Brittany, Drew, Charlotte and Kate: Baby Kate is Here!!!

Below is the email that Courtney sent out to the family after Kate was born.

Hello Everyone!!

I know that most of you are anxiously waiting to see more pictures of baby Katherine "Kate" Jane Allen who was born at 12:37 pm this afternoon. She weighs 8 lbs. 9 oz and is 20 inches long. Like her big sister, she is absolutely beautiful...even all the nurses said so :). It all started this morning at 6 am. As most of you know Brittany was scheduled to be induced and was told to call the hospital at 6 am. When Britt called, she was told to call back at 8 am. At around 6:12am she started having contractions and Britt and Drew were off to the hospital at around 9 am. Brittany then called us at about 9:45 am and said that she was 6 cm dilated and that we should probably get to the hospital ASAP! Kyle, Paula (Drew's mom) and I then rushed to the hospital. We arrived shortly after Britt received her epidural and she was still feeling her contractions. Once the epidural kicked in, Britt was able to relax. At noon, the nurse checked to see how far dilated she was and when she did Britt's water broke and the nurse said that there was some Meconium (meconium is the earliest stools of an infant) in the fluid. She was also 10 cm dilated. The doctor was called immediately and Britt started 'pushing' about 15 minutes later. The nurse explained that once Kate arrived, the neonatal team would take her for about 10 min (they needed to suction her and make sure that none of the meconium was ingested in her lungs). 3 pushes later Kate was here!! Brittany did absolutely wonderful and is a natural when it comes to childbirth. I never thought I would say this but she really does make it look easy! She seriously amazed me today and being able to witness something like that is something that I'll never forget! Brittany was born to make babies and it showed not only during labor/delivery but the second she held her new baby for the first time :) Charlotte met her sister later in the afternoon and the first thing she said when she walked in the door was "Baby Kate". She was so loving to her sister, giving her kisses and just wanting to be near her. At least until she opened the present her new, baby sister gave her. It was a tea set which kept her occupied the rest of her visit. Majority of the pictures taken today were on Britt & Drew's camera but below are a few from mine. Congratulations to (besides mine own) two wonderful parents, Brittany and Drew!!! Love you all! xoxox, Court

On my way to the hospital