Josiah Gabriel Winslow is Here!!!

After approx. 10-11 hours of labor, Mandy gave birth to Josiah Gabriel Winslow at 1:34am this morning. Mandy did wonderful and we had a waterbirth oversaw by our midwives Mary and Emily (if anyone wants to give it a try, let us know and we'll share our experience and get you Mary's number). As with Emily, I delivered Josiah and am amazed at the miracle of life. Even at 9lbs Josiah is so small and yet so complete and whole. As I look at him I know God has a calling for His life and we are praying that God glorifies His name through Josiah's life. His name means "Fire of God" and I am excited to see how that is worked out in his life.

Mandy had contractions all day long on Saturday and so we thought she was going to be having Josiah on Sunday, but come Sunday morning the contractions had dissapeared. We figure God gave us a two day break to get us through the hot spell. Mandy felt crampy yesterday but I still went to work and figured I could go back if she started having contractions. She had some contractins on-and-off yesterday but not enough to worry about. We went and had dinner at my fams house to celebrate Sara's birthday and the contractions got much more serious at that point (around 6pm). We went back home then and started timing contractions and realized that Mandy was definitaley progressing. Mandy had an hour or two of earlier first stage labor and an hour and a half of hard labor and then three pushes and Josiah was out.

Mommy is recovering well, Josiah is seeming to be a very peaceful baby and is eating well and sleeping well, and Emily is literally wired with excitement about her new brother. Daddy is quite happy and thankful to God for his goodness and for how well everyone is doing.

We are grateful for all of your prayers and are excited for you to get to see Josiah in person.

Gabe for Mandy, Emily, and Josiah

No place like Grandma's Arms
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Hear me Roar!!!
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Holding my little bro
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Happy Family
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Grandma and Big Sis
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With Aunt Beth (who watched me being born)
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Weighing in at an impressive 9lbs 6 ounces (and Mommy didn't tear)
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Check out the head of hair.
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I want to eat (Measuring 20 1/2 inches)
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Getting my vitals checked (Note my huge puppy dog feet)
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Guy Time
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Our midwives Mary and Emily, they are the greatest.
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12:00AM: The contractions are getting harder and we are moving our way into hard labor at the end of first stage, Mommy is doing wonderfully.
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9:10PM: Moving through early first stage labor
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9 PM: And so it begins, Tuesday night in the birth tub.
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Dancing with Grandpa to some German tunes, I have no idea what they were saying.
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After eating a whole kids portion of Mashed Potatoes, I am signing to Mom and Dad that I want "eat" more.
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Look, it's a bird, a plane, no it's...the deer head at Gustavs.
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Jedi Emily "You will be...You will be..."
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Waiting for contractions
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Mommy and Grandma in front of the "Field of Daisies"
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Mommy and Daddy
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Looking at Grandma as we go on a nature walk
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Waiting for Grandma at the airport
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Shadow Belly
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My Laz-Boy Stroller
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Shadow Walk
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Mommy and I on a walk
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Hipster
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I love cottage cheese
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My contemplative Aunt Annie
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Uncle Nate is back from school
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I have the most precious smile
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Daddy and Mommy got me reading early
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I am either gearing up for a yawn or a big speech...
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Daddy is happy with the new camera... yes... this is a happy face
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BYE FOR NOW!!! Now that Daddy has a new camera you can expect to see many more new pictures!
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mmm sleeeeepy emily....
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Daddy is better than a carseat any day
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things in water!
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Emily's first seals!
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...
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Next up... THE BEACH!
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Someone got tired of waiting for Dj to turn around so he could be in the picture... he was playing with his phone I think
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the wind does these really neat tricks at "The Place Where Gabe's Radiator Leaks"
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Emily at 500ft above sea level. Apparently it's a historical landmark.... though for now it will be known as "The Place Where Gabes Radiator Leaks"

after lunch Emily went to the grand grandparents to try on some new "glasses"
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Great Grandpa Smith offered to share his lasagna with Emily, she tried to share it back.
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so to test the new camera you need a proper control subject to test on in differant environments. Emily graciously accepted the role and allowed herself to be subjected to many many demands for smiles and repeating bright lights. A challange but she bore it well. This is Emily enjoying herself at the "Noodle Factory" or something like that. I think she liked the ice cream there.
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Greetings to all, today's guest editor is here to update you all with some more lovely pictures of our favorite Emily Jane Winslow (... .... assuming you only know one, I'd hate to be unfair to any other EJW out there but hey... you can't really compete. I'm sorry!) To protect my identity Gabe blinded me with the flash on his new camera... I'm not sure if this is to protect me from seeing or you from seeing me. the judges are still out...
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