He has a lot of hair and it’s really dark! —JQ’s first words upon seeing the baby.

Saturday, September 3rd started out like most days—shower, coffee, chocolate soy milk for G-tot along with breakfast. It’s the way we do things. But that would be the last morning our routine would be just that way.

September 3, 2011

The next morning we would become a family of four.

I went to bed Saturday night feeling incredibly emotional about the state of my life at that moment. Part of me mourned the fact we would no longer be a family of three—life as we had known if for the past four and a half years would cease.

At that same moment I was elated about what was ahead for us. Meeting our second son. Becoming a larger family. Seeing this pregnancy through to an end that we all hoped for—a healthy baby.

We were in the midst of a major life change and I was kind of overwhelmed.

I felt a little lonely that night. G-tot, our first son, was staying overnight with my mom. My husband, JQ, had a gig that night and wouldn’t be home until late. My dad was in town and staying the night at our house, but he was asleep by 7:30.

It was just me and my thoughts for the rest of the night.

I packed up the last minute items in my hospital bag. I finished the book I had been reading. By 11:00 I was turning off the light and hoping for a little sleep before my alarm went off at 5 a.m. the next day.

I think I managed 3 hours of sleep.

A hot shower for me on Sunday morning and by 5:40 we were on our way.

The hospital seemed really quiet that that early.

I was put in triage and began the routine of being hooked up to various machines, injected, questioned, and informed of what the next few hours might look like for me. Thankfully, the nurse who put my IV in did a great job this time and got the IV in my arm instead of my hand. However, the phlebotomist that took my blood sucked and managed to inflict more pain than every other person putting a needle in me did that day. And there were several. The nurse that would be with me during surgery and in recovery was the same nurse we had in OR and recovery when I gave birth to G-tot. Erika. I liked her.

At 8:05 a.m. I was checked into the operating room.

It was weird to feel so on schedule with this birth experience.

JQ was not allowed in the OR right away while they prepped everything and for about 15 minutes we were apart that morning. I wonder what he thought about sitting there alone? Moments before everything really big was about to happen.

Part of the prep included anesthesia. This time I was getting a spinal block instead of an epidural. As the anesthesiologist was getting ready to apply the local and do the spinal block, my nerves took over and I started to cry. This is what scared me. More than the actual surgery, I was afraid of the anesthetic. My sweet OB hugged me and consoled me that it would all be alright. She was right. The spinal block was a much better experience than the epidural was for me. I would chose that again in a heartbeat. Dean, the anesthesiologist, was fantastic.

Music played in the background of the operating room. Classic rock—chosen by my OB but very likely what I would have chosen. There was an air of calm confidence in the room and I felt really at peace and joyful about what was about to happen.

As soon as everything was prepped, JQ was let into the room. He took a seat near my head and minutes later we heard the first cry of our second son.

My first moments with my newborn son.

At 8:37 a.m. on Sunday, September 4th Harper Otis was born.
21 inches long. 7 pounds 3 ounces.
Absolutely perfect.

39 hours old. G-tot loves him.

I fell in love the moment I met him.

4 days old.