Life with Jaymes, Abby and Ayden: The miracle of life!

I can't believe my baby boy is going to be a YEAR old in less than 4 weeks! I swear it was just yesterday we were in the hospital anxiously awaiting his arrival. I remember it like it was yesterday.. thankfully not so much the pain of labor, but definitely the immense joy I was flooded with when I saw his face for the first time.

Labor was QUICK. I prepared myself for hours of excruciating pain, and only experienced 8 (of the active labor, anyhow). I was a bit in shock that it all went so fast. My husband left the hospital when I was around 4CM. to take our dog to his planned destination while we were in the hospital. The nurses were completely comfortable with him leaving, because of 3 reasons: by then, I'd had the epidural and my pain was manageable, I wasn't progressing very quickly, and he only had to travel 10 minutes down the road. Well, Jaymes, I bet you remember the rest of this story very well.. ;)

Routinely, a nurse came to check my progression about 20 minutes after he left. I was confused when she said, "Sweetheart, when will your husband be back?!" I said, "Uh, probably another 20 minutes.." She responded, "Call him, tell him to change his plans, you're at 8CM.. this baby is coming NOW!" Umm.. CRAP? Needless to say, Dozer had to suffer alone at home for the remainder of our time in the hospital (daddy was able to go back and feed him after Ayden arrived, but he didn't get the luxury experience of the puppy hotel as planned.. sorry Doz)!

Ayden arrived within another hour, which was the hardest hour on me.. but the most exciting one, too! This little angel I was laboring so hard for, was moments away from ARRIVING! Here's a few of our favorites that were taken after his arrival (in no particular order):