Cohen Daniel Friess

My son, a blondie, just like Myah

He has Haven's lips and eyes
Beautiful profile

Some chunk too, just what I wanted
Long feet, almost longer than the footprint ink pad

I had a tremendous birthing experience. I've spent the past couple years learning lots about natural birthing. I decided to go nearly all the way, meaning I didn't deliver at home. I chose to use no drugs but did hypnotherapy and a water birth instead. It was truly amazing.

Considering Haven's labor was six and a half hours and Myah's was only three and a half hours, I was expecting Cohen's to be quick too. Had you told me that it would last nearly three times longer than Haven's I would have laughed, but it was the most incredible eighteen hours of my life. Being able to experience each stage of labor was remarkable.

Play by play:

• Contractions started at 8:00pm Saturday evening
• Arrived at hospital at 5:30am Sunday - dilated to a 1.5cm
• Walked the halls for an hour - dilated to a good 3+cm
• They admitted me and settled into my room
• We had aromatherapy, sound-therapy, and my hypnotherapy setting the prefect mood
• I labored in bed, the tub, on the ball, and walked the halls
• Haven, Myah, and Grandma Sharon joined in at 11:00am for a few rounds
• By 2:30pm I was at 6cm
• At 3:00pm the midwife broke my water and I was at 8cm
• I got in the birthing tub and spent the next 45 minutes working with Cohen to birth him
• The environment couldn't have been better
• Haven and Myah entered the birthing room as soon as he was lifted out of the water
• He weighed 8lbs 13oz and was 21 inches
• He was born at 3:47pm
• Our family spent some precious moments together by ourselves

I had one nurse the entire time, she was great. My midwife Kathleen was amazing. Dan was the best, he loved it too. The hypnotherapy made the birthing experience truly enjoyable, call me and I'd love to tell you all about it. Here are a couple photo's of our new boy.

I'm at the hospital

and

I'm in LABOR!!!

wish me luck

LOVELY LADIES

(Hillary and baby Bells, Mom, Amy, Me, Ashley, Cori, Savannah, and Jessie)

So my sister Ashley sent me this photo that she found.  This is a picture of my mom and all my sisters except Melodi.  Sadly she wasn't there.  I love you girls and miss you all so much.  

A CINDERELLA STORY

Ahhh, yes I love little girls who like to paint pretty pictures on events that aren't so pretty. This morning I walked into my kitchen with the girls for breakfast and a MOUSE skittered across my counter top into my sink, then out of my sink and then behind my dishwasher!!! AHHHH! Seriously I was about to die, I just stared and screamed like a little girl and woke up Dan with my screaming and he did nothing but stand there and stared at me. While the whole time my girls had huge smiles on their faces! Haven mostly stared at me (I think I scared her with my scream) but deep down I know she was thinking of Jac and GusGus. Myah just said "oh, cute...I want to see it's pink nose." So Dan just recommended that we call over our neighbors with their two cats and have them live with us for a few days. Me not being a fan of cats and knowing that wouldn't actually solve the mouse problem I decided to call for an EXTERMINATOR!!! hahaha, I was going to get rid of those nasty suckers where ever they were.

Little random things my girls said and/or did throughout the day went something like this...
Myah found her little pet stuffed mouse and was cradling it like a baby and asked me for some cheese, I figured it was for her, but she just let her mouse "eat" it. Haven and Myah both figured that he was going to help Ratatouille make some meals, they started thinking of all the places it could be while all the while I was hoping for all the places it hasn't been. ALL they wanted for lunch were snacks that mice would eat...cheese, crackers and more cheese! They were fascinated by the idea that we don't have a pet right now and that it wanted to be our pet. Myah wanted to cuddle later today and started tickling my face and said "mom, does that feel like a mouse is on your face?" EWEEE.

Luckily for me Bill the EXTERMINATOR was able to come out a half hour after I called him. He did a full inspection of our entire home and is warranted for a whole year! Luckily he found nothing upstairs which is where the playroom and other bedrooms are but on the main floor he did find some "droppings" (that word is so heinous) behind my fridge, washer and dryer, garage, and my bathroom behind my toilet! But the worst was down in the basement and crawlspace which is somewhat okay because it is unfinished and we aren't ever down there, it is also where he solved the problem...they were coming in from a little whole that ran through the air conditioning pipes to the outdoors. So he sealed everything up and put some traps in the garage and "FOOD" for the mice downstairs and stuffed steel wool in all the little holes throughout the house. I am so grateful for Bill! Bill is my new best friend! If you need any help with your gusgus let me know I know a great guy that can come and help with it all...BILL!

YEAH!!

So I had a doctor appointment today and things are looking good.  I am at least dilated to a 1.  Nothing major, but hey you never know.  I was just a 2 when I went into labor with Myah, and 3 1/2 hours later she was born.  My midwives are awesome, they have been so helpful.  I am excited for a water/hypno birthing!  Haven and Myah are going to be the best big sisters/mothers/babysitters.  I am lucky and grateful to have them be so excited.  I also couldn't ask for a more devoted dad and husband especially when it comes to the whole birthing thing.  He is so involved and loves to be a part of every decision possible. We like to do our "Research,"  shots, no shots, circumcision no circumcision...

Can't wait for Cohen to come.  He will be a wonderful addition to this family.  He is already the little Prince that my Princesses have been waiting for.  They told me that they will teach him the proper ways of bowing and dancing at the Grand Ball!