I'm An Auntie

Very early Monday morning, 12/12/2011 at 5:27 am I became a first time auntie, and my sister, a first time mommy.  I must have been subconsciously anticipating the arrival because I hardly slept all Sunday night (less than usual), and was already wide awake when my mom called me at about 4:30 am to tell me they were at the hospital and Katie was already 8 centimeters dilated.  I had Ben and I up and ready in ten minutes and we were on our way to witness the amazing miracle of birth (or so I thought).  Baby girl just couldn't wait for me and my mom called me a short thirty minutes later to tell me that she was here!  My sister labored mostly at home, and actually wasn't convinced it was the real-deal until morning.  So either she is a LOT tougher than we ever give her credit for when it comes to pain, or possibly it just wasn't all that bad . . . yet.  She finally woke up her husband and they headed to the hospital where he was timing her contractions at just two minutes apart.  Katie immediately started asking for an epidural upon arrival only soon to find out that it was too late and the baby was coming, now.  My brother-in-law said that Kate looked like a very scared child, looking up at the nurses with huge blue eyes, begging for the medicine. Can you believe it, just an hour and a half after entering the hospital doors and ten minutes of pushing, my niece had entered the world.  My sister got through it drug free, and without screaming according to my mom, but with lots of teeth grinding and holding her breath so much that Tim feared she would pass out apparently.  I was sad to have missed it, but loved every moment of the time I got to spend with baby Ashlynn Christine Wadkins on her very first day of life.  So proud of my sister.  I know if you can do it, I probably can too (I'm going to try my hardest to have a drug-free labor and delivery without having an absolute agenda to do so-- if that makes any sense).  Ashlynn is very healthy and eating and sleeping great so far.  Can't wait for her and her baby cousin to grow up together and experience many firsts together.