Maya's arrival

Collin was two days late, so when Maya hung tight past her due date, I wasn't too shocked.  But when we hit three days beyond my due date, I was starting to get antsy.  Luckily I went to the doctor that afternoon and she said she'd be shocked if I didn't go into labor in the next day or two.  In fact, in just doing the exam, she was worried that my labor would start on the ride home.  I didn't think to bring Cas with me to the doctor, but if I had, I bet she would have told me to just walk around the medical center and not even go home.

Sure enough, around 5pm my labor had started, and Aunt Debbie came over to watch Collin.  But unlike my labor with Collin, which was in full force 30 minutes after it started, Maya started slow, I think in large part to the amount of sitting I did on the car ride to the hospital and in sitting to be monitored once in our room.

We may have over-packed for two days at the hospital!

At 8pm, almost done with the monitoring, I texted my mom that I expected it to be a LONG night, that this labor was happening much slower than Collin's, and so far wasn't painful.  And then Maya was born at 9:23pm!

So the next 80 minutes were intense.  As soon as I got out of bed, the contractions picked up.  My midwife checked me, said I needed to get out of the jacuzzi tub, where I hung out when they started getting painful, and as soon as I climbed up on the bed, my water broke and I was pushing the next contraction!  Poor Cas was supposed to get to help deliver the baby, but I was a mess.  I used the Lamaze breathing for labor, but in pushing I had no distraction for the pain.  So the midwife delivered Maya, but they let me pull her onto my chest.  Cas said I went from vocalizing my pain to "this is awesome" when I grabbed her!

Maya Alexandra, born on May 9th, 8lbs, 4oz, 20.5 inches.  Welcome to the world our sweet daughter!

 
Proud papa -

The kisses started right away -

Libia visited Thursday night, and then we settled into our room at 1am, exhausted, dozing to a huge thunderstorm.

Friday morning, after a visit from Uncle Bobby, my mom and Collin arrived.  He immediately ran up to give his baby sister some kisses.  And then he went exploring in Texas Children's hospital with Cas and later visited Uncle Bobby's toy-filled office.

 Of course they'd arrive just when she woke up to eat -

Grammy with her grandkids -

Blocking Maya from an action hero attack - 

Super hero posing with all of the action figures at Uncle Bobby's office - 

Family of four celebrating all the pink -  

Sweet Maya, we are so excited you are here.  We are thankful to God for a healthy delivery and beautiful, healthy baby girl!