Lawrence is Born!!! (April 17, 2012)

Dear Lawrence,

Today, on April 17, 2012, you were born at 5:43 am!!!!!!!! You weighed 8 pounds 4 ounces and were 21 inches long. When the nurses put you in my arms and I looked at you for the first time, Mommy started crying because I was just so happy to see you and you were just so beautiful and perfect!!!! 

Ever since Mommy found out I was pregnant with you on August 14, 2011, I was SO EXCITED!

Mommy looks a little tired because I got up really early to check if I was pregnant, and I was!!!

Mommy had a pretty easy pregnancy with you and didn't get too many crazy cravings...I just ate a lot of Panera sandwiches and Trail Mix throughout. As Mommy's belly started to get bigger, we were able to explain to your big sister Briana that Mommy would soon have another baby, and she was so excited! After we found out you were going to be a boy, we decided to name you after your Daddy, so your name was going to be Godfrey Lawrence Duke IV but Mommy insisted that we would call you Lawrence, at least until you were old enough to decide what name you wanted to be called. 

Here are a few pictures of Mommy when I was pregnant with you:

 16 Weeks

24 Weeks

We announced that we were pregnant with you to our family and friends by sending out this picture of Briana...she is wearing a shirt that says she is going to be a big sister!

Your due date was April 21, 2012 and Briana was 10 days early, so Mommy thought you might come early too. On April 16th, Mommy went to see the nurse and she checked to see how you were doing, and there wasn't enough umbilical fluid, so she recommended that we go to the hospital and get you out as soon as possible. Mommy was so excited that I would soon get to meet you!!!!! Mommy and Daddy got all our hospital bags from the house and dropped off Briana at Allison and Keira's house, and then we went to the hospital. 

39 Weeks and 3 Days

Mommy's body wasn't ready to have you yet, so the doctor's gave Mommy some medicine so that I could have you sooner. 

Finally after many hours, they told me I could push, and you were born at 5:43am the next morning! We had you on a Tuesday morning and we stayed at the hospital with you until Wednesday afternoon. 

The doctors and nurses all told us how healthy and cute you were, and one nurse called you a "noisy baby" because you would make little baby noises all the time, even when you were asleep.

Here are several pictures we took at the hospital!

And here is the first picture you had taken with your Grammie:

Mommy's really close friends, Allison and Roni, also came to the hospital to meet you!

 Allison & Mommy

Roni

We are so incredibly thankful to God for giving us you!! We are so excited to be your parents!!!!!!!! 

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Briana, Mommy also wanted to document what you were doing while Mommy & Daddy were in the hospital. You got to spend two days and nights at Keira's house!!! Allison said you and Keira had so much fun together!! At night, you slept in your tent. Allison sent Mommy several pictures of the two of you together:

You look so tired because you didn't take a nap that day.

Thank you so much Allison and Keira!!!!!!!!!