Our Wonderful Little Boy

Angela feeling happy with our new little baby
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Hi everyone!

We’re very excited to announce the safe and very fast arrival of Liam Joseph Davis into our family.

He was born Wednesday the 18^th of June at 8.39am, weighing 9lbs 10.5oz or 4.38kg.

The total time from first contraction until he was born was just four hours, arriving just under 20mins after we arrived at the hospital!

Admiring the new little bundle
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The contractions woke us up just after 4.30am with the waters breaking at the same time. Contractions were pretty regular, but short. They started getting closer and longer, then at 7am when our friend Louise came to pick up Grace they stopped completely. In hindsight I should have got ready to go to hospital during that time, but instead just sat there wondering if maybe it was all going to slow down and would it be a long wait. But once that little rest was over they started strong and fast with very little time in between we didn’t need to bother timing them, but just attempted to get dressed and make it to the car. Of course by now it was rush hour in Bristol, but the fortunately the hospital is quite close and the traffic was not too bad. By the time we got to the hospital there was really no gap between the contractions, and they were very strong and very painful. But we were still able to joke that perhaps we had left it a little late to go to hospital!

Grace and Angela share an excited moment together
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There was a very new student mid wife there to meet us, who quickly realised that she better get the main midwife pronto!

So five, pushes later our little boy arrived in this world!

It was such a different experience this time compared to last time. With Grace I had 36 hours of slow labor, an epidural, loads of staff in the room and Grace was whisked away as soon as she was born by the pediatrician. This time we had booked into the birthing suite. So there was no medical stuff, not even a bed, just a swiss ball, dim lighting and only the midwife and student mid wife.

Grace holding her little brother for the first time
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I defiantly enjoyed the time after the birth being more relaxed and lots of time for Tim and I to just be with the baby on our own. But there’s something to be said for an epidural!

So Tim left about mid day to bring Grace in to meet her new little brother. She was so excited to meet him, she couldn’t stop smiling and wanting to be close to him. She had her first hold and did very well. Touching him gently and saying ‘isn’t he lovely’ and ‘he’s big’. She loves touching his fingers and toes and loves how little they are.

Grace with the little boy horse she bought for her brother
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She’s been a great helper, getting nappies, putting the dirty ones in the bin, getting the feeding pillow and putting a cloth over it. Then she likes to stay close by, often a little too close, but she’s learning the boundaries.

It’s wonderful to see her so happy to be a part of his life and as yet has not showed signs of jealousy – long may that continue!

So Liam is a wonderful little boy, sleeping and eating well. He’s sleeping so well it’s hard to wake him or keep him awake for his feeds and he seems to like being asleep during the day more than at night, so lets hope that changes!

Tim and Grace hanging out with Baby Davis (as he was known then)
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We’re really enjoying having him in our life. So far, it’s not as stressful as we’d feared. It’s amazing how all consuming Grace was and now, we’re just waiting around for the next thing that needs to be done with him. However, the sleepless night last night was not so fun!

We hope you enjoy the photo’s and thanks to everyone for the e-mails, text messages and facebook messages. We really miss being in NZ with our family and friends. But friends have been good here, visiting us at the hospital sending messages and a few people have bought round dinner, so we’re in good hands.