At my 38 week appointment (Thursday 29 May), I was already 2 cm and 50% effaced, so my doctor decided to strip my membranes to get things moving. I had cramping that entire night, but nothing too crazy. I had braxton hicks throughout the next few days, but still went to work. I wanted to knock out as much stuff as I could because I had a feeling I wasn’t going to make it back the following week. Sunday night (1 June) I started to have regular contractions every 15 minutes. They were bearable, but starting to take my breath away. I tried sleeping in between contractions and made it to the next morning. As I got out of bed to try and get ready for work, my contractions increased and were just about 3 minutes apart lasting a minute and a half. I called Labor and Delivery and they suggested I come in. We got the kids ready for school and finished packing our hospital bags. My contractions spaced out a bit, so we took our time, stopped by Starbucks on the way, and finally made it to the hospital around 8:00 AM. When we got there, I was hooked up to the monitors. My contractions were irregular and slowed down to one every 10-15 minutes. I asked to stand since sitting and laying down seem to slow things down. Sure enough things started to pick up again. The doctor did an exam and I was 5 cm and maybe 80%. I was admitted and moved to a room. I was pretty stunned that I was in labor since my contractions didn’t seem all that regular, but I walked around the room, swayed, and let my body do it’s thing. 2-3 hrs later I was checked and at 6 cm. I was a little disappointed and was scared they would have to pump me full of meds to get labor going, but thankfully they allowed me to continue laboring as I was since I was progressing. I was getting tired, but kept on breathing through each contraction and finally dilated to 8 cm around 3:00 PM. At that point the doctor broke my water and things moved really quick after that point. I had 3 or 4 contractions and the nurse knew I was fully dilated by the sounds I was making (I had been fairly quiet the whole time, just deep breathing, but she knew I was in pain), so she called the doctor back into the room. My body instinctually started to push and the doctors were telling me to stop since they weren’t quite ready. Easier said than done! I pushed for 4-5 contractions and our baby BOY was born. He was sunny-side-up and that’s why it took a little longer to push him out. Another med free delivery in the books. Not easy, but worth every second. We are so in love with our son and the girls just adore their baby brother.
Anthony Paul Tydingco Jr
Born Monday 2 June 2014 @ 4:26 PM
Weeks Pregnant 38 wks 5 days
6 lbs 10 oz
19 1/2 inches long
Now for a ton of pictures…
Labor and Delivery triage 
Admitted and moved into labor room
Nothing to eat all day. I was drinking these cranberry juice boxes like they were made of bacon. 
Checking the contraction monitor 
Just breathe 
Bottom graph are my contractions. Very little break/rest between each one
8 cm and about to have my water broken…this smile did not last long
He’s here! They put Jr. right on my chest and let me hold him for over an hour before they cleaned him off and did his check up. At first Ty and I forgot that we didn’t know the baby’s gender. Then we heard the nurse say “it’s a boy!” I looked over at Ty and saw him crying. Love that we were team green this entire pregnancy.
This isn’t the best picture but you get the idea. Ty wanted to wear his GoPro camera during the birth and I wasn’t going to let that happen!
The Necklace I’m wearing was my mom’s. I’ve worn it during the delivery of each of the kids
I look pretty beat up. I burst the blood vessels in my neck and some in my face while pushing
The girls meeting their baby brother 
In my recovery room the next day and after my first shower
Daddy and his son
Another visit from the girls after school
Cuteness
After 2 nights in the hospital, we were discharged
Home sweet home
Doctor’s appointment, 4 days old
Only 4 oz down from his birth wight
First outing with the new baby. The 3 of us had brunch in DC after his appointment
Homemade poptarts 
This past Sunday (6 days old), we went out as a family for lunch and cupcakes in Old Town
Monday Audiology appointment, 1 week old. He passed with flying colors
More pictures from Anthony Paul’s first week and a half of life
I’m recovering well and down 14 lbs, but still have a long way to go before I’m back to my pre pregnancy weight. We’re getting into the groove of nursing. He wakes a few times a night to feed and then goes right back to sleep. He only fusses when he’s hungry and needs his diaper changed.
I’m enjoying my time at home with him. I know the next 8 weeks will fly by, but I will enjoy every minute before I have to go back to work.
We all love this little guy so much. Life is good.