Baby #2:

Well, I am officially a "girl mom" now, and while it is a bit terrifying to think of dealing with the hormone swings and emotions that are ahead, I am more excited to be able to influence the next generation of women...to raise up a woman who knows what it means to fear the Lord, that has a confidence in her beautiful design as a woman, and is encouraged to excel in kindness and grace. ...and with the Lord's help, a woman of God who is willing to submit to the Lord and cultivate the apostolic grace over her life.

Everything went well with Junia's birth. It was a very "textbook" labor and birth. Things progressed very normally and naturally. The doctor stripped my membranes on Friday...I lost my mucus plug on Monday...started feeling contractions Tuesday evening...took a hot shower and went to bed...woke up on and off with contractions...then at 1am decided to start timing (pretty regular every 5-6 minutes)... my husband got off work to take me to the hospital...got admitted around 3:30am, 6-7 dilated...by 6am I was 100% effaced...doctor broke the water at 6:15am...entered 2nd stage...pushed three times and Junia was out at 7:12am. I dare say it was almost magical...I worked a lot on breathing techniques and visualization over the last couple weeks (a technique called "hypno-birthing" ...basically staying calm/under control, listening to your body and patiently working with the natural process while focusing on breath) and it paid off! It was so cool to feel her drop and wiggle her way out. My nurse thought I was a doula. Haha! One of the other nurses who has birthed 10 kids said she had never seen it look so easy. Now, as you know there is NOTHING "easy" about giving birth, but there is a beauty in God's design in the female body, a grace that God gives moms to endure the pain, and a peace the Holy Spirit provides that goes beyond the natural coping techniques. It was wonderful to experience the Lord once again in a very intimate way in that labor room. My husband was a champ and stood by my side the whole time, patiently counting me through each contraction, and letting me squeeze his shirt through the intensity (thought I would save his hand haha!). Junia came out very peacefully and our first hour together was full of praise and worship. 

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