Introducing Baby #3!!!

I am still not completely caught up on all my blogging but wanted to introduce you to our new addition!!!

 Samuel (Sam) J. Blackham 

June 20th

6:23pm

7 lbs. 8 oz.

21" long

I was really hoping he would come a day or two early so I could go into labor on my own but he wasn't interested in that!  I was induced on Wednesday morning and it was a very long and slow labor.  I was still only 1cm and he was still really high when they broke my water and started the pitocin around 9:15.  

They checked me around 12 and I was still only dilated to 3cm so they continued increasing my pitocin hoping that would help the progression of labor.  I went ahead and got my epidural in case things started progressing quicker.  I was finally at a 5 around 4:45 and we were thinking it was going to be a late night!  He was just not coming down (I could feel him still hanging out in my rib cage!) They checked me again around 5:45 and I was completely dilated and ready to deliver!  So, went from a 5 to a 10 in an hour! Thank goodness for an epidural or that would have been really painful.

They had me do a few practice pushes, the Dr. came in about 6:05 and Sam was born at 6:23pm! It was an amazing experience and a little bittersweet since this is probably the last time.  We had a birth photographer, Jenn Briggs, in the room with us to document the birth and the hours after.  It was one of the best decisions we ever made.  I loved that we were able to enjoy the experience with each other and with our family and still get GREAT pictures.  I would recommend it to anyone! Definitely worth the money. 

 

 

They even bathed him in the room shortly after his birth so she was able to get pictures of that too!  The kids loved watching it and Sam is definitely a Blackham....he LOVED getting his head scrubbed and washed! 

Sam came out looking different than both his siblings did at birth- but as the evening and days went on, we discovered he looks a lot like his big sister, Addie, when she was a baby.  He is such a sweet and perfect little being and we all absolutely love him.  His big sister and big brother are so happy he is here and they just can't get enough of him!! They are always mauling him, "petting him", kissing him, whatever!!  We are so glad he is part of our family. 

Three kids is proving to be a bit crazy and finding time to do anything with a newborn, and the two others around is difficult but hopefully we'll find a rhythm soon.  We're still working on getting nursing established (hoping it will work this time around- he's doing better than both his siblings) and just trying to make sure we all eat and have clean clothes to wear!  Thank goodness for a wonderful husband who has taken the kids out to do a bunch of fun things and now for Grandma's who are willing to help any way they can!!!  We are so lucky to have such helpful and supportive family close by.  

Hopefully, I will find time to update more of the activities and adventures we had in June soon!

For now, WELCOME to the family, baby Sam!!!  We love you!!!