Macie Rae Post #2 with viewable pictures I hope!

I got the call on Tuesday evening that Tyler and Katrina would be going to the hospital. She had been experiencing contractions most of the day and when she went to her appointment that afternoon, the doctor ordered them to go home to eat some dinner, get their bags, and be back at the birthing center by 8pm. Katrina let us know that she didn't feel like Macie would be here til the next morning so Mom, Dad, and I tried to sleep from 11pm-4:30am. We arrived at the hospital around 5:30am and Mom and I went in to the room to watch and coach her through the birth around 7:30am.

Katrina's water broke on its own around 2am and shortly after she asked for the epidural. I had planned on having a natural birth with my first born child, but after seeing Katrina's delivery, I am having second thoughts. She was a rockstar and made it look like a breeze!
It was such a fun atmosphere, the midwife was wonderful and easygoing. We were all laughing and talking during it. It was an incredible experience. I should mention of course that my brother Ty did a great job as well. He was by her side the entire time. At one point Katrina looked up at him and asked, "Why are you being so quiet?" He let out a nervous laugh. I guess that's expected for a young man in that situation. It melted my heart to see them with their little girl for the first time. I think Ty was fighting back tears more than Katrina was.

Macie Rae was born on September 7th. She weighed 7lbs 8oz and was 19 inches long. A very healthy baby!

The cord was slightly wrapped around her neck when she came out, her face was blue and she wasn't moving or crying which made my mom and I anxious (don't think Ty or Katrina could see well enough to notice). It felt like a lifetime as the midwife coaxed her to cry, but I think within 10 seconds she came to and took her first break and let out that precious newborn cry.

We think she must have been posed with crossed legs in the womb because she keeps this position constantly.

My parents are THRILLED to say the least. Everyone continues to tease my dad for "hogging" Macie. He isn't shy about coming in and saying "Okay, give me my granddaughter!" On that same note, my mom and I were so grateful to Katrina and her willingness and comfort not only to let us in on the birth but also with allowing visitors in the room and people to hold Macie. They had SOOO many visitors (very encouraging to them) and each time Katrina would ask "Do you want to hold her?" She would also comment often "I know I'll have my time with her, whoever wants to hold her feel free.

It was bittersweet without my sister Brittney there. Her husband Kyle serves in the Marine Corps and they live in Virginia. We were texting and calling her all morning to keep her updated, but for her I'm sure it wasn't the same. After the birth, Mom and I went to the waiting room for a while to give Ty, Kat, and Macie some privacy. I talked to Britt on the phone and she started crying. Her husband is currently in the field for "the war" (a training exercise before his graduation from Officer Training) so she won't see him or talk to him for 8 days. Then add on the fact that her niece was just born and she was missing out. I started crying as I tried to comfort her and enocourage her, and my mom started crying, and other people in the waiting room started crying! After that phone call my mom decided she and my dad would fly her out to see her niece. Britt comes in to PDX today and I can't wait to see her :)

Yeah... I think I'm ready to take care of one of these. Macie needs a cousin to grow up with :)

I knew I had to come back home to Springfield, but it was so hard to leave. Ty and Katrina needed a few things from the house so I went back to the hospital on Thursday to bring her little hat and mittens. I was the only visitor at that point so it was nice to hang out. I was probably there for a couple of hours and got to hold her for quite some time. They are so peaceful at this stage. A friend came in with her two month old and we couldn't believe that Macie could be smiling and interacting so much by November! They grow up fast, that's for sure.