Silas Asher Baggott born June 11th at 5:26 am in South Africa - 6 lbs 13 oz 20 inches long

Okay so here is my birthing experience in Africa: sorry for it being so long : )

2 nights ago I woke up around... ? not real sure, anyways I woke up to some contractions. Since I have been experiencing contractions the whole pregnancy I didn't think - oyeah this is it so I just layed there thinking okay if they get harder i will wake spencer up. so after about an hour and after debating on waking him up spencer woke up to me tossing and turning and i said okay after the next big one i will decide if it was time or not. So this was about 2am... i think. the next one was harder so we called our missionary friend Maria and she came over. we got to the birthing clinic at about 3:45am. it was about a 25 minute drive (in the middle of the night).

the midwife was waiting there at the door and she showed us to our room. The room was great and ready for us. The bath had water in it and candles around the huge tub. The room was also dimly lit and very relaxing. So I sat on the bed and she put these electric thingys on my back for an electric massage when i had a contraction. It was only on there a bit since the contractions started to come closer and closer and Henny (the midwife) said okay time for the bath. Oyeah when I arrived at the clinic i was dilated to 8.

I got in the warm relaxing bath and chilled out.... until it started to come. O my - labor hurts!!!! It was too late for meds! although i had already decided against the epidural. so we tried the laughing gas but it really just made me feel like i couldn't breath with the mask on. it did not make me laugh lol plus i think the doula was new and not so great about giving it to me ... anyways back to the pain. It hurt! lol Spencer said during the really bad painful part i asked for an epidural and Henny said no. I said are you sure she said no you can do it and it is too late. and then a couple minutes later I said get me the epidural NOW. I really can't remember that part...lol I do remember pulling on her shirt and yelling. I never thought i was a yeller but I screamed. I was thinking during the screaming."Why am i screaming?" Owell i guess i am a screamer!

During the labor Henny did an awesome job talking me through it. She would say things like... April God designed your body to do this and your baby is not a big baby he is a 2.9 kilo baby... he is small. she was awesome!

Praise God it didn't last long and Silas was here. After we arrived at he clinic he was born 1 hour and 45 minutes later.

Spencer was instructed to take off his shirt and was able to hold Silas while I finished the labor and took a shower. Yes i took a shower right after. It was great! I remember with the other births just laying in the bed for a long time afterward and not ever get to see the baby until after they were cleaned and weighted etc. This birth was all about me and the baby. So cool! There is nothing quite like holding your baby in the tub and being the first one to touch, smell and hold your baby.
So after all the fun Silas started nursing and soon after we had our breakfast.
Later that day spencer left to pick up the kids (locked the keys in the car at the regional office) and came back to pick me up. We got home at about 9pm that night. Wow what a fast delivery!

Luke and Abby love Silas. Luke is really in love with him. He wants to look at him all the time and help with whatever. he also can't stop smiling at him. Okay so last night when we were having our family prayer time luke usually gives me a hug and kiss afterwards. Never on the lips. But last night he kissed me on the lips 2 times. It was the sweetest thing. Abby does love Silas but i think may be a little jealous at this point. Today she played outside all day. Luke was by my side.

Okay so here are a few things funny that the kids have said:
* Luke - I hope he isn't brown... this was said before Silas came. I think because we live in africa maybe he thought he would be african. : )
* Abby - first thing abby said was "aww i like him"
* Abby - his hand is the size of a potato chip
* luke - his pinky finger looks like a Cheeto

Okay now i am so tired i can't remember all the funny things they have said. Owell maybe later.

okay so gonna finish watching the USA vs. England game and then go to bed.

i love all yall and remember... God is good.... I praise him for little fingers and little toes! Kiss your babies tonight!
april