Grayson Edward Lamb
Monday, July 1, 2013
12:05 a.m.
7 lb, 8 oz
20.5 inches
Completely perfect.
Welcome to the world, my sweet Little One. (You are only seconds old in this first picture and I adore everything about this shot. Everything--your wrinkly skin, your purple hands, your open-mouth scream, the nurse's hands placing the tiny hat on your head, the sheet wrapped around you, my hand holding you tight. It was taken by your dad just as they were placing you on my chest for the first time. I love it.)
You entered this world very vocally! Even when they wrapped you up and placed you on my chest, you kept those lungs working, letting everyone know you weren't so sure about things. We all, my doctor and nurse included, giggled a little at that sweet, yet loud, newborn cry...that just kept going! Finally, after about 20 minutes, and you were cozy in my arms, you calmed down. I think you realized you were just where you wanted to be.
When you decided you were ready, you sure didn't waste any time! Your due date was June 30, and when I woke up the morning of the 30th, still pregnant, it hit me that my June baby was going to be a July baby. I'd never made it to my due date before and I was shocked that it was happening with my third baby! I ran a few errands that day, had a quiet lunch by myself and stopped to get a mani and pedi before heading home. I had been feeling contractions off and on throughout the day, but nothing regular and nothing that made me stop and think "this is it." And, honestly, I had been having contractions for a couple of weeks, so I just thought it was my body still working and getting ready. Fast forward to that evening...I was cleaning the kitchen around 7:00 p.m. while Philip was bathing the boys, and I started thinking my contractions were getting a little stronger. At 7:30 p.m. I decided to start timing them and sure enough, they were about four minutes apart! Very regular. The strength of the contractions really started to pick up, too.
Philip was watering plants, and I poked my head outside and told him I think something is happening and we might need to shift gears. We were just going through our normal nightly to-dos: pick up, vacuum playroom, water plants, those kind of things. At 8:15 p.m. I called Ann to give her and Allan a heads up that I thought my labor might be starting and to just be on alert that I might call again for them to come stay with the boys. I kept timing my contractions and they were getting more and more intense and closer together. Philip and I quickly shifted into getting ready to maybe head to the hospital. At 8:45 p.m. I called Ann back to say I was pretty sure I was in labor and it was time to come over. I didn't realize at the time, but I was talking very casually and calm, trying to keep myself calm and relaxed, so Ann didn't think they needed to "rush" over. They knocked on the door around 9:20 p.m. and by that time my contractions were two minutes apart and very intense and lasting for a good minute. I kept taking deep breaths and getting in different positions to get through the contractions. Based on how and what I was feeling, the intensity and frequency of the contractions, and knowing I progressed really quickly with Austin, I was thinking you were going to make a very fast arrival! Philip and I kicked it into high gear to finish packing and giving last minute instructions to Annie and Allan, and we were out the door just before 10:00 p.m. We pulled in at the hospital around 10:20 p.m. Things happened really quickly after that! I got my epidural just in the nick of time, and you, my sweet Grayson arrived at 12:05 a.m. on July 1!
Party of FIVE! 
