Asa's Birth Pictures

Oh our beautiful little bean!  Here's some shots right after she was born with what we called "the clean up crew". 

Here is Asa and me meeting for the first time.  She instantly stopped crying and just stared at me.  It's pretty crazy feeling to have this little thing in your stomach for 9 months and then be holding it in your arms!  Pretty amazing.

Here she is getting weighted in.  7lbs 10 oz. 19 inches long.

Not happy!

All better!  All wrapped up tight and sucking her fingers - happy once again.

Sound asleep.  What a beautiful little bean sprout!

Here's Asa during her hearing test the next day.  They changed the testing a bit so she didn't get the cool head phones that her sister had during her test (she looked like a DJ).

A proud Pappa.  I also think it's sinking in that he's really out numbered now.

And a super proud sister.  Auntie Beans brought Dylan to the hospital after Preschool.  She knew she was coming to meet 'the crazy baby' but she didn't know the sex until she arrived.  She was sooo happy to find out that it was a baby sister.

So excited and soooo proud!  Baby Asa brought Dylan a Ballerina doll, which D thought was super cool!

And Auntie Beans, awesome Auntie Beans!  What would we ever do with out you!  Thank you sooo much for taking care of D and Maggie while we were at the hospital.  And for all your help since we've been home!  You are the best little sister a girl could have!

Sweet Baby Asa.  We are so excited you choose our family to be apart of!  It's funny when you have one child you can't possibly think that you'd ever have enough love for another but then you meet for the first time and it's love at first sight.  Your heart just opens that much more.  We love you little Bean!

The Big Day!!

Dylan Ray Nicole Clark, Born March 18, 2009 at 2:18 p.m. weighing 7.53 lbs and 21" long.


The big day finally came on Wednesday at just after midnight. We got to bed about 11:30 or so. Christine was whooped from a long day of hanging out with her sister, Jill, including returning stuff to Ikea, grocery shopping and the post office. Apparently getting those last minute errands behind her. After we had both dozed off to sleep, she awoke to a strange feeling in her tummy. The baby seemed to be moving, but she "dropped" further down in her uterus. Apparently an odd sensation for Christine. Just after the drop, her water broke. I awoke to a semi-panicked voiced in Christine: "Matt, I think my water just broke." She scurried off to the bathroom and came back but more fluid was leaking out. It wasn't dramatic like portrayed in bad Hollywood sitcoms, but there was no doubt what had happened.


Christine holding her baby for the first time with tears of joy streaming down her cheeks just seconds after her birth.
Immediately after her water breaking, the contractions started. I tried to play it all off to keep our nerves from flaring. I suggested some rest, maybe actually sleeping a little longer (yes, I admit, I was trying to get as many extra winks in as I could). The contractions came on pretty strong and there was no chance of sleeping through them.

I started timing each contraction out. Christine went from 6 minutes apart for about 30 seconds long to 4 minutes and 45 seconds long pretty quick. The pain also became stronger. A call to the doctor confirmed our suspicions: Time to go the hospital. I quickly grabbed a few last minute things and off we went. I did wake up Jill before leaving and she was super excited. I don't think she ended up sleeping the rest of the night!


Dylan on the scale. Nothing like a cold plastic tray to welcome you into the world!

We got to the Hospital at around 3 a.m. The contractions continued to come on stronger and quicker, but Christine toughed them out. We were finally in our birthing suite, moving from triage, around 6 a.m. Christine did all she could to muster the strength and courage to make the short walk. The contractions were debilitating and her low blood pressure made her dizzy like a drunk sailer.

Once settled in the room, we ordered an epidural for Christine. She was so deep in the pain cave, she could hardly hear anyone in the room, but the spinal brought her back and in within an half hour, she was smiling and present. Just in time for the pushing to kick in. She pushed for about 3-4 hrs. A long sprint to the finish, but the results were amazing.


Christine and Dylan just about 10 minutes after birth.

At 2:18 p.m. on a cool and rainy Seattle March day, Dylan Ray Nicole Clark was born. Everyone was healthy and made it through birth just fine, including dad. Dylan was 7.53 pounds and 21" long. She has the longest fingers and toes and beautiful eyes. She's perfect.