April 13, 2009....The day our lives changed FOREVER!!!

Jeff and I woke up at 3:45 to be ready for my 5am induction. We were so excited and of course nervous!!! This is the day we had been waiting for for almost a year!!! It was hard to believe it was finally here!!!

I had my bag packed for the hospital several weeks before my due date, and actually kept it in the trunk of my car every time I went to work. (Since I delivered at the hospital where I work).

One last look at the massive baby belly!! Its the Ellabelly!!! :o) So ready for her to come out at this point!!!

IV started and all ready for my doctor to come and break my water. At this point Jeff thought he was in for a LONG day!!! Little did he know that Ella Grace would make her appearance in just a few hours!!!

SO READY!!!! Bring it on!!!

My doctor came and broke my water at about 8am. I had really hard contractions for about a half an hour before I got my epidural. Once the epidural was in, we had such a great time laughing and joking...not to mention trying to solidify our baby names of which we argued for the last nine months!!

My doctor came back to check me at noon, and I was complete!!!! She gave me some time to let the epidural wear off enough that I could lift my legs and feel the urge to push. By 1:55 pm we were ready to push. Four pushes and 15 minutes later.......Ella Grace French was born!!! We didn't know what we were having, so it was an extra fun surprise!! Here are some pictures from when she was first born.

Happy Birthday, Ella Bear!