BABY ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

Sam Chambers Biddy is here!!!

Sam arrived Monday morning at 7:03 am.  He came just in time to celebrate Martin Luther King Day, as any good Harlem baby should.  He weighed a solid 8 lbs, 5 oz., which is a pretty good size for a 'first baby.'  And he's long, lean and lanky at 21.5 inches!  

Here's the whole story....

Jess had been having contractions off and on for periods that lasted anywhere from 30 min. to 6 hours about 10 days before Sam was born, so we were on the ready during that time.  Then last Saturday evening she started to have more and unlike the other times, they lasted through the night and on into Sunday all day.  We stayed home, like our midwives and Lamaze instructor told us, right up until she started into active labor (which is when the contractions start coming on very strong and about 3-4 minutes apart.)  This pic is Jess calmly, patiently working through them at home...notice the clock nearby used to time the contractions :)  ...

So at about 11:00 pm on Sunday our midwife told us it was time to come in so our dear friend and neighbor, Cyndi Harrod, drove us to the Birthing Center at Roosevelt Hospital.  Cyndi was an awesome chauffeur--better than any taxi driver in NYC--as she found the quickest route through construction zones and the falling snow.  By the time we arrived, Jess was really feeling the contractions so she would walk a bit and stop to have them as we made our way through the building.  Our midwife, Rebecca, met us there a little before midnight and for the next several hours she helped Jess find the best position to be in as she worked through each contraction.

By around 3 a.m. Jessica was so exhausted that she was literally falling asleep for about 1-2 minutes between contractions.  Then at 5:30, Rebecca said it was time to start pushing and for the next hour and a half I witnessed one of the most amazing feats of bravery and strength amidst difficulty and pain that I have ever seen a person display.   There were three people in the room helping her:  Rebecca (midwife), Elizabeth (nurse), and me.  I got to be right in the middle of the whole process and I can tell you that she was absolutley amazing!!!  She did so good!  And no drugs, epidural or anything!  Wow!  It was the hardest thing I have ever seen someone go through, and with God's help she did it!!!  I love her so much for it!

So, Sam came as I said at 7:03 am.  Honestly I was thrilled to see Sam, but most of my attention was on Jess for that brief moment.  After watching her go through that I was just so relieved to see her relief!  I touched my head to hers and told her how good she did and just helped her lay back and relax.  It was all so surreal because it then occurred to me that she had just had a baby that we didn't know what the sex was since we wanted to be surprised.  So I snapped up looked over as Rebecca was quickly cleaning the baby and saw what it was.  Then I just about lost it.  Tears came and I leaned in close to tell her with whispered excitement that she had a boy!  Little Sam Chambers had finally arrived!  After 8 1/2 years of marriage, we were a family for the first time!  

And that's little Sam's story.  The rest are pictures after the event.  Enjoy!  

-Andy

Minutes after giving birth to Sam...beautiful!

Sam getting cleaned and all the fluid out of his lungs.  Poor guy. :(

Baby's first moment with Daddy

Some quality time with Mommy.

The following pics are from our weekly "Pasta Monday Night."  Every Monday we have a regular event of eating pasta with our neighbors, The Harrods.  Since this Monday we were at the hospital, they brought the party to us and we all hung out and ordered pasta from a nearby restaurant.  

Chris Harrod with Sam.  Papa Harrod has been waiting a long time to hold another brand new baby!

Dalton Harrod with Sam.  Dalton said "This is one of the best moments of my life!"

Kellan Harrod and Sam.  Kellan's ready to teach Sam a few things about football.

Cyndi Harrod with Baby Sam.  I told ya he was long!

And we're finally home!