Announcing the birth of Brooklyn Arianna Bernstein

On Tuesday December 23, 2008 we went to the doctor at 10:00 am with the impression that we were going to be induced. Instead, Laura left in tears because there was no room at the hospital. Instead we had an appointment to be induced at 8:00 December 24. Charlie calmed Laura down and they went home to relax and take a nap. We decided that we would make the best of it and go out to dinner with Laura's sister and brother-in-law who were in town from Texas.

At about 5:00 we recieved a phonecall from Dr. Carbinear asking if we would be willing to come in that night instead! We asked if we could go to dinner first, knowing Laura would not get to eat once they induced. Dr. Carbinear said of course and we went to the Bowery for dinner.

At eight o'clock we arrived at the hospital ready to be induced. Everything started right away, they broke Laura's water and the real contractions began. Laura labored without any medications until about midnight and then she called for her epidural! Thank God for advancements in medicine, the epidural was great!! Everything progressed fine and at around 5:00 am Laura was 8cm and it was time to call the families.

At around six am Laura's Parents, Charlie's Parents, and Laura's brother and sister arrived. Everyone visited and then left for breakfast with Charlie so Laura could rest before the real work began. Well, that wasn't such a great idea. Soon after they left they rechecked and Laura was ready to push. Well, because everyone was in the basement of the hospital noone's cell phones were working and Laura started to panic. Before she got to hysterical, everyone showed up again and it was time to get down to business. At 7:38 we started pushing and at 7:49 Brooklyn made her grand entrance.

Brooklyn Arianna Bernstein arrived on Christmas Eve at 7:49 am weighing 7 lbs, 2 oz and measuring 20 inches long. She had a head full of hair and was absolutely perfect!