Here is the birth story. As a warning to the readers this is more for me then anyone else so it is really long and detailed.
Birth Story:
On Sunday night I went to bed sure I was going to just be pregnant forever. I had been having a few contractions here and there but never anything strong or regular. Despite being 5 days overdue, I still wasn't feeling overwhelmed. I just figured she was planning the perfect time to make her entrance into the world.
Avery had a cold and was feeling pretty lousy all night. So I had a pretty restless sleep. Around 6am Aves was fussing and I was trying to comfort her back to sleep. I started feeling some contractions but they were so mild that I didn't think anything of it. However, at 7:30 Andy was leaving for work and the contractions were still coming pretty regular so I began to think this could be it. I let Andy know what was going on and he responded with a high five and then reluctantly left for work. I sat with Avery all morning while she just watched TV and I timed contractions. They were still very mild and about 15-20 minutes apart.
I went about my day as usual and tried to get last minute things ready for the birth. Since the contractions had not stopped, I was sure this was it but I still didn't want to announce that I was in labor until they got stronger. Around 2 my mom and I went out for a relaxing lunch. Afterwards my mom came with me while I ran some errands. The contractions started getting closer together while we out but still were not painful.
Once we got home we decided to take a walk to see if that would help things progress. While on the walk the contractions were coming closer and closer together and picking up in intensity. Rachel and her kids met us back at the house and we just sat around and talked for a while.
At 530 Rachel suggested that I call my midwife, Pam, to let her know what was going on. I was starting to have to concentrate through the contractions and they were about 7-10 minutes apart. Pam said she would get her things ready to go and check back with in another hour or two. During this time my dad got home from work and then immediately left for the gym. We apparently forgot to tell him I was in labor. Rachel decided to leave and take her kids home but wanted me to call her when things picked up so she could come back. My dad got home from the gym around 6 and to his surprise found me in labor. By that time things were noticeably different. The contractions were strong but still not hard.
Everything went really fast from here on out. I was not sure of the time frame but after talking with everyone about it I think we figured it out. I was sitting with Andy watching TV and breathing through contractions while my dad was timing them on his laptop. They were about 3-5 minutes apart. Around 630 I had my dad give me a blessing that the birth would go smoothly. He had to time it perfectly so that it was in between contractions because the worst position for me to be in was sitting. I spent the majority of active labor on my knees because that is what felt best.
After a couple hard contractions, I decided I needed to try something else. So I walked what seemed like a mile across the house to my parents bath tub. Around 7pm, my dad called the midwife to tell her to come over. She was shocked we didn't call sooner and rushed over. While in the tub i began to vocalize through the contractions. It is something I had heard and read about but never thought I would do. I was really surprised at how much it actually helped me focus through the contractions. It gave me something to do other then focus on the pain. Pam arrived at 740. She came in to the bathroom and checked me. To my shock she told me I was almost complete. Shortly after Pam got there Rachel and the apprentice midwife arrived.
It seemed like an eternity to me but it was only another hour till she was born. At some point my water broke and I felt the baby moving down. Pam told me I could try pushing. It was really weird to do something other than breathe through the contractions but once I started pushing it gave me a new purpose which I enjoyed. Pam checked me again to make sure I was complete and found that there was still a little lip of the cervix. She said I could continue to push and she could hold it out of the way. After trying that for 2 contractions Pam thought it would best to breathe through a couple more contractions and see if the cervix would move. This seemed impossible but I knew I needed to try. The pushing contractions were a lot more intense and really hard to get through. I was only able to breathe through 2 more contractions before I HAD to push.
At this point I was feeling really defeated. I was tired and just wanted to be done but didn't want to do the work anymore. Luckily with in the next few contractions I pushed with my body, the head descended and she was born. I looked down into the water and saw her sweet face looking back at me. I pulled her up to my chest and just held her in amazement and relief. The cord was around her neck when she came out so she was kind of blue. But she was breathing perfectly.
The funny thing is that no one saw her actually being born. I was on my knees so no one was able to see her head come out. It was a very modest birth. I also didn't have a single tear! All in all it was the most amazing thing I have ever experienced. I could not have asked for a more peaceful and gentle birth. My whole support team was amazing as well. Andy was more then I ever expected and exactly what I needed.
Here are some pictures of right after she was born. Avery was being so sweet, she just kept saying "oh, so cute!" and "she likes me, Mommy!"
The midwife is doing the newborn exam and weighing her.
The kids showing off their costumes.
Scarlett and Avery playing nice together (a rare sight).
Don't mind the 37 week pregnant lady in the picture. FYI that's the only belly shot I am going to be posting so get your fill now.
Collecting candy! 
