Introducing...

... the newest member of the Dow family.

Mr. Owen David was born on Tuesday, December 13^th @ 8:26 a.m.

weighing 7 pounds, 3 ounces and measuring 19 ^¾ inches long.

Owen's official due date wasn't supposed to be until the 21^st, but I had serious doubts that I was going to make it to the first day of winter.  I had been having serious (Braxton-Hicks) contractions for weeks and when I went in for my last weekly appointment Dr. Baker said that I was dialated to a 3, he was very low and that she could almost guarantee that I wouldn't make it to my next appointment scheduled for the following Thursday. 

Luckily for us, my mom drove in from Missouri on Sunday night to be here for

little Owen's arrival and watch Kaden for a couple of days while we were in the hospital. 

Sure enough, I went to bed around 11:00 p.m. on Monday night, only to wake up an hour later with contractions about 8 minutes apart.  After an hour of timing them in bed I decided to take a shower and get ready, just in case...  By 3:15 a.m. I woke Ben up and we quickly decided to head to the hospital as I was getting worried, the contractions were only 5 minutes apart and getting stronger.  Thank God mom had been with us for a day because she learned Kaden's routine & he didn't seem to flinch when he woke up to only grandma in the morning.

After receiving my epidural at 6:00 a.m. my mind & body finally relaxed and I could enjoy life again.  By the time Dr. Baker arrived at 8:00, she checked me and told Ben he'd "better get his camera ready because this is going to happen quick."  She broke my water and told me to start pushing before the nurses had the room completely ready.

This delivery was quite different from that of Kaden's.  I felt a LOT of what was happening and at one point I looked Ben in the eyes and told him that we were DONE having kids because I definitely could not do it all again...  Luckily it didn't last very long because Owen came a few minutes later. 

I am amazed at how much love I have for this little person.  I was a little nervous that I wouldn't have the same experience or feelings that I had with baby #1 and my mind would be preoccupied with Kaden the whole time we were in the hospital.  WRONG!  If anything, I was even more emotional this time as I cried as I held him for the first time and then again while calling my parents. 
I wasn't the only one as I saw Ben wipe away several tears.

The two of us were completely overcome with emotion and love.

In my mind I thought we might have a beautiful family moment as mom brought Kaden in to meet his new brother that we had been talking about for months...  In reality Kaden was oblivious to the baby and was solely focused on Ben's soda and my cashews, and I was slighly stressed that he was going to crush Owen or accidentally rip out my IV.

... and showing grandma his juice box instead of acknowledging his brother.

Heather was one of our first visitors to the delivery room.

Northwest Texas Hospital completely renovated their maternity ward, which was completed just a few months ago.  Instead of feeling like a sterile hospital, we felt like I was recovering in a 5-star hotel room (if you left out the nurses checking vitals every hour or so).  There was a queen-sized bed as they encouraged dads to stay, as well as a living area with a couch and comfy chairs for visitors. 
The bathroom had a soothing spa feel to it and I was able to use the menu to order breakfast, lunch and dinner at my leisure. 

I thought my room at BSA was nice, but this one blew it away!

daddy & grandpa Cook

 nonnie Shanny & papa Dow

grandpa Cook in the rocking chair

 bonding & cuddling with mommy & daddy

Owen David, you are the perfect addition to our family. 

I love you more than anything and I can't imagine not having you in our lives.