects Creighton or helps him out, they are excited to play together, or tell each other sorry and that they love each other.

Beck has a thing for peace signs in pictures right now. :)

Love those boys.