Max is 1 month old

Max is 1 month old today! I guess that's occasion enough for me to FINALLY get around to posting some pictures of him! The time has flown by. I can't believe a month has passed. It is always like that when we have a baby-seems like I was just pregnant, but also seems like the baby has been a part of our family forever.

I was due Saturday, August 30 (sorry it didn't happen on your birthday Dad!) but I went overdue like I almost always do. My doctor scheduled me to be induced on Wednesday, September 3 if I hadn't had the baby before then. She didn't want me going too over my due date.

The night before we were scheduled to go in I went to bed about midnight and as soon as I laid down I started having contractions. I was up all night and couldn't sleep because they were regular and strong enough to keep me awake. I was excited that I was going into labor on my own and wouldn't have to be induced that morning-I don't love being induced. It was about 4 a.m. and the contractions were close enough and regular enough that I woke Brent up and got ready to call our friend to come over a little earlier than we had planned. Then the contractions completely stopped. That had never happened to me before so we weren't sure what to do. We decided to just wait and go in at 7 a.m. as scheduled.

Me at the hospital. I would not have broadcasted a picture of me this pregnant, but my mom requested it! Enjoy, Mom!

I ended up needing to be started, but because my body was already starting early labor it went fairly quickly-about 5 hours from being started to delivery. My only complaint was that my epidural made me too numb! It was really bugging me, so we ended up turning it off completely and I felt much better. My nurse and doctor were great and my friend, Emily, came to take pictures for us. Brent was outnumbered with all of the women in the room! We were all talking and laughing and having a good time. I know that sounds kinda weird for a delivery room, but it really was fun.

September 3, 2008 at 1:34 p.m. Max was born and I became the mother of 5 boys!

My friend, Emily, took the three pictures above (love them!) and the six pictures below. Thank you for everything Emily! It was so great to have you there. I hope it was a good experience for you too!

Max weighed 8 lbs. 10 oz. and was 21 inches long.

I was so tired but happy to be holding my sweet baby.

Brent has his basketball team!

I loved my doctor, Gretchen! She was very sweet and supportive throughout my pregnancy.

Garrett, Eli, Luke, and Owen love their new brother. If I can just teach them not to bring him to me every time he's crying-scary! Poor baby had no idea what he was coming home to! Youngest of five boys. Should be interesting!

This is Max in the hospital right before we brought him home. He has already changed so much! He has been such a great baby. The first night he was home we thought we were in for a tough time because he was up all night long. But he figured things out pretty quickly and has been doing awesome at night ever since. Thank goodness-we're too old for all-nighters! He wanted to be held all the time for the first couple of weeks, but little by little is hanging out and going to sleep on his own more. Everyone who sees him says he looks just like our other boys-"just like a Milne". I see a little bit of all of them in him but he seems to have his own little look too. I'll try to get some recent pics of him up soon!