Easton James Verkley
Welcome Easton.
When you have a second child, you can't help but compare the two experiences. So much has been identical, but some parts are very different.
The lead up was different. Choosing the names was different. Easton's name we had as the boy name the first time around, so we just needed to pick a new girls name. A second best name as it were, as obviously Hadley was our first choice. Whereas with Hadley we had decided right around her due date, this time we needed to decide before I started work on Sept 7th, nearly a month before he was born. I like leaving it to the last minute as you have no time to second guess, but obviously the stress isn't fun.
With Hadley we didn't "expect" anything until the due date, and labour began 4 days after, so we only had really 4 days of, "there is a good chance it is today." With Easton, we had a number of signs that things may go real early. We wouldn't have been surprised if he was born before I started work, which would have been weeks before his due date. So there was nearly a month of, "there is a good chance it is today." I didn't like running my life on hold like that.
Mom came down early, on just such a day. She was to sit with Hadley while we go to the hospital, so in a sense her life was on hold too. We decided to err on the side of calling her too soon and invite her down early. She agreed and spent quite a few days at our house. Hadley loved it! (especially Mom's new iPad). This worked out even better than I had expected as Mom was able to baby sit at a moments notice as Leanne and I went for extra test after another extra test. It also gave Hadley and Mom time to get into a routine together, which I'm sure made it easier on Hadley when we were gone.
The midwives were the same. We were lucky enough to have the same primary and backup midwife as last time, only our student from last time was no longer with the practice. Both of our midwives are remarkable people. Not only are they prepared for every situation, their calming confidence guided us through what would otherwise be stressful chaos. I'm so thankful they take the time to prepare us ahead of time, explain what is going on during, seek and incorporate our input, and work tirelessly to achieve a perfect ending. Words aren't enough. They are heroes.
The labour was eerily similar. The only difference was the pre-labour part was 10 hours shorter. Still, 20 hours is enough.
The two kids look so similar in their first pictures. Compare http://ajax.verkley.com/easton with http://ajax.verkley.com/hadley
As expected, Hadley is a GREAT help when she can help. She loves fetching pillows or blankets, shhshing or holding Easton's hand, and generally being a big sister. She does miss having a mobile Leanne to play with her all the time though.
Now that that the pregnancy is done, life with two kids has begun, and I'm looking forward to it.
(side note, since Easton was born my computer broke, and I haven't had the time to fix it. More pictures may take a few days.)