Ryder Zen - a scrumptious lil' bundle of love

Ryder Zen, 5 days old.

Our newest lil' bundle of joy arrived on Thursday, August 5th at 11:08 pm. He was a relatively big guy coming out at 8 lbs. 15 oz. and measured 22 inches long. He came rockin' down the birth canal to Kings of Leon and entered the world extremely calm, cool and very, very observant - super wide eyed and ready to be loved. As we requested, once Zen cut the cord, he was immediately placed on my chest and Zen and I took in his sweet face, his scrumptious lil' toes and his extremely peaceful energy. He's truly a dream come true. He is now 11 days old and he has been nothing short of amazing. He's the most laid back baby that seems super content with all that is going on around him. We've already taken him on several outings and he has seemed to enjoy each and every one of them. We honestly didn't think we'd get another baby that was as mellow as Hunter........but he seems to be proving us wrong. We've got ourselves, yet another "chill baby".







He's already got a very sweet demeanor about him........very gentle and very soft. We embrace his little body with such adoring tenderness, with which he seems to be enjoying thoroughly. I'm quite positive he feels the overwhelming amounts of love and gratefulness that he's held with every single minute his lil' body is in our arms. He sleeps snug as a bug right by my side every night and is already an amazing snuggler.








The labor and deliver, I thought, was going to be a piece of pie. I seriously thought he was going to slip out like a fish and come out in about 4 hours. Well.........that was NOT the case. Ryder definitely made me work pretty hard, and boy, was it painful. I started having very mild contractions the night before at around 10pm and they seemed to continue throughout the night. At around 7am, they seemed pretty regular and started picking up in intensity. We arrived at the doctors office at 9:30 and they hooked me up to the baby monitor. The contractions were about 4 min. apart and were heading in the right direction. Our extremely cool doctor, that we love, love, LOVE, came in and said "we could either send you home and wait it out OR we could send you over to the hospital, break your water and get this lil' guy out". He knows all about Hunter and knows how very anxious we were to have Ryder in our arms. So, OF COURSE, Zen and I both opted for BABY NOW!!!!!!! So he sent us over and broke my water around 1pm. Well nothing happened and the contractions seemed to be fading away and becoming very inconsistent. So I walked the halls, bounced on the labor ball, rocked in the chair and still..........not too much activity. So we induced with a pretty mild dose of Pitocin at 7pm. Still not too much happening, so then upped the dose of Pitocin about an hour later and then low and behold - at 9pm...........GAME ON. All I will say is HOLY FREAKIN' CRAP - it hit me like a Mac Truck and before I knew it, I could barely catch me breath. Those contractions came on so quick and SO STRONG, I felt as if my body was going into convulsions. Right around 10:30pm I started asking for some relief. I just couldn't endure the pain any longer. I requested the epidural at that point and my nurse said, "sweetie, you're almost there, he's about to come out", and somehow or another I got the point across that mamma needs some relief and please get it as soon as possible.

So by the time the epidural technician came and got it in my body with the first test dose it was already 10:48. By the time it hit my system is was about 10:58 and Ryder was born at 11:08. So I didn't get much relief....in fact - I got none at all. I guess I should have asked for it sooner. Now I know.

None the less, as soon as he was on my chest..........the pain was forgotten and our baby boy was born.

Zen coaching me through the contractions.

Always so nice to feel his touch and hear his voice.

Holding on to Hunter's favorite train, Henry. I wouldn't let go and wanted him with me through the whole process. Henry still sleeps with me at nighttime and stays clutched in my hand throughout the entire night. I will forever hear in my head Hunter's sweet voice........"mom.....Henwy".

He is never far from my thoughts.

My note to Hunter:

Hey baby cakes.......your presence has been felt and has completely embraced us these last couple of weeks. Your dad and I are missing you and loving you more than I can possibly express. Even though our hearts are still very broken, you've filled them with such an overwhelming amount of joy and beautiful memories......memories that I've cherished every single day that you've been gone. You carry me throughout my day and gently snuggle with me at night. And I want you to know that I will never let you go.

Your little brother was born last week and you must have done a good job coaching him in the belly because he came out super cool.......you must have told him he's got some big shoes to fill. I certainly hope you shared your love of music with him......I'm hoping he's got some killer dance moves to share with us once he starts moving around.

I still sleep with Henry clutched in my hand and Ryder will soon see him and hold on to him as tightly as I do. Lightning, Mater, Hudson Hornet and the rest of the crew are kept close at hand as well. They make me smile and I can still hear your precious voice when you'd ask for them.

I am off to sleep. I hope you visit me in my dreams........I am in need of some wonderful Hunter snuggles. I love you so much and miss you terribly. Sending you smooches, sweet dreams and lots and lots of toe kisses....XoXoXo mom