There and back again

I think Ali's feeling ready to go at this point. Two weeks late and getting anxious. The night before induction. Saturday morning we went in and she was given medicine to help get things started. After a full day and mild progression, we were sent home for the evening. We got some Thai food and went home to relax. At 4:30 am, Ali woke up with contractions. Her labor had finally begun.

We went back to the hospital Sunday morning. Checking things out, Ali is hooked up to the monitors to time the contractions and keep track of the baby's heartbeat.

Taking a break from the bed and monitors, Ali works through the first stages of labor using one of the many methods she used.

Here's the tub where Ali would spend a good 7 hours (from around midnight till 7:00 am on Monday) getting through active labor and transition. There were some rough spots, but her strength and focus were incredible. She pulled through it like a champion. By 7:30 am, the "pushing" began and at 12:49 pm on Monday, September 14, 2009, Oliver Paul Bower was born!

Directly after being born he was placed on Ali's chest where they got him cleaned up a bit while he and Ali immediately began their bonding. It was remarkable how alert he was, lifting his little neck and opening his eyes to meet Ali's as she held him close. After about an hour or so, our nurse took Oliver to a table where he was measured and weighed.

He's a big little guy, weighing 9.74 pounds! He was 21.5 inches long.

Late that evening, after plenty of bonding time, Oliver was given a bath by one of the techs at the birthing center.

The enamored, awed, and tired parents holding little Oliver after his bath.

We had a two day stay at the Birthing Center after Oliver was born, while Ali recovered and the bonding continued. Having experienced 3 shift changes during the laboring and birth and many different folks during the following recovery-stay, we feel so confident in saying the place and people there are incredible. It was an exceptional experience. But we were still ready to go.

Ali holding the little guy while we get set to leave.

Oliver looking pretty unenthused about the fact that he's strapped into a seat that took us nearly 45 minutes to set-up and get locked into the car.

Napping at home. This little guy is so sweet. It's hard to stop looking at him. Here're some pictures to wrap this up and bring folks up to date. Thanks all for your thoughts and support.