Our newest addition entered this world on Sunday, October 7th; born at a local birthing center in the water at 2:11 in the afternoon. He weighed 8.8 lbs and measured 21.5 inches! The center was closed for the weekend, so we had the place to ourselves- just Ray, myself, our midwife, Pauline, and a nurse!
I had been feeling many pre-labor symptoms for about a week and a half prior to his arrival, and on Saturday night I knew labor was just around the corner, as my contractions were growing closer and more intense. We stayed home that night (Ray's folks were in town, thankfully!!), and the next morning I jumped in a bath with the twins to let my body relax and prepare for the day. Around 9:30am, Ray and I loaded up to head to the birth center. We arrived- I was dialated 3-4cm, so Pauline sent us on a walk for an hour. The center is surrounded by hazelnut orchards, so Ray and I enjoyed a beautiful walk, spotting a pilliated woodpecker, heron and geese, stopping every 3 minutes or so to breath through the intensifying labor waves. We returned to the center around 11am- I had dialated to 5cm, so we checked in and things began progressing quickly. Pauline drained my water, which got labor really rolling, and before I knew it I was in the bath... I pushed for about an hour with Ray by my side, and for the last push I stood up to catch our beautiful baby boy as he entered this world! Joy!
For the next two hours we laid skin to skin- a treat and honor, as my experience with the twins was so drastically different. Dad and Rosalind arrived shortly thereafter, and the twins came to meet their new little brother. Ray and I stayed and rested at the center until midnight, when the three of us piled in to head home to our family of 5! Our little man has been a pure delight and sure loves to eat! As of Monday, he weighed in at 10.2 lbs!
HIS NAME:
Ray and I had a tough go around deciding upon a name this time. We both wanted something that carried meaning and purpose for our little boy. Denali came to me in an early morning slumber, around 4am, and I woke up knowing that it was the name we had been waiting for. I woke Ray (which I never do!!), and he liked it too!! Denali means "The Great One", and is also the mountain that Ray grew up looking north towards as a little boy. Our prayer and prophecy for Denali is that He will be Great in the Lord, foundational and unwavering. His middle name, Rye, is a version of Richard (Ray's father's name) in the Polish and German languages, and symbolically is a grain of strong flavor. Our prayer is that Denali Rye will bring a sweet aroma and flavor to the lives he touches.
What do Sol and Sophia think? They are all too excited to have a little one to snuggle and bring offerings to. When someone comes over, their first question is, "Do you want to see my new baby Nali?"
*With Ray's folks in town and me feeling as though our little man could make his appearance at any time, on the Saturday prior to his arrival we all headed out to a local farm for a big harvest celebration with high hopes that I could literally "walk" this baby out. Looks like it worked!*
*On Sunday morning, having contracted throughout the night, I started the day relaxing my body in a bath- and spending some last precious moments with my two big kids-
before heading to the birth center*
*This is the last photo we took on our walk, in between contractions!*
*Finding a place of relaxation and meditation*
*Blessed beyond words for the strength and support of my incredible husband*
*First look*
*Excited sister!!*
*8 pounds, 8 ounces!! All of our guesses were far less than that!
I forgot how small a newborn really is! I love the enthusiasm of Gramma and
Grampa Reichner in the background!*
*Grandpa and Grandma Schafer (Grandchild #17!!!)*
