Good tidings of great joy!

Our boy, Jaxon, arrived at 2:55 this morning. 7 lbs, 14 oz. After a long wait, he came really quite suddenly! We got to the hospital at about 1:30, got settled while Erin did some paperwork. She had already checked me and I was 5-6 cms. dilated. She broke my water at 2:35 and he was born at 2:55. Fast and furious, let me tell you. I needed one small stitch, for which I sucked copious amounts of laughing gas. (That was my first time ... I was hesitant to give it up when it was all over. :) The pediatrician checked him over and declared him perfect, and through my groggy brain I was impressed to hear the ob/gyn ask the ladies if we had a boy or a girl. He had only popped in just to confer with Erin about my stitch. Never met the man before, but he wanted to know.

Jaxon pooped, pooped, pooped like a crazy boy as the nurses were cleaning him up. We Paul didn't even have to clean any meconium, as he got it all out before we got a diaper on him. There were 6 babies born between midnight and 4:00 this morning. They told me I would be number six, but we were actually #5. Cuz I'm speedy like that.

It's so nice to be home already! (We got home at about 7:30.) I spent two nights in the hospital with the older boys so this is a delightful change. Erin discharged us before she left at about 5:00 this morning. The nurses just checked our wristbands and we were on our way, heading home through the quiet snowy streets. The boys were thrilled to see him, and the first thing Marty did was try to give him a kiss.

If you were expecting a personal phone call with this news, I'm waiting to be sure you're awake, even on Christmas Day.

I'm a very tired Mama, so will try to get some sleep while Jaxon is still in la-la land. Right now he's snoozing in his car seat under the Christmas tree.

Trying to upload some pictures but it's taking forever! Will try again later.