Christopher already doing push-ups

Here's Christopher showing off his amazing new skills:

Christopher's birthday

The Story:

Sunday morning came like every other morning of the last three weeks. I hadn't slept very well and the tiredness was still lingering as I made my way downstairs to eat breakfast. This morning Bram was scheduled to serve at church - he needed to leave no later than 7 am. After I eat and helped get him ready to leave, he made me promise I would go back to sleep, for I was having contractions again. As he left I told him that I wasn't sure if I would be able to get Benjamin ready to come and church later on if the contractions persisted. He assured me that whatever I felt was necessary would be okay - I didn't need to push myself. I went back to bed and awoke to Benjamin singing in his crib at 8:15 - we wouldn't make it to first service after all. Benjamin was in good sorts for breakfast and played happily as my contractions got more intense. I began to suspect that these contractions were actually working...maybe this was early labor. I called Bram at church in between services to let him know that contractions were getting strong. He said to me, "Maybe we will have a baby later today." I couldn't bring myself to hope that this was the real thing. But by the time Bram got home from church I was more comfortable saying I was in labor. Bram said, "Of course you are!" There was no going back from there.

After eating lunch I laid down for an hour and slept between contractions to gather my strength for the work ahead. When I finally got up, there was no doubt in my mind I was in labor, but I was not so confident that I would have the baby before the night was through. I continued to labor at home and when contractions were about 3-4 minutes apart I called the midwife. We were to meet her at the hospital at around 6:30 pm. I ate a little dinner and made sure everything we needed was in the bag. Jenny and Ryan arrived to care for Benjamin at 6:00 pm, and with hugs and kisses for our first born we were out the door to return the parents of two! We made it to Shady Grove Hospital in a matter of minutes and got lost on the way to the new maternity wing! With the help of some kind strangers we finally found the right elevator and made it to where I would be admitted. We got into the room and the midwife checked to see how far I had progressed. I was already 7 centimeters dilated and 90% effaced! I was so surprised to be so far along. The next couple of hours held very hard work for both Bram and I. I never felt the need to have pain killers and was able to stay on my feet for a good amount of time before pushing. By around 9:30 pm I was completely dilated and now only needed to wait for the urge to push. At 10:00 pm I started pushing and an hour and a half later my new baby was laid across my stomach! The midwife let Bram "catch" the baby and announce to the room who's birthday it was. Bram, with wonder in his voice I can still hear, said, "We have a little boy!" Our little Christopher Abraham was born at 11:26 pm on Sunday, July 6th, 2008!

His birth has blessed us in so many ways. One way we are blessed is to be entrusted with such a precious little life to raise - this alone is more than we deserve. Another way we are blessed is the fact that he was born naturally, without the need for any intervention. This met a deep desire in our hearts, for after Benjamin was born by c-section we were glad to have a healthy baby, but disappointed that I had to have surgery after 16 hours of labor and almost 3 hours of pushing! We are so in love with our two little boys - born just over 16 months apart! We are so looking forward to life as a family of four (for now!)


The Pictures:

I know all of you are anxiously waiting for some pictures. So here they are!

Here's our little boy about 20 minutes old (he had only just stopped crying from all the poking and prodding from the nurses.)

A happy and relieved mom.

Everyone is all tuckered out - it's been a very long day (well mostly night).

He absolutely loves mom's striped shirt; he couldn't stop staring!

And here is a short little video -- not much action, but Christopher sure is one of the cutest little guys ever!




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Benjamin has not been too sure of this new little person. Here's Jenny holding him, with Benjamin looking on. Notice he's holding a little baby doll -- up until today, "baby" has always referred to the little doll that Benjamin sometimes carries around. Now "baby" means this other little thing??!


"Dad, this baby doll is moving on its own! I'm not so sure about this...."


This is a handsome bunch. Sarah is outnumbered!

"The feeling"

When I was almost 38 weeks pregnant with Benjamin I got a feeling that he was coming very soon. I was so confident that I would give birth, I actually called my parents and told them to come to Maryland. This being my first pregnancy it was a risky move, but everything changed in how I was feeling. I woke up on a Sunday morning and did not want to get out of bed; I had been tired before that day, but never so tired that facing the day did not sound appealing. I fought this feeling for 3 days and on the morning of the 4th day my water broke and Benjamin was born hours later. On Saturday this same feeling came over me. This time I'm not so confident that giving birth is imminent. I have had doubts as to whether I actually knew that Benjamin would be born or if all the excitement surrounding my announcement induced my labor. I flattered myself yesterday by saying that I am just a little more self-aware and that is how I could tell something had changed in my body. Bram brought me back to reality by responding that I just assign meaning to every little thing, and that can be both a good and bad thing (he knows me very well.) I am very hesitant to say that I am going to have this baby anytime soon. Let's face it - I'm still a little under 2 weeks away from my due date. The average pregnancy goes well into the 41st week. There is more evidence that this pregnancy will go on for 3 more weeks than that it is about to end. But still, I have "the feeling." I'm hoping that it's not wishful thinking. Please pray for me that I would have patience and confidence in God's plan for my life and my baby's life. I know that His timing is best - and nothing can thwart His plan - not even "the feeling."

Baby Watch - Taking a break

So baby watch will have to take a break for a few days. Hopefully we will have more to report on next week, but as of right now things have slowed down to a snail's pace. The baby obviously is in no hurry - please pray that I would take the baby's approach and sit tight for as long as is necessary. If I can get more sleep, I guess I have nothing to complain about :)

Little one, I know I will see you very soon.

Baby Watch - Day 3

Things have slowed down around here. I'm back to having very irregular contractions, so I guess what I was experiencing yesterday was "false labor." It's really funny how different this stage of the pregnancy has been compared to this stage when I was expecting Benjamin. I had zero contractions, and while he dropped early on (about 32 weeks) I had no indication he was coming except for a strange feeling that came over me about 5 days before my water broke. I was definitely expecting something similar this time around.

Again, I am having to remind myself that expectations are dangerous things. I am very good at not having expectations when circumstances are unknown or unfamiliar. I'm not so good at it when I have some experience to draw from. The good in all of this is that I am having to rely on my faith that God is sovereign over all aspects of my life. He is not surprised by little course changes or even complete "turn-arounds" - he planned it. If I believe that he is good and that he intends good for me, I have a responsibility to trust him. I too often do not act on that belief. I act as if he cannot be trusted - instead relying on my own limited wisdom for comfort. I am so glad that I am being reminded that my wisdom is foolishness in comparison to his wisdom. I do want him in control - now I need to act like it. While I am having to fight disappointment, as I was getting very excited to see this little face I have been dreaming about for 8 months, I can rest in the knowledge that God's plan cannot be thwarted and that it is the best possible outcome for me and my family!

I would so appreciate your prayers in this time. That God would renew my strength for the inevitable arrival of baby #2 and that he would continue to show me where I am not living out my beliefs. But most of all, please pray that I would let go of my pride and trust God's timing for all circumstances in my life. Thanks!

Baby Watch - Day 2

I just came back from a check up with the midwife and things are progressing, for sure! My contractions are getting closer together, but still are not painful - though that's not saying much because I have an unusually high tolerance for pain. The baby is very low - about +1 station (I can hear the collective gasp from the moms out there as I write this!) There is no good indication at this point when labor will pick up, but I think it's safe to say I'm not getting all the way to my due date (July 12th.) By God's grace we will see little Christopher Abraham or Bridgette Lyneve before the end of the week!

You can still give us your predictions on sex and birthday!

Baby Watch - Day 1

It is time to commence Baby Watch!

I got some news from the midwife today - apparently this baby is making it's way into the world in the very near future! Right now, my contractions are still really far apart and pretty irregular, but all that could change in a matter of minutes :)

We will keep you all updated each day until Lillard Baby #2 makes his or her arrival.

Anyone willing to make a prediction as to whether it's a girl or a boy and the birthday?