We are no longer a family of three!!!

Mason Samuel Anderson arrived on October 6^th at 12:30 am.  The last three weeks of my pregnancy were kind of crazy.  I was having lots of contractions and the smallest tasks would make me tired.  So chasing Owen around was defiantly getting harder by the second.  But I still wanted Owen to have fun and be able to go play outside with friends so we were always on the go.

At my 38 week appointment they informed me that I was dilated 4 and about 75% effaced.  The doctor said he wouldn’t be surprised if I had the baby that week.  I told him that I couldn’t have the baby this week because my mom wouldn’t be here until the 4^th.  He laughed and said that we would try not to have him till she got here.  I honestly didn’t know if I would be able to wait until my mom arrived.  I was definitely trying to relax and not work too hard.   But I don’t know if that’s even possible with Owen around.  He is so full of energy and ready for anything that comes his way.  I’m always trying to find ways to entertain him; Of course the most entertaining things for Owen are usually extremely exhausting for me especially when I’m 9 months pregnant! 

Finally it was time for my mom to arrive! I was so excited to see her.  But because we live in the middle of nowhere right now we had to drive to Spokane Washington to pick her up from the airport.  Michael kept threatening to not let come with him to pick her up because it’s about an hour and a half away and you don’t get service part of the time. So if I did go into labor and the baby came to fast then Mike would be the one delivering him.  However I really wanted to be there when my mom got here and it sounded fun to get to hang out with my husband for the day, which doesn’t happen that often anymore. School keeps Mike super busy.  But I can’t complain when he’s working so hard for our family.   Finally after a lot of begging and reassuring him that I felt ok he let me come.  After my mom was here I was much more relaxed and ready for the baby to come.

I was scheduled to be induced on the 6^th.  But I really wanted to go into labor on my own.  So the doctor told me to come in on the 5^th and he would strip my membranes and see if he would come on his own.  When I got there in the morning the doctor said I was at a 5 and 85% percent effaced.  He kind of laughed and said he couldn’t believe that I wasn’t already in labor.  The rest of the day the contractions continued to get stronger and there was more and more pressure.  I knew I was going to have the baby that night.  At around seven I knew I needed to go in.  So I got Owen already for bed and cuddled him as long as I could while crying and trying not to let him see.  Finally Mike was the voice of reason and pried Owen out of my arms and reminded of how happy Owen would be to have a little brother. 

When we got to the hospital everything seemed pretty normal.  But as we were walking down the hall I started to realize something was different about this hospital.  It was a very nice hospital with lots of rooms but there was nobody in any of them.  At this point I was feeling very home sick for UT and the IHC hospital where at any given moment there’s a baby being born and a bunch of doctors with in yelling distance. 

When we got the front desk there were 2 nurses and no doctors.  After we got our room and got all settled in the nurse came in the room to tell us that my doctor was a little busy tonight and might not make it in because he was at the Pullman hospital where his wife was having their baby.  He told the nurse to check and see how I was doing and that he would try to make it over.  This made me sad because I knew if they could just break my water the baby would come quickly and I wouldn’t have to be in labor night long.  Needless to say the baby was coming anyway.  And the anesthesiologist was somewhere else.

 After about an hour things started to hurt a lot worse.  I started to get really tired and just a little more edgy.  I kept asking for a doctor.  Finally they said that a different doctor was on their way and she would be there soon.  She started getting ready for the doctor to arrive and deliver the baby while Mike just kept reminding me that I was doing a good job and that everything would be fine.  My response this was a little less than positive.  When the doctor arrived I already felt the need to push.  She broke my water and within 4 minutes Mason was here.  Right then the anesthesiologist walked in said… “I heard someone needs my help over here.”  Everyone started laughing but me!!!! I was still in total shock and shaking.  Michael was so excited he stated calling people right away.  Mason wasn’t even wrapped up in a blanket yet.  Then he tried to hand the phone to me.  And I was like hum… I just had a baby and I’m not kidding I literally just had the baby!!!  I was like can I call them back at a more convenient time please.  Don’t get me wrong it was totally adorable how excited he was to meet his little boy for the first time.  But I at least needed to stop shaking before I started making phone calls.

The next day my Mike brought Owen and my mom to come meet the baby.  Owen was really cute with Mason.  But he didn’t really care or understand that this baby was going to come with us.  They stayed and hung out for a while.  But Owen tried to destroy the hospital by pulling on every cord and calling the nurses over and over again.  So it was time for him to go home and take a nap.  It was so hard to see everyone going home without me.  But the doctor said I needed to stay until Sunday morning.  It made me really home sick for UT.  But it was fun to just sit there and do nothing but cuddle the baby for 2 days. 

Mason is adorable and Owen loves him so much.  Even though in the process of loving him he might poke him in the eye or squish him with kisses. I love being a mother even when I’m nursing Mason and Owen is climbing all over me.  And the look on Michaels face when he walks in the house and see both of his boys waiting for him.  One of which has been knocking on the door all day saying “da… da… please.”  Families are amazing and this is why we are here.  I can’t believe how much Heavenly Father has given our family.  He truly is amazing. 

Mason the day you came into this world was so amazing. Your father and I couldn’t have asked for more.  I love both you and your brother so much!!! Thank you for being my son. 
 

 

Worst hair cut ever…  We miss our aunt Jill!!!



 

Playing with friends and throwing rocks are Owen’s two favorite things to do.

 

 

You know it was a successful day when you leave with dirt on your face and grass in your hair. This happens for us way to often!!! 

 

 

Picking grandma up from the airport and Owen was getting just a little bit antsy.

 

 

 Some of the very first pictures of Mason. 

 

 

Owen meeting Mason for the very first time.

 

 

Grandma Nickell loving the new baby. 

 

Finally time to go home.  This was a very happy moment for me!

 

Owen already trying to help his baby brother. 



 

When did Owen get this big????? 

It’s so crazy to see Mason and Owen together.   I feel like they should both be the same size.



 

 

Getting ready to go outside and play!!!



 

I can’t stand how cute this kid is in black!!!!

Stealing other people’s toys.  Why not right???

 

And of course Owen finds a mud puddle to sit in. 

 

 

 

Mason is always smiling in his sleep.  I’ve never seen a baby smile so much while sleeping.   

Owen and Johnny just hang in out reading books.  These two are so funny.  One second there the best of friends and the next second they’re beating reach other up.  

 

Just saying hi to dad at Law school.

Brother love!!!! 

Watching TV just holding hands. 

Out of the house and running around again.   

 

Cute faces!!!