Ashton's Story

Ashton made his appearance rather quickly into this world on April 16th at 1218am. I'd say it all began about a month prior when I informed my good friend from work that her and her husband would be going out to dinner with Ash and I on April 15th. She thought it a little weird at first to be planning a dinner date so far in advance but when I reminded her that we went out to dinner the night before Caitlyn arrived she totally understood my motive. So April 15th arrived and after my doctor's appointment (where the MD told me that she would be staying the night at the hospital cause she knew I'd be coming in) I called Ashley joking with him about how he better get home quickly because we were going to have a baby boy soon. He rushed home at 5 and asked if I was in labor?!? I told him, "YES!" Since the appointment I had been having contractions every 2-3 minutes apart but they were not super painful. We got ready for dinner and Ash kept asking if we were going to make it through dinner cause he could see that the contractions were now starting to take my breath away. I told him no matter what we are going to dinner with our lucky charm friends so that... for sure... no matter what I would deliver soon (something about this pregnancy had me real superstitious). At 6:30pm we enjoyed dinner at Tokyos Steakhouse (the same place we ate the night before Caitlyn arrived). We drove home, walked in the fresh air around our neighborhood, and watched one of our favorite shows all while texting my friends to determine when I should start heading to the hospital. They were all surprised I wasn't there already. At 11:15pm we headed to the hospital, where my lovely friend Nadia checked us in through the Emergency Room (Thanks Nadia... I love you!). We got to the room a little after 11:30pm and I was 8cm... they called the doctor who came up right away and she checked me and I was 10 cm and fully effaced... she then broke my water and I pushed about 5 times and little baby Ashton's head was out... I remember this part because I looked at Ashley in the eyes and screamed, "I can't do it anymore, ASHLEY... IT HURTS!" Everyone got a chuckle out of that and told me just one more push... So I gave it one last push and he quickly went from inside my belly to on top of it.

Oh... I was so so so happy!

It is amazing to think that things went almost exactly like my delivery with Caitlyn.

Enjoy the pictures!

Us taking time to enjoy the new addition to our family,

Ashton James Douglas!

My mom offered to keep Caitlyn for the evening since I hadn't been sleeping real well. It worked out perfectly because we didn't have to decide where she was going to stay when we were in the hospital. When she visited us, she loved to pat Ashton on the head and shoulders and tickle his feet. She even helped me hand him to my mom when it was her turn to hold him... so helpful!

... and here we are... the happy & healthy, Riggs Family!