definately a memorial day...

i don't know if this little guy has the husbands laid back patient personality, or my inherit stubbornness. either way, it seemed he needed a touch (read- a lot) of coaxing to come out.

the dr. told me it was time to help him out, and i dragged it on, hoping the little guy would make his own entrance.

so they started sending me in for regular non-stress tests to make sure he was holding out okay.

turns out that one little blip they didn't like on the heart rate strip on friday and high fluid levels, meant that i got to become a regular visitor in labor and delivery confirming he was still holding out okay every day until he came out.

sunday, i gave in to the daily question from the dr, "you sure you don't want to start today?" i felt like i had already spent as much time in the hospital checking on him as it would have taken to have the baby (turns out maybe i underestimated how much time that can take!) they gave me something to help soften my cervix and sent me home, where i wanted to be for as long as i could.

we took the chance, since the next day was memorial day, to go to the provo city cemetery.  we wandered around, and i chatted about the lives all these people must have led.  we  visited mike's (our neighbor) grave. every once in a while i would go silent and hold really still and the husband would know that i was having a contraction. 

when they had me come back to the hospital, my body had finally done its job, and was starting to work on getting the baby here. i didn't even need the second dose of the softener, and they let me go home one more time, to relax and labor at home.

sunday was a night of no sleep for me (but don't you worry, bobby slept just fine!!) as i contracted every ten minutes or so, and grew excited that our little bebe was finally coming.

monday morning found us back at the hospital, and dr. wanting me on pitocin so he could finally get things really going. i had really wanted anything but to be induced, but at this point, my stubbornness was wearing thin, my tiredness was setting in, and most of all, i was getting ready to meet this little son of mine!

not everything went as i had planned. (imagine that! lesson number one from my son on learning to give up control!) but i wouldn't change a minute of it, or the time that bobby and i had to grow more and more excited about meeting the little guy that was about to change our lives.

so without further ado, i give you a little more of a peek into our memorial day...

one more belly picture for good measure...

for someone who started out wanting no wires attached to me, i think i ended up with every wire possible (and an oxygen mask- but that picture really isn't cute!) i think it was the last wire that made it possible for me to smile in this picture!  (when they put that wire in, the anesthesiologist kept telling me to "curl up like a mad cat."  what???  helpful???)i wish you could see better the smile on bobby's face. i tried to grab the camera a capture how precious it was as he followed his son around the room. i was jealous and wanting to stand beside both of them, but i love bobby for loving our son.
words can't explain how i love this picture.
our little strong man.

he had rough couple of hours. they took him to the nicu to monitor his breathing. dad diligently didn't let him out of sight.
and i sure was glad to see them both again.

welcome to our family evan robert porter. you are named after two men i hope you want to be just like- my father who i love dearly, and your father, who i know you will also love dearly.