This has been a truly amazing two weeks for our family. On Christmas Day, I delivered our second child…a perfect little GIRL – McKenna Lynn Patterson.  She was born at 5:28 am, weighing 7 lbs 9 oz and 20 in long. The births of both of our girls (I LOVE saying ‘girls’…as in PLURAL!) have been the most memorable, cherished experiences of my life. Blake and I feel so incredibly blessed. I want to share a little bit about that night (for those who want details!)

On Christmas Eve we always travel to Berne, IN to celebrate Christmas with my side of the family.  This has been our tradition my entire life and it has been so special to continue this tradition as Blake and I have been married and started our own family. Audrina was so excited about everything Christmas this year, it gave me so much joy to see the excitement and wonder in her eyes.  I had been saying to numerous friends, “I just need to stay pregnant through Christmas!” What I really meant by saying that was that I couldn’t fathom being away from Audrina on Christmas….I wanted to see her open her presents and share treasured time with our family members. I had serious anxiety!

Christmas Eve came and I breathed a sigh of relief once we were packed up and on the road, headed to Berne.  We arrived and the festivities began-it was perfect! Audrina was loving the real fire in the fireplace, riding the wooden horse, playing with her uncles, grandparents and great-grandparents. Pure bliss.  After opening gifts, we put Audrina to bed and Blake and I went back downstairs to spend time with the other adults.

It was right then that contractions began. They became more intense and closer together over the next 2 hours. Everyone besides me knew I was in labor (I was in denial!) Blake had text Tom (our OB and dear friend) to let him know what was going on. Finally, being an hour away from the hospital, Blake made the decision-we were going. He and my mom quickly packed up a few things, we kissed our sleeping baby goodnight and headed toward Dupont.  Let me just say at this point- Blake and my mom are the BEST support for a laboring woman! I sat in the back seat of the car, breathing through contractions for the hour drive to Fort Wayne-it was something right out of a movie: stars shining bright in the midnight sky. I thought about Mary and the birth of our Savior, about the TRUE meaning of Christmas.

It was surreal pulling up to the Birthplace entrance….doors I have walked through over 1,000 times. Being wheeled down the hall, passing my artwork, feeling so at home. Making the experience even more perfect and surreal: Blake’s sister Heather, a labor and delivery nurse, left her husband and two babies in the middle of the night to come deliver her newest niece (or nephew at that point!) AND…Tom (Dr. Lorenc) would be there on CHRISTMAS, leaving his wife and 5 children to deliver our baby!  I couldn’t feel more loved by the people I had around me.

I was admitted around 1am after being monitored in triage-I was 5 cm and 80%.  I continued breathing through contractions and making progress until 4 am, at that point Dr. Atluri was able to give me an epidural. He was amazing and I was SO thankful he was the anesthesiologist on call. Heather broke my water and  thought we would get a few hours of rest before I would be complete.  As I curled up to fall asleep she saw on the monitor that baby didn’t seem to like my position.  She had me turn over on my other side, but nothing changed.  She decided to check me again and said it was time! I couldn’t believe it! …At about 5 am she woke up Blake, called Dr. Lorenc and we waited for him to arrive before I could begin pushing. The excitement and anticipation in our room was overwhelming! I just wanted to freeze time and take it all in, I truly LOVE the labor process-the miracle of your child’s birth is like nothing else. Best. Moments. Ever.

I pushed through two contractions and baby was here! I will never forget the feeling of having our warm babies placed on my chest. (And then looking South very quickly to find out gender!) Another girl! …My heart was bursting with joy and I was instantly in love.

McKenna was born at 5:28am on Christmas morning. She weighed 7 lbs 9 oz and was 20 inches long. The past 17 days with her have been pure bliss. Audrina is the most loving, wonderful big sister in the world.  And I am so lucky to have a wonderful husband who is an amazing Godly father for our girls…he takes such good care of all of us. Here are the images form McKenna’s birth in a slide show. I have to say, birth photography rocks!! I treasure this slideshow and hope that she will too <3