Catching up with the Kennedys: Introducing Eli Daniel Kennedy

Looking back at the post I wrote announcing Emerson's arrival, this story is quite different. No McDonald's drive-thru on the way to the hospital, no hours of waiting; instead a very dramatic car ride and the worry that we weren't going to make it in time. This one certainly made a grand entrance, and we are so excited to welcome our son, Eli Daniel Kennedy! Here is his story...

With a due date of November 17th, I started feeling anxious shortly after Emerson's birthday, wondering every day if it would be the day. I left work on Friday, the 15th feeling a sense of things being in place; I was hopeful that something would happen before returning on Monday. As the weekend went by, we enjoyed two wonderful days with very few plans and lots of family time. We even decorated for Christmas! Emmy was a helpful little elf.

On Sunday, I was starting to give up on having a due-date baby, but I went to the YMCA that afternoon and then out to dinner at East Coast Wings, in hopes that a workout and spicy wings would help move things along. I had been feeling some cramps throughout the day, and after dinner, it seemed like maybe this baby was going to come after all! Boomer and Megan helped me make the decision to have Emmy spend the night with Aunt Megan. Even if it turned out to be a false alarm, it was important that Emmy was taken care of if things moved quickly. Aunt Megan picked Emmy up just before 8PM, after a normal evening with a bath and reading some books. I was pretty emotional saying 'goodbye' to Emmy, but it was special going through the nightly routine with her one more time. We snapped a few photos as a family of three, and also a last baby bump pic. (Click HERE for the last bump pic of Emmy!)

With Emmy off to her aunt and uncle's, Boomer (after finally putting a few things in our hospital bag!) was watching Sunday Night Football, and I began walking laps around the downstairs. Things progressed very quickly around 9PM, and I started recording the contractions. Within an hour, the contractions were less than 4 minutes apart.

During one of my laps through the kitchen, unexpectedly my water broke! Boomer, calm and collected, sprang into action, getting our things into the car and helping me get into different clothes. I was pretty not calm so I am glad that he stayed level-headed. It was a little after 10:30PM as we made the 20-minute drive to the hospital. We ran a couple of red lights to get there as fast as we could. When we arrived at the hospital, Boomer parked right out front and, like in the movies, ran inside for a wheelchair. There would be no walking from the parking deck like I did with Emmy! Once in the admitting room, I was barely there enough time to tell my name and Social Security number and for the nurse to say that I was at 7 cm! I was rushed to the labor-and-delivery room, where the whole team was already assembled. After a quick epidural and only 30 minutes of pushing, our little boy arrived! Boomer got to announce the gender, and I think my surprise showed in my reaction: through the tears and laughter, I said "What are we going to do with a boy!?"

We are so excited to welcome our son, Eli Daniel Kennedy!

Eli Daniel Kennedy

Born November 18th, 2019, 12:30AM

7 pounds, 7 ounces

21.5 inches long

Mom and Dad made it in time to be at the hospital. They came in soon after Eli was born, and both claim that they had predicted a boy. Grammy is even wearing blue!

After a few hours of resting, Eli had some very special visitors, the most special being his big sister. Emmy went to daycare for the first part of Monday, but then Aunt Megan picked her up, and they went shopping for a new outfit for Eli to wear home from the hospital. When they arrived at the hospital, she was sporting her new big sister shirt, and she got a special bracelet from the nurse that said "Big Sister." Emmy was shy at first. She kept her distance and wasn't quite ready to hold or touch baby Eli. My favorite picture is the one of Boomer holding Eli, with Emmy close by and her arm tucked away from him. It shows her genuine interest but her hesitation, too. She warmed up a little bit by the end of the visit. It seems our dynamic duo just need some more time to get to know each other!

We stayed in the hospital the rest of Monday and Tuesday, and Eli was cuddled by both sets of grandparents, Aunt Megan, and Caroline. We also received many text messages and phone calls from other friends, family, and coworkers. We were so blessed by the encouragement and excitement from everyone!

We were discharged on Wednesday morning, and we made [a slower] drive back to Kernersville. I was able to squeeze between the two car seats in the back seat so that I could sit next to Eli, just like I did when we brought home his sister three years ago.