Introducing Asher Helaman

Here he is! Asher Helaman at 5 hours old. He's so cute! He was born at 5:05 a.m. on Friday the 21st, weighed 7lbs. 6 oz. and was 21 1/2 inches long. I think he looks a lot like McKenzie, but also has something all his own (although this picture actually makes him look more like Jason and Ethan). He loves being held - he slept beautifully last night when he was cuddled up next to Jason.

So the plan was to be induced Friday morning. I spent Thursday working all day to finish last minute things, taught piano lessons and then took McKenzie and Ethan to Elisa's (thank you Elisa and Bruce!!!). I hadn't eaten since lunch and was ready to eat and sleep real good before the big day. As I started on my way home from Elisa's house my doctor called and said that he didn't think it would happen Friday because I was pretty far down on the list to be induced. But, if I came in that night, he had arranged with the hospital to induce me if I wanted to. Whoa! Not ready.......but SO ready! There was no way I could wait another few days or a week! I called Jason who had had a long 14 hour day at work himself and starting to feel a little sick. He was on his way home and gave the "o.k." He got home and vacuumed out the jeep and put the carseat in. I got home and showered real quick and then we were off! We got to the hospital at 10:30 p.m. Poor Jason had to try to get some sleep on one of those hard high-centered so-called "recliners" while I snoozed on a luxurious bed with warm right-out-of-the-dryer blankets and plush pillows between contractions and popcycles (and then even during contractions after the beloved epidural). Jason jokes around with me that the labor and delivery was a lot worse for him than for me. Shhhhh......don't tell him, but I don't think that's far from truth. In fact, my most uncomfortable moment must have been the shocking realization, as Jason's chair slowly reclined - *tension building* - and then suddenly came to a shrieking hault, that THAT was the position he was required to sleep in for the night. Are you kidding me? Was this an innocent designer flaw or someone's cruel and sinister plan? Poor guy! But, we're all home and happy and doing great and slowly trying to catch up on sleep. It's so nice to have Asher here! I'm exhausted, but too excited to sleep as much as I should. I love snuggling with him and staring at him. But, I better go take a nap anyway.......enjoy the pics!



Is there a way this could be less comfortable? Of course, believing that it must be someone's deliberate devilish design, I'm sure they explored every uncomfortable option and only
provided these new fathers with the best. (Well, at least they're good at what they do).



Meanwhile......back at my bed.....Listen up, ladies! Your hospital stay is your Spa Day. This is definitely a time to celebrate! How many times in your life do you get waited on hand and foot with the push of a button? It's the scenerio we mothers often dream about - made a reality at every new birth of a beautiful child. Live it to it's fullest. It won't happen often enough. It's a time to bring a huge stash of your favorite treats and eat them with complete abandon. If you want chocolate milk at dinner instead of regular 1%, speak up and be counted for. If you want more saltines with your percocet, ask them kindly to "bring a towering stack next time". Sad will be the days when this event will no longer be in my future.


I was seriously worried how Ethan would react, being a Momma's boy and just having entered the "hitting stage" with flying colors........but, he couldn't have been cuter with Asher, tickling him so gently ("ticko, ticko, ticko") and brimming over with excitement to see this little person. He wanted to hold him so bad right away. We have it on video and it's priceless!


McKenzie could hardly contain her excitement as well. She's in love with him! But, when it was Ethan's turn to hold Asher, she was quite concerned that Ethan would "squash him". She's going to be quite the protective little mother.


What a cute little family, if I do say so myself. What's better than this?
Nothing.