Corin Timothy McLaughlin was born on January 22, 2008 at 3:33am. He weighed 7 pounds 10 ounces and was 19 inches and a quarter long. My labor began on the 21st in the morning and became “uncomfortable” at 11:00am. We arrived at the hospital at 3:30pm and the nurse broke my water checking my progression. I was 3 cm dilated and 70 percent effaced. At around 6:00pm I felt the urge to push and had shown all emotional signs of being in transition (fear, nervousness, self-doubt). The nurse checked me and I was only dilated to 4 cm and was still 70 percent effaced. I labored (very painfully) for another three hours and was checked again only to be disapointed by no progress. At 9:30pm I was put on an iv in the hopes that I could relax enough to progress. After another hour (10:30pm) I was shaking uncontrollably and Erin, my labor coach, suggested the epidural. She later informed me that she was afraid I would have a seizure. After the epidural Chester and Erin slept for a few hours and I was able to relax enough to rest and pray (I did not want a C-section). At 1:00am I was dilated to 9 cm and was 100 percent effaced. At 2:45 the doctor gave me the OK to push, and because my body was doing pushing already for me it was only two pushes before Corin’s head was showing. After 45 minutes of pushing Corin was born at 3:33am and wow, was I ever ready to relax!Corin is now 6 days old and I am so in love with him. It is amazing how there is place in your heart you never knew was there that is reserved for your children. Chester and I sit up at night and laugh at his burps, yawns, cries, and bewildered looks. You can see pictures of Corin in Chester’s Gallery. http://chestermclaughlin.com/gallery/v/family/corin/ Now I am adjusting to breast feeding and waking up in the night for more then the three minute bathroom run. To give Corin credit last night he didn’t even cry. I woke up to sucking sounds to find him frantically sucking on his hands. He ate at 3:30 am and then again at 7:30 am. Both times he didn’t cry just was obviously hungry. Needless to say getting six hours of sleep last night was WONDERFUL! I have included a few photos of Corin for those of you who can’t wait to click on the link to Chester’s gallery. Enjoy!