Pure LOVE.

I love giving birth! I love everything about it, and this time around was no different...

I loved that I was able to share this experience with my mom and both of my sisters. (I was there when all three of Jen's kids were born, and she has been there for all of mine too. Since Emily no longer lives in Texas, she was so excited to be a part of the delivery. I called Em around 4 a.m. to let her know I was having contractions and she took all three of her kids to stay with Aunt Robin for the day, she also brought her breast pump to the hospital so she could have milk for her 4 month old, Olivia. She was so excited to be a part of the day and I was thrilled to have her there. I checked into the hospital around 6 a.m, my mom got there around 7 a.m. and Jen and Em arrived with bran muffins from Mimi's cafe around 8 a.m. ...so much fun!) Might I also add, I loved having an epidural, it makes giving birth so enjoyable.

I loved feeling so close to Adam as we anticipated the arrival of our new little one.

I loved that first look at my healthy, beautiful baby boy... fresh from heaven.

I loved seeing all that dark hair... totally explains all that heartburn I was having!

Nolan William Koch
born September 25th

@ 11:54 a.m.
8 pounds (even)
20 inches

"The best days are the days when babies are born." -Melanie Wilkes in Gone With the Wind

I loved checking out my little guy and talking about who it is he looks like.

I had the most amazing nurse for my delivery, Mary. I actually ran into her at a yoga class while I was pregnant. When I went to the class I knew I recognized her from somewhere but could not figure out where. After talking about it for a minute and finding out she was a L&D nurse at Hoag hospital, I realized she was the same nurse I had when I delivered Charlie. It was so great to have her again with Nolan.

The "meet and greet" with big brother and big sister did not go perfectly but it went as well as could be expected. Charlie just stood back and took it all in while June poked and picked and patted in order to thoroughly check out her baby brother.

It was instant love for June-bug.

I love that first bath in the hospital, it took Nolan a minute...

...but he learned to love it too.

Gotta love the swaddle!

I went to the doctor the week before my due date for one of my last appointments. She mentioned that she would schedule an induction if I wanted one for anytime after my due date. Well, both Charlie and June were born on the 26th (May/March) so Adam and I thought it would be pretty cool to have all three of our kids with a "26th" birthday. Even though I have preferred going into labor on my own, the thought of having an induction, coordinating babysitting, and the bonus of kids with "matching" birthdays started sounding pretty good. When my contractions stated on the 25th I was thrown off because in my mind I still had one more day to go. Adam was WAY set on the kids all being born on the 26th so he kept telling me "keep it in!" Well, the little man decided to come on September 25th, his due date! Welcome to the world.

I loved my hospital experience so much this time around because I got to share it with my amazing friend Sarah Hixson. She was also pregnant with her third and we were both due within a week of each other. She had a scheduled c-section for September 23rd, so we knew there was a chance we might be in the hospital at the same time. Given that possibility, we went out to dinner one night while pregnant, went shopping, and bought matching hospital outfits. You better believe all our wishes came true since we ended up delivering within days of each other. The night I delivered Sarah and her husband came down to our room and we ate dinner together, then we would hang out together during the day, it was awesome!

Matchy-match.

Sydney Jane and Nolan William

The kids came to the hospital for lunch right before I was discharged. They thought that was pretty cool to each lunch at the hospital. (People totally complain about hospital food, but I happen to enjoy it.) I love the cranberry spritzers they have at "hotel Hoag." I love having someone come and serve me breakfast/lunch/dinner in bed. I love that I am not the one who has to cook or clean-up. I could actually stay at the hospital for a week if they let me. I love my other kids but I also love that quiet bonding time with my newborn in the hospital. (The help from the nurses is pretty nice too, it is like totally being taken care of before you are set free into the great big world to raise THREE kids.)My boys!

Family of FIVE!

The kids loved moving their car seats to the back of the car, they think they are pretty big-stuff to be able to sit in the waaay back!

Words cannot describe how much we love you little Nolan. Welcome to the family. Hope you enjoy the ride because I have a feeling it is going to be quite an adventure!