Joseph Steffen

Our baby has arrived!!! Joseph Steffen Arnett was born at 6:04 pm on Sunday, February 28, 2010. We weighed in at 7 pounds, 4 ounces and measured 20 1/4 inches. (Photos and videos updated daily here.)

The labor was surprisingly easier than Mary or I had ever expected. After breaking her water, the nurse and midwife waited a while to see how Mary would progress on her own. When her dilation and contractions didn't pick up speed as quickly as they had hoped, the nurse upped the pitocin at around 10 am. Shortly afterward Mary started having her first major labor pains. After about two hours of struggling, the anesthesiologist was called in to give Mary an epidural. From that point on everything was smooth sailing. Mary said that insertion of the epidural catheter was less painful than the IV needle for the pitocin. Soon after the epidural started, Mary lied down for a nap. When she woke up about three hours later she was dilated to a to a nine and the nurse started bringing in the equipment for delivery. When Mary started pushing the epidural was still working really well, so she didn't feel any pain and the midwife had to tell her when her contractions were starting. After eight or ten pushes the baby came and without any complications.

Now, truth be told, not everything has been a walk in the park. The last two nights Joey has not wanted to sleep alone. He sleeps wonderfully when he is being held in someone's arms, but when we put him in his crib or his bassinet he doesn't last for more than a minute or two before he starts making a fuss. This has mean two straight restless nights for Mary.

There were a number of aspects of having a baby that I had never anticipated. However, my biggest surprise has been how much I love just holding him and looking at his face. He is so adorable!! The photos just can't convey how handsome he is. I love watching all his little expressions: sucking, sticking his tongue out, blinking, reaching with is tiny uncoordinated arms, kicking with his tiny legs, and putting his fingers in his mouth. My favorite things are all of the little noises he makes: his whimpers, his snorting, and his cooing. He is absolutely wonderful.