Antonio & Aria's Adventures: Welcome to the World Princess Aria!

Since Miss Aria decided she wasn't going to come out without being evicted, I was scheduled to be induced at 7 am on November 25. I was planning to rope drop the birth care center so I could have the paperwork filled out and be in a bed ready go at 7. Unfortunately, that didn't work out so well. I apparently didn't communicate this very well to Quentin and he didn't get up in time. I hadn't slept at all the night before. It was like I was leaving for an exciting vacation the next day or something.

I woke up at 6 to a text from Antonio's dad that they were going to leave town at noon no matter what. This stressed me out because I had been under the impression that they were going to wait till Aria was born before leaving. This put me in even more of a rush! We had decided to have Halie come with us since it would be good birth control.

Halie took a last belly picture before we left.

We were finally out the door around 6;45. Luckily we had a quick easy drive. Halie attempted to get a picture on the way there. Fail.

We arrived right at 7:00 and Quentin dropped us girls at the door. I got all checked in then had to pose by the awesome Christmas tree!

By 7:30 we were settled in to our birthing suite and waiting to get started.

I let the nurse know that we WERE having this baby by noon so she could meet her brother. I was getting worried because things were moving so slow. It was 8:15 before they put my IV in.

So many needles!

Quentin was doing very well at acting excited although he was terrified.

They started me on the pitocin at 8:43. I started having some contractions, but not that bad. .

My mom and Sky arrived around 9:00 with gifts. We were shocked that my mom wasn't working. We just knew she would be called in to the post office today. Of course, about 30 minutes after she arrived, they called to see if she would come deliver packages. She told them she was at the hospital with me and they let her off the hook. I was so happy! My mom brought me some candy and a beautiful necklace. She brought Aria her first baby doll. She brought Antonio some candy and a big brother Christmas ornament. Sky brought chapstick, baby soap and lotion, baby keys, and a sound maker.

Papa brought my sweet little boy shortly after. He brought Aria and I both some presents. I got a happy face balloon that he kept wanting me to hold. Such a sweetheart! He brought Aria a bunch of Mickey Mouse stuff: teether, a sapphire (what he called a pacifier when packing the diaper bag to go to the hospital), a bib, and a rattle.

My poor honey, always having to work.

She looks so excited to be here!

Watching some Pretty Little Liars.

My mom tried to take a snooze before the action gets started.

They broke my water at 10:05. Soon after I felt like this constantly. My contractions were so close together, I barely had time to take a breath in between.

I tried to have Antonio stay in the waiting area, but he wanted to comfort me. If he went to the waiting area, he would say, "Mama, are you going to call for me to help you?"

I got the epidural at 10:45, but it felt like it took forever to kick in. I was laying on my right side after for about 20 minutes and I told the nurse my left side was hurting terrible. She said, we need to roll you over to get the medicine to the other side. Ugh! Could you have turned me 10 minutes ago!?

Both my boys taking care of me.

This is the waiting area of the birthing suite.

See all those snacks, while I'm out starving and having back to back contractions!

My sweet boys.

Sky all cozied up.

Such a sweetie.

See my mom's cute jacket we got her at Disneyland this summer?

I'm guessing I was having a contraction here and shocked my mom.

The epidural had me feeling sick, so the nurse had me smell some peppermint.

Antonio like to bring me my smiley face balloon to cuddle. Love that kid!

By 11:30, I was dialated to a 4

Halie got a shot of me with my parents.

Quentin's stepmother, Kathy, arrived soon after. She brought a big box of goodies for Aria. Antonio was so excited to open it. She brought clothes, a beautiful, soft crochet blanket, and an adorable crochet outfit.

They checked me shortly after Kathy arrived and I was at a 9. They called Dr. Lopez and we settled in to wait for her. Antonio couldn't wait for the doctor to arrive. He kept peeking in the hall and telling me she wasn't there yet. When Dr. Lopez arrived, I told Antonio to go in the waiting area, but he kept insisting he wanted to stay in the room. Luckily, Sky was there and she was able to hold him on the couch so he could be there, but not up close and personal. Quentin and Halie each took one side and held my hands while I pushed. Aria was ready and came out after only about 10 pushes! She was born at 12:23 pm, just in time for Antonio to meet her before his dad arrived to take him out of town for Thanksgiving!

Pics taken by Kathy: