One week old

Here's his first highlight reel. Editor's Note: little Abraham really did try to latch to Andrew after his bath, it was not his idea of a mean-spirited prank.

Many Firsts

From his head...


Down to his toes, Abraham is about as new as they come. Everything is a first for him. However, with his arrival, he has given many other people the opportunity to have some firsts as well!


New Mom


New Dad on his first walk!


The new Grandmama


Three generations of new- New Grandfather, new Dad, new baby


First time grandparents- Nona and Papa


The new Great-Grumpy


The new Great-Gma

Grandma Galli is also a Great-Grandma for the first time, but unfortunately we'll have to wait a little while before we see her in Georgia. The same for Grandpa Galli in Nevada.
Gigi is also a great-great grandma for the first time. Unfortunately, she died in September of 2006, but we are sure she gave him some great advise as they passed on the way. We think that he might also have her to thank for his kiss-able lips.
And sorry to the 9 new aunts and 4 new uncles- there wasn't room on this blog to include a picture with each of you :) Put them up on your facebook pages.
Of course, I'm sure it's wonderful to be a great-grandma for the 2nd time, as Gma Marshall is, and a great-grandma/great-grandpa for the 16th time as the Sorensen Grandparents are.
It's been a beautiful four days with our little boy. As wonderful as it is to be his mother, I realize that this baby is coming to our whole family. He has wonderful family lines on all sides. He is a special boy, with a special life to live, and it has been humbling to receive him into our family.

Update and Addendum

We came back from the hospital yesterday afternoon. Ariel and Abraham passed their tests with flying colors. Abraham didn't even cry with all of his pokes and shots, just whimpered bravely. I told him he could cry.

I'm also posting to make a clarification or two from the last post. It may have appeared, because of the scriptures at the beginning, that Ariel's labor was easy and light. It wasn't. Those were our theme scriptures throughout the pregnancy so I felt it appropriate to post them. It was certainly the hardest thing she had ever done. It took all that she had physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. But the Lord did strengthen her. And she was patient and cheerful. She may not have been smiling and laughing through it all, but she didn't ever snap or yell or anything of the kind. It was a difficult, long labor buoyed by angels and the strength of the Lord.
So, yes, the labor was extremely arduous, and Ariel did extremely well (as did baby).

And I also wanted to clarify the origins and motives for the decision to birth naturally. The original reason Ariel wanted to have the baby naturally was because she hates and fears needles. It took me some time before warming up to the idea of her laboring and delivering without medicine. After more reading, taking classes and talking we decided there were other good reasons, beyond the fear of needles (the word is Aichmophobia, in case anyone was wondering), to have the baby naturally, and so we left our doctor to go to a midwife.
Thanks for reading! This is one beautiful baby!

Abraham Craig Marshall!

Abe's first moment in life.



DISCLAIMER: It may be a little late to be writing this, but after re-reading the post that follows, I thought it would be appropriate to say that while it was the right thing for us with this baby, we do not necessarily advocate natural birthing for all. Different things are right for different people at different times. That said, we do recommend that people study their options to make a decision.

Mosiah 24:14-15
14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.
15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

These two verses describe very well Ariel's experience delivering Abraham Craig Marshall into the world this morning, our 8 lb. 15 oz. (one ounce from 9 lbs), 19 inch baby. She did so without medical intervention, and never once did she complain, or say she could not do it. Through fasting, prayers, and blessings, His grace was sufficient to "make her burdens light." My love grew deeper than it knew how for dear Ariel as she gave of herself for the life of our little firstborn. Words simply cannot describe how I feel for her and how I feel for him. It is so deep.
Sunday we started counting contractions around 11:00 a.m. They were about 10 minutes apart. She went about the day as usual, and realized that she was not feeling pain, despite the other symptons of contractions. On Monday I took work off and we prepared for labor and delivery. We made Abraham a birthday cake (a Portuguese Bolo de Bolachas), went on three walks, talked a lot, went to Jamba Juice, and watched parts of "Fantasia." By then her contractions were two to three minutes a part and we figured it was time to go in.
We went in and found she was six cenimeters dilated. We were let into a birthing room designated for natural birthing and the battle began.
Ariel became her best self. I fell in love with her 100 times over again. She could joke around (telling me to not "run a muck" or saying that a contration was "a howdy-doo"), she was brave as could be throughout the increasingly difficult contractions, and she knew in whom she trusted and that He would deliver her and the baby safely.
She was in the thick of contractions from 10:00 p.m. to 5:20 a.m., and she didn't dilate any more. But she never said she couldn't do it, she never asked for petocin to speed up the process, she simply pressed on.
Eventually they broke her water in order to get the baby on his way out, and soon thereafter, he came out. I was in awe of my sweet wife as she passed through the transition stage and into the pushing stage. That pushing is hard! I cried for joy, love, and sorrow for my beautiful wife and new baby as she pushed. As she was pushing the midwife told her that the baby's hearbeat was going down and that she needed to have the baby now. That's all Ariel needed to hear. She started pushing and didn't stop until his wet, beautiful body was slipping on top of her. It was amazing.

It was a sacred moment to witness. I believe it connected her to her ancestors who all labored without medication. It also connected her to the Savior. He suffered physical trials and internal anguish in order to save those who could not save themselves. Labor is a very similar experience, and I witnessed that this morning.
It was an empowering experience for all of us, including Abraham. He looks wonderful. Perhaps a reddish tint in his hair. Ariel is recovering beautifully and gracefully.
We thank all of those who prayed for us and thought of us during this time. We especially thank Mom Galli. She was Ariel's Doula. Without her help taking pictures, taking notes, encouraging Ariel, calling people, and getting us fed throughout the long night, it would have been an entirely different experience. It's no wonder where her daughter gets that selfless nature.
Many more pictures to come.

Cross your fingers!

This could be it!
More to come . . .
We're grateful for any prayers for Ariel and baby.

A Wonderful Pregnancy

One thing that has surprised me about pregnancy is the kinds of things people say to pregnant people. Throughout the whole pregnancy, as a general rule, people look at me with a very concerned look on their faces and ask me if I'm okay. When I respond in the affirmative, they seem surprised, and often give me an additional opportunity to complain, by asking if I have specific symptoms. More recently, the most frequent comment is, “Wow! I can tell you’re ready to POP!” I don’t know how to respond to that. No, I’m not ready to pop. I sure am excited to have a baby, but there are a lot of things I will miss about being pregnant. It’s true that I have been blessed with an unusually comfortable and easy pregnancy, from beginning to end. Some people are sick the whole nine months, and it truly is a great sacrifice. I guess it just makes me sad that the expectation is that pregnancy is just an uncomfortable, painful, even miserable state that is nine months long. In my case, at least, it has been one of the most wonderful experiences of my life. Every discomfort and pain serves as a reminder of the new life being created, and the new friend that will come into the world. Here is a list of a few of my favorite things about pregnancy:
• Seeing the positive sign on the pregnancy test
• Keeping the little growing baby a special secret between me and Andrew for a few weeks
• Telling our moms (at a lunch) and dads (at work)
• Telling the rest of our families on Thanksgiving
• Hearing his little heartbeat for the first time (don’t worry, we recorded it. It can be heard at the end of the song Andrew wrote for Ariel this past Valentine's Day)
• Reading week by week about the progress of the baby (this week he has fingers! Oh- he just lost his tail!)
• Thinking of all the things to do with a baby- take him to the zoo, to the cabin, snuggle up and read a book together, take naps together, ad infinitum
• Feeling him move for the first time
• Seeing him on the ultrasound- It’s a… BOY?!? Watching him stretch, yawn, drink, kick, and wave his hands and feet
• Seeing my tummy start to expand
• Feeling him move all the time, and get stronger and stronger
• Talking to him, hearing Andrew talk to him and play the cello for him
• Thinking and praying about his name
• Watching him move
• Feeling him get the hiccups :)
• Finally coming to a conclusion about his name
• After week 32 he has stayed in the same position, so I always know where he is. I love feeling his little feet in the same place every day
• Getting more and more confident that he is safe, and could come out anytime, and likely without any complications
• Feeling my body prepare for the birth
• Learning about the sacred birth process
• Preparing the house for a third little person
• Packing for the hospital
• Expecting our little friend any day!
Bodies are amazing!! This is such a divine process, and my testimony of the Plan of Salvation has been strengthened by cooperating with God in this wonderful creation. There are some discomforts associated with pregnancy, but they are nothing to the great joy and wonder I experience every day.