Samantha Jane Rappleye

It is my great pleasure to introduce you to our sweet Samantha Jane Rappleye! She came to our family on September 12th, 2009 at 9:41 pm. She weighed 7 pounds 11 ounces and was 20 1/2 inches long. I wouldn't be a proud momma if I didn't share my birth story so if you want to avoid all the details then skip this part and head on down to the pictures!!

My labor started Friday night at about 8:30 with contractions coming and going until I finally had had it and went into the hospital at 6:30 Saturday morning. I labored and labored and labored but this little girl did not want to drop down into my pelvis. So I begged and begged and begged the nurses to contact my doctor (the on call doc wouldn't break my water). So there I sat stuck between 3-4cm dialated until about 6:30 pm Saturday when they finally broke my water. I went from 4cm to delivering my sweet baby in 2 hours! This was my first natural delivery. Yes that means 25 hours of labor with no pain meds! Drew was amazing, he held me and coached me and watched me go through the most intense pain I've ever felt in my life. The nurses were amazing, when I told them I was going natural they said "That's great! We won't be asking you again if you want pain meds. If you want something for the pain you'll have to ask us". I was so relieved. I was certain there would be a disagreement there but they supported me all the way to the end when I was begging to be done. They coached me through transition when I felt like I was losing control. When she finally SHOT out (I mean that in every sense of the word!) the doc barely made it in time.

She's a perfect little angel! She had a little brusing on her arm from delivery but other than that she's been incredible!

Samantha and her friend Ellie! They're 6 weeks apart.

Big sister Avonell

Big brother Porter

Big sister Becca

Porter keeps asking "Can I be the one to burp her?"

Avonell washes her hands about a million times a day so she can touch her sister.

Samantha Jane our sweet baby girl!

She has black hair that is thick and curly and super chubby cheeks. She looks like a little eskimo baby!

I feel very brave to be posting this, but hey looking like this during labor can only be earned! This is just after a pretty intense contraction hence the very-happy-to-be-done-with-that face!