Introducing...Aria Elizabeth Brent

She's here!

Monday night, September 20th, I started having contractions around 10:45 pm. They weren't very bad, like mild cramps at most, but they were running 1 to 3 minutes apart. Gabe kept track of them and I worked on folding laundry. Around midnight I decided to go to bed in case they picked up during the night. I didn't want to go to the hospital without getting any sleep. Well, baby girl had other plans! My water broke at 12:30 am - 30 minutes after I had gone to bed, so needless to say I didn't get any sleep! We packed up, headed to the hospital, and checked in around 1:30 am. The contractions were pretty much the same as they had been at home - nothing too intense - until about 3:30 am. THEN they got bad! I lasted until about 4:30 am, at which point I asked for an epidural because I felt like I could barely breathe through them. The nurse went to get the anesthesiologist and returned about 15 minutes later to tell me he was on his way. The next contraction I told her I felt like I needed to push, but she said I was only at 7cm when she checked me before she left to get the anesthesiologist, so I probably wasn't ready. She checked me again anyway and I was at 10cm! So she ran to get the doctor. Aria Elizabeth Brent arrived at 5:18 am. She weighed 6 pounds 9 ounces and was 19.5 inches long. Oh, and I never got the epidural...there was no time! Having this precious baby girl was the most painfully wonderful thing I think I've ever done. She is such a sweet, precious little girl and we love her so much!

Before...

Aria at about 3 minutes old!

...After - exhausted, but happy.

Grandma and Grandpa with Aria at about 30 minutes old

Daddy kissing Aria - 2 days old

First smile (we know, its probably just gas!) - 3 days old

Grandma with Aria - 3 days old and finally at home!