Hey Jude!!!

God is good...not that I doubted that, but it is so awesome that he allows to experience his greatness in our own lives!

Jude Thomas was born at 5:47am on Friday April 2! I began contracting off and on starting at 3am on April fools. The contractions slowed way down and all but stopped as the day went on. I decided to go get a pedicure around 7pm...the last pedi I'll have in a LONG time ;) Although we didn't know when true labor would start, we knew it was inevitable, so we decided to try and get some sleep around 9pm. From 9:20-10:20 my contractions were 10 minutes apart, starting at 10:20 they were anywhere from 2-4 minutes apart! Things just got crazier from there. We loaded up Micah and took him to the Isbell's (huge shout-out to them and their awesome servant's heart). Our plan was to go to a park and walk around, but I was only able to stand that for one contraction....so we headed to the hospital.

I'll save you the rest of the gory details (unless you want to hear them later), but I will say that we could totally feel the Lord's hand during the entire labor and birth and we were blessed with a completely normal VBAC that had no hang-ups or complications! There were little details that weren't 'happenstance', from my OB being on call that night to our nurse (who rocked!) who had picked up an extra shift that night.

Many of you know we desired for the birth of this baby to be different than the birth of Micah...and it was! I look back on the last few months and how the Lord has used the trials we've faced during this pregnancy to strengthen my faith in Him and to bring true a surrender in my heart. The Lord has taught me SO SO much about my pride, my agenda and how that effects my relationship with Him. AND he blessed us with a precious little boy as well!!!

Cuddle time with Mommy! His face is so much chubbier than Micah's was! Of course he's a whole pound heavier!

Jason holding Jude only a few minutes after he was born...thus the shell-shocked look on his face! And Me laughing at Micah...who knows what he was doing! Jason gave him a Royals hat when he came to the hospital, between that and my water jug he barely even noticed Jude. All he said was, "It's a baby!"

9lbs 3 0z...yes, thats right! I really didn't think he was going to be that big. Yet another confirmation that the Lord blessed us during the delivery...its almost like he was showing off what He can do through us! My doctor had warned me that my pelvis felt narrow and that even if I went into labor on my own to 'be prepared' that I may end up with another c-section.

Just a few moments after birth...I always thought it was so gross that people held their bloody, cheezy babies after birth. Now, I know that at that moment you don't care if they have poo or whatever else on them, you just love them so much and can't wait to have them in their arms!

We are adjusting to two as well as anyone can, and I'm adjusting to having Jude attached to my side pretty much all day (the boy likes to eat)...speaking of, I hear him now!

Thank you all for your support and prayers during this pregnancy...they were felt!