Baby Emerie was born today at 5:01 am. This is definitely a lot different of an experience than we've ever had before. Just the fact that we made it to the same month when she was due was an accomplishment in itself! Yesterday, I think Andrea knew that things were coming soon, as she warned me several times that morning to "Be sure and have everything done & ready to go in case I call you." We wound up going to the doctor for our weekly exam at 2 pm, at which it was decided that Andrea was going to be induced that evening. It was almost surreal for awhile. Our house was getting exterminated, so we had packed up the van with the two boys, Nancy (Andrea's mother), & the two dogs, and headed for the park. The doctor's office called & wanted us to go to the hospital about 5 pm, but we couldn't even get back into the house to get the rest of our bags packed, baby's stuff, etc. until 5:30. So, Dr. C just told us to come when we could. I told Andrea that it was weird to even have the choice of "No, I don't think I'll have this baby now, maybe after Josiah's T-ball practice." Of course the past two weeks have been a new experience for us altogether - getting to experiencing the anticipation of birth for the first time.

They began inducing Andrea about 7:45 pm. She was actually already having contractions when we arrived, so it didn't take much to get her going. Her water broke around 4 am & things went into overdrive from there. As Andrea put it, "I got started out of the gate slow, but when I hit that final stretch, I hit it hard!"

Emerie Jayne was 8 lbs 8 3/4 oz & 21 3/4 inches long! We almost couldn't believe it. She delivered well & is doing great right now (Andrea is cuddling with her as I type this).

We just thank God for how he has taken care of Andrea, Emerie & our family through this entire pregnancy. He truly is faithful. He owes us nothing, and yet chooses to bless us "beyond all we could ever ask or imagine!" (Ephesians 3:20)