Alana Lyn

So, some know, and maybe even less care, but my wife and I have had our second child today. Let me give the short details and some pictures. After the pictures I plan on talking about the day and my experience.

Alana Lyn Smith: Born May 13, 2011 at 13:29. 7lbs 4oz. and 20 inches long.

Alana Lyn Smith

Alana Lyn with Dad and Sister

Alana Lyn with Mom and Sister

Alana and Naomi

So, as for the day:

We had really been hoping that Alana would be born on the thirteenth. For many reasons. Becky and I started dating on a thirteenth. We got married on a thirteen. Naomi was born on a Friday the thirteenth and we wanted Alana to be on the thirteenth too. I was nervous that Alana would come earlier. In fact, Becky kept having sporadic contractions on the evening of the eleventh. What made me more nervous is that work was at that moment being quite busy and I really needed Thursday to get everything set up with the five families that I am working with. But I digress, we scheduled to induce labor and needed to be at the hospital at 7:15 am on the thirteenth. I didn't want to leave anything to chance.

On the twelfth I got home from work and felt a huge relief from stress just knowing that work was behind me and now I could focus on Becky and Alana. Lisa, Becky's sister, came over and spent the night so that she could take Naomi with her in the morning. We relaxed and played games with friends. While playing games Becky got a call confirming her c-section. Becky had to tell the person that called, the callers name was Buffy, that she was not having a c-section and that they had better not cut her. Apparently the doctors office got things mixed up, but Becky straightened them out.

This morning was one that was filled with a certain amount of anxiety. Becky woke up at 3:00 AM and could only sleep sporadically after that. We went to the hospital and walked in right at 7:15 where Dr. Ward jokingly asked us if we were ready for our c-section. We all had a tentative laugh about that one. I thought the mix up was only mildly funny and Becky was starting to get anxious with the anticipation of everything. Once checked in everything got underway.

I will say I think this was an easier labor than with Naomi. I realize that as I say that there are women out there that are saying, "What would you know? You didn't have the labor". But it was faster than Naomi by about 12 hours.

One other thing that is amazing to me is the instant connection that comes with a new child for me. It happened with Naomi, and again with Alana. On each occasion I had the feeling that before me was one of the most wonderful things in the planet and I had, and still have, the strongest desire in the world to take care of these wonderful things. It is fascinating the instant feeling of love and devotion to this person that I have never met before now.

Becky was able to really quickly recover and Alana is really a well natured and good child. One interesting thing, while Naomi was with Aunt Lisa, she started to really have a hard time. To the point of having a tantrum. Lisa and Nonnie asked her what was wrong and Naomi replied that she was scared that we would not come and get her now that Alana was here. Bless her heart. There is no way that we would actually do that of course, but it is interesting to see Naomi's reaction to having the new sister actually here, and not something that is just some abstract object in Mommy's tummy. When Naomi got to the hospital we had her hold Alana, had talks with her and of course, grandparents bought her presents. That helped.

So all things considered it has been an amazing day. I really like the scheduled birth just because it was very easy to take care of Naomi and have everything ready. Sunday afternoon Alana will come home for the first time. I want to thank all those who have wished us well so far.