We love you Olivia!

It's been an amazing experience, and we're incredibly happy to announce Olivia's birth! She was born on June 12th at 10:58 PM, after 4.5 hours of labor. Both Mom and baby are completely healthy and happy - and doing perfect! Dad's just running on adrenaline and love, and also doing great as well.

We had went to the doctor earlier that morning (the 12th) and were told to pretty much expect an induction for Monday. The signs looked great, but Olivia just wasn't quite in position. So of course, we went home restless and impatient to meet our daughter - but ultimately very happy that everything was going well (no big desire to rush).

Just a few hours later.. Misty gave me the "look" and said - hey, I think we need to start timing these things (contractions). From that point, we went from painful contractions to WHOOooOOAAA eeeh eeeh contractions, if you know what I mean, very very quickly. Within 2 hours we made the phone call to the nurse and were on our way.

So many details from here on out, but I'll try to keep it relatively brief.

When we got to the hospital.. poor Misty; we didn't even get a chance to get into the triage room before she was having time-stopping contractions. Right in the lobby, we had to sit down while waiting for the nurse. I have a vivid picture of a few mom's-to-be walking by and clenching their men's arms much tighter, whispering to them as they walked by. It was no doubt that Misty was in labor at that point, and as glad as we were... it was definitely one nerve wracking experience getting started.

Just a few hours later, we were in the birthing room and working intently on getting through the final stages of labor. Misty chose to not take any drugs, so while the labor was relatively short compared to some - she felt every single second of it. Luckily I didn't pass out (came close a few times), and before I knew it the doctor was giving the final coaching yells to PUSH PUSH PUSH!

I know that this blog is all words, and they do come from the heart - but when we got to see Olivia for the first time, there really truly are no words that encompass all the love and overwhelming feelings we experienced. We fell in love instantly, and that's about the only words that remotely describe it for me. Just typing this out gets me choked up! The first moment Misty got to hold her after labor, she had said "she's perfect," and that pretty much sums it up.












Olivia was 6.3Lbs and 19.5 inches long. She had brown hair, but some of it got washed off on the top (first bath), and she kind of had an old man-balding haircut at first - so cute! She currently has those gray/blue baby eyes, so we're not quite sure what they'll end up. From the first few hours she had smiled, yelped, snorted, sneezed, yawned, sighed, and even gave us a Elvis Presley "thankya vury much" -half open mouth smile.

Alot more to type about, but we're getting ready to feed her and I don't want to miss a second. What a joy! What a gift! We love this little girl so much, and can't wait for you all to meet her!!

-Ben, elated father.