It is hard for me to believe that we finally have this sweet little boy in our lives.  Granted, he made himself known throughout my pregnancy, but there is something so amazing about when you finally get to hold that baby in your arms.

The week before I had Arthur, I was particularly impatient.  So was Kevin.  He would call me from work everyday, asking me to have the baby that day.  We both wanted him to come so badly. 

Kevin even convinced me to go up and down our stairs, from the basement to the second floor and back, twenty times.  He thought it would start my labor, and although it didn't and it was a miracle I survived, it was great exercise :).  Derek was my helper and moral support, and he walked all the stairs with me, even helping me up the last few steps each time.

That was Tuesday, and by Thursday, I was feeling even more desperate – even though he wasn't due another 10 days.  The day before, I had gone to brunch with some good friends as one last fun thing before I had the baby. 

When Thursday came and I still hadn't had the baby, I decided to go with our Relief Society to the cannery and work there canning food.  The whole time we were there, I was having contractions, and we all joked about how maybe I would have the baby that day.

Thursday night, around 7 pm, my contractions started coming more regularly.  By 10 pm, they were so bad, I told Kevin that it was time to go to the hospital, and so we called a friend to come over and stay the night with Derek and Lily.

We were at the hospital for about 3 hours, but they wouldn't admit me, since I wasn't progressing.  They did put me on an I-V though, because I was completely dehydrated.  They were just about to send me home, even though my contractions were so intense and close together, when my water broke about 1:30 am.

This was completely different from my other baby's births, and so I wasn't sure what to expect next.  They came to give me my epidural, but by the time he was done getting the needle in me, before it even took effect, I needed to push.  Then at 3 am, in only three pushes, our little Arthur was born.

He was born nine days early, and was 7 lbs 8 oz, and 20 inches tall.  And he already had the most adorable chubby cheeks.

From the second he was born, he already showed his personality.

We were so happy to hold our little guy.  He was so perfect and precious.  We didn't want to ever put him down.

Kevin got to go with the nurses to give him his first bath and get him all cleaned up.  Just look at all that hair he was born with!

Kevin came back with him all clean, and complete with a cute little blue hat.  And then I got to hold him and feed him.  He was so well behaved – not crying at all – just being super cute.

It was hard to do, but I did manage to put him down for a little bit so I could take a nap, since I hadn't slept in forever. 

Kevin had gone home to get Lily and Derek so they could meet their new brother before they went to school.  They were so very excited to get to meet him, and sat their staring at him and would kiss him on the forehead.  It made me so happy to see how much they loved him already.

And they even got the chance to hold him – he even woke up for it, so they could see his eyes.  Lily is so fantastic with him already.

And Derek can't wait to get to play with him.  He is so excited to be a big brother!!

And Kevin gets to cuddle a baby.  Something he hasn't been able to do in seven years.  He loves it.

After the kids got out of school for the day, Kevin went to get them and brought them back to play with the baby some more.  Derek brought a book from home to read to his brother – in fact, he was the first one to ever read a story to Arthur.  It was so sweet.

They came back to visit again on Saturday, which was wonderful.  They are so wonderful with their baby brother.

One thing that really blew us away, was how grown up Derek is.  We knew he was growing up, but seeing him hold his baby brother, he looked gigantic and so grown up it almost made me sad.

I am so happy with my boys.  Just look at their hands – itty bitty, big kid, and fully grown. 

My second night in the hospital, Kevin stayed home with the kids, and so I was there alone.  Before he left me, he set me up with movies to watch, which was fantastic.  And my best friend, Natalie, came to visist me.  She got to hold my baby while we talked for a few hours.  It was so much fun :).

Being in the hospital for a second night was pretty great, except I was getting really tired of all the different hospital bracelets on my wrist.  At least they took my I-V out the day before.

It was strange, and yet really nice, to be all alone with my baby.  I would just sit and stare at him, whether he was asleep or awake.

The next morning, he had to finish up a few tests and things, and then we got to take him home.  That meant we finally got to put him in his own clothes.  I picked out a warm, newborn size outfit for him to wear, but when we put it on him, it was gigantic.  Pretty funny.

And he looked especially tiny in his carseat.  It is so much fun that we were able to use this carseat with all three of our babies :).

When we got home, the house was clean and Kevin had roses waiting for me, along with cards from Lily and Derek for their brother, Arthur.  I have the best husband and kids, that is for sure :).

And now I get to be home with my sweetheart baby, Arthur.  He has already blessed our lives more than I can say.