Introducing Braden Tate Bishop...

He's here! Braden Tate Bishop joined our family on May 11, 2009. He was born at 6:16 a.m. He weighed in at 7 lbs. 7 oz. and measured 21 inches long. We are so excited to have another baby boy in our family!

The Birth Story

I know that this is more information that most people want to hear...so go ahead and skip ahead to the pictures if that is all you want to know :)

The birth didn't go quite as I had planned. I was planning on being induced on Thursday...happy with the idea of not having to feel contractions. However, Braden had another plan in mind. I had been having contractions off and on for about a week, but they really began to get hard around midnight on Sunday night. I had never felt "real" contractions with Parker, so this was a new experience for me. When was I supposed to go to the hospital? I had heard to wait until they were 3-5 minutes apart, so I spent the next few hours enduring the contractions. Around 3:00, Rich woke up and asked if I was having the baby. I responded, "Yes," but we can wait a little longer. Around 4:15, I decided we needed to call our friends Morty and Angie to come stay with Parker. I guess that I was a little non-chalant about the whole thing because we definitely took our own sweet time.

We arrived at the hospital a little after 5:00. I was asked if I wanted wheelchair to go to the maternity ward, but I figured I was fine so I decided to walk. After filling out all of the paperwork, it was around 5:30 and they decided to check me...all of this time, I was anxiously awaiting my epidural. The nurse came into check me and quickly left the room. She brought another nurse into double check me and low and behold I was dilated to a 9. I guess that my pain was justified! They quickly went into high gear and moved me into the room for delivery. At this point, there was no way that I could have an epidural. My vast plans of no pain were replaced with the fact that I was going to do it all natural. Talk about a difference! I was only in the room for about 1/2 hour when the doctor arrived. As he was was getting ready, he told me that I could push. First push...my water broke. Second push...out came Braden. At least if I had to do it natural, it was quick - and next time I'll try to get the hospital a little sooner :)

Parker was very excited to come meet his baby brother. Rich went and picked him up at our friends house and brought him to the hospital. He came running into the room and yelling "baby." He was so excited to hold his new brother and wanted to ask all about him.

Braden has dark brown hair and what seems to be a darker complexion...he is what we would deem a "darkie" in my family. He also got dimples! All 4 of us have dimples now :)

Our first family picture with Braden

On Tuesday morning, I was all set to go home. I had been cleared by my doctor to go home. I felt pretty good (this recovery being so much easier than the last one!). However, Braden had different things in mind again. His bilirubin was too high, so he had to stay in the hospital and be put on lights until it dropped. Here he is with all of the different cords he was hooked up to.

Underneath the blue lights catching some extra rays!

On Wednesday night, his bilirubin was finally low enough to be able to take him home. Parker was so excited that he could take his baby home!

Parker loves holding his baby. He keeps telling Rich that it is "my turn Daddy! I hold my baby!" He definitely smothers him with lots of love and is adjusting to the new baby. He likes Braden most of the time...except when he wants his Mommy to himself. He's getting better though and will definitely be a great big brother!

We are so excited that he finally came and that we can have Braden home with us!