Some of you may remember the story I posted last year titled Alejandra's Home Birth profiling the birth of our daughter. Well we're back again with the story of how our son, Christian, came into the world. This time it was an even bigger surprise than Alejandra was.

The weeks that followed Alejandra's birth were pretty smooth. Adjustments to having a baby in the house weren't as bad as we thought they'd be. I took a leave of absence from my job at the clinic, and Alex continued working at the car shop. He'd also gotten a job with a construction company, so financially there was no real rush for me to go back to work.

My parents even came around and accepted the fact that I had a baby and were eventually happy about it. Like my whole pregnancy, my post partum recovery was perfect, and I was back to my usual self in no time. Alex and I also started making plans to buy a house and to get married. We were hoping for something outdoors, and during the summer.

By June, Alejandra was 3 months old. Between the stress of having a newborn, house hunting and planning a wedding, I was starting to feel sick and run down. Alex started making jokes that maybe I was pregnant again. I thought he was crazy. I decided to take a pregnancy test simply to prove him wrong.

To my complete shock, the test came back positive. I waited an hour, then went back and took another one. It came back positive too. I couldn't believe it. I was still nursing, and hadn't had a period at all. Now all I had to do was try and figure out how I was going to tell Alex. We were having dinner with his mom and some friends that night so I decided to tell him then.

Now I didn't want to come right out and say it, so I went to the store and bought one of those cards that tell someone how much you love them and that they're the most important person in your life. I signed it "Love, Carmen, Alejandra, and Baby." That night we were all sitting in the living room visiting. Thankfully, the topic was the wedding and the house, which required us pulling out all the propaganda we'd acquired. I slipped the card on top of a brochure and passed it to Alex. He opened the card, read it and I swear all the color drained from his face.

Alex: I kept staring at the card. I finally looked up at Carmen and said, "You're pregnant?" She looked at me with tear-filled eyes and said yes. I wrapped my arms around her and gave her a kiss.

Our friends were really excited for us. I made an appointment with my trusted midwife, Sara. She confirmed the pregnancy, told me that it looked like I was about 6 weeks along and the baby was due around the first week in February.

Alex: Carmen and I agreed to put the wedding on hold but continue looking for a house. We were still living with my mom, Maria, and knew that another baby was not going to fit into that house. My job in construction actually proved helpful because I knew where the newest homes were that we could look at. Our goal was to have a home before Carmen was 6 months pregnant, which meant we had until Thanksgiving.

All I can say is that pregnant women should not go house hunting. It was not nice to my blood pressure. We were trying to find a home that wasn't too far away from family, close enough to work, big enough for the four of us and – most important – within our price range. It was easier said than done. By Halloween, I'd started to give up hope. Somehow we managed to catch a break.

Alex: We'd started working on some homes in a new development about 20 minutes away from my mom's house. A lot of the homes were standing vacant, and I found out that it was actually something we could afford. I made an appointment with our realtor, and we were shown a two-story home, with four bedrooms, two bathrooms, living room, den, kitchen, dining room and it also had a swimming pool.

I'll admit, I thought the house was a little too big. I wanted to wait and try to find something a little bit smaller. However, due to the fact that I was almost 6 months pregnant, and frankly tired of looking, I submitted. We signed all the necessary papers and moved in November 17. Ironically, my blood pressure went back to normal too.

Alex: I really had to give Carmen credit. I don't know how she did it. She was basically in charge of everything while I was at work. Making sure everything got to the house and into the right rooms, keeping an eye on Alejandra and trying to rest as much as she could. I was half expecting to come home and have Carmen waiting to kill me.

Fortunately, we were all settled into the house within a week. Now all I had to do was have the baby. When I was 7 months, we found out it was a boy. We chose the name, Christian Alexander. Aside from the blood pressure, my pregnancy was once again perfect. Sara said all my usual tests came back normal and Christian was doing fine.

Alex: Once again I loved going with Carmen to the checkups. I loved hearing the baby's heart and seeing pictures. Carmen looked so beautiful pregnant. I loved her even more.

My only complaint was how active he was, and how big I felt. I felt like the human punching bag, and that the slightest nudge would tip me over. Sara said that Christian might be bigger than Alejandra was. Now for those of you who haven't read the other story, Alejandra weighed 8 pounds, 3 ounces. Sara told me that if I went to term, Christian could be over 9 pounds. I was a little concerned, but Sara assured me that my body would be able to handle it after birthing Alejandra without any trouble.

Christmas came and went, as did New Year's. We didn't need any new baby furniture since Alejandra's things were practically brand-new still. By week 36, I was reaching my "I'm ready to be done being pregnant" stage.

Alex: She was feeling pretty miserable. She was carrying big and all in front and I could see the discomfort in her eyes.

At my 37-week checkup Sara examined me. Just like with Alejandra (only two weeks earlier this time) I was starting to dilate and efface. I was already at 3 to 4 centimeters dilated and 60 percent effaced. Even though I knew I could stay like that for a while, I was really hoping that he'd come early. Considering Christian had now reached 9 pounds, I didn't feel comfortable doing a repeat home birth. We decided to go to the birthing center at the hospital instead. That way I could still do it all natural.

Alex: I was happy that Carmen didn't want to have the baby at home. Given how big the baby was, I knew that there was a slightly greater risk of the shoulders getting stuck. I definitely supported her decision.

By my 38-week checkup, I was exactly two weeks from my due date. My cervix hadn't changed, but I was having more contractions. Everything with Christian was still looking fine, and Sara offered to strip my membranes in an attempt to get labor going. I agreed, hoping it was all the encouragement Christian would need. I went home and was told to rest and relax. Later that night, I woke up to a shooting pain that felt like it ran all up and down my spine. I stood up hoping I could walk it off. My water broke with a loud gush. I called Sara. She told me to head to the center.

Alex: Carmen woke me up. I didn't connect right away that she was in labor. I think when she told me her water broke I said, "That's too bad." After I was more coherent, we got in the car, dropped Alejandra off at my mom's and went to the center. Of course it was in the middle of the night, just like before.

I was already feeling a lot of pressure from the baby, and the contractions were intense: three minutes apart and lasting 90 seconds. I remember with Alejandra it took me seven hours to get that far.

This is how we had Christian:

2:30 a.m.: We arrived at the birth center. Sara examined me. I was at 6 centimeters and 80 percent effaced and his head was already at 0 station . I was so happy. I couldn't believe I was already over halfway finished.

2:45 a.m.: I climbed into the birthing tub. This worked so well the last time, I was hoping I would get the same results. A contraction came and I was trying to stay calm while I grunted my way through it. With Alejandra, my labor was all in front. This time, Christian was facing the wrong way and I had horrible back labor. Thank God Alex and my midwives were there. They kept encouraging me to breathe, assured me I was doing well and to trust that my body knew what to do.

Alex: She was definitely in more visible pain this time. She asked me to rub her lower back during contractions. I was putting so much counter pressure on her I thought I was hurting her more. Turns out, it was the only time she felt relief.

4 a.m.: I asked Sara to check me. I was 7 centimeters, still 80 percent and 0 station. Christian's heart sounded great, but he was still "sunny side up," and Sara thought that was why he wasn't dropping anymore. What ended up happening was I got out of the tub, leaned over the bed and she jiggled my insanely large belly with a towel. This got Christian to turn into the right position, and it took some pressure off of my back.

5:30 a.m.: I was feeling an intense urge to push and had Sara check me again. I was at 9 centimeters, 100 percent and +1. I couldn't get over how fast this whole thing was. Alejandra took 13 hours, and here I was almost ready to go after only having been in labor for less than four hours. Of course, though, just like last time, I had to scream my way through some more contractions before I could push. Seeing as how Christian was bigger, Sara really wanted me to wait as long as I could so my perineum would have time to stretch instead of tear.

Since I wasn't fully dilated, it was suggested that I try squatting and grunting to help bring him down that last centimeter. Alex sat on the edge of the bed; I crouched in front of him and supported myself on his legs. I have to admit it sounded odd, but the whole squatting and grunting thing really helped. The squatting helped open up my pelvis, and it brought him down to an almost full crown. Finally I couldn't take it anymore. I had to push.

6 a.m.: Delivery! With Alex's help I climbed onto the bed, grabbed my legs and gave a strong, steady push. One push brought him to a complete crown. I had an urge to push, but no contraction. Sara said to wait. I took the time to catch my breath and get a sip of water.

Alex: She was calm like always. Sara asked me if I wanted to feel the head. He had so much hair I told Carmen we should've brought a comb with us. I watched Carmen's stomach tighten up with the contraction. She took a deep breath and pushed. Just like with Alejandra, I put my hand on her stomach while she pushed.

He must have a magic touch because Christian's head slid out the rest of the way. I had to take a rest while Sara suctioned his mouth. She told me to relax my hips as much as I could while she started wriggling him free. I said a silent prayer that the shoulders would come free easily. Alex? He was crying again.

Alex: Just like with my daughter, I couldn't believe that that was my baby coming out of her. It was my son. She was giving me a son. Sara told me and the assistant to push back on Carmen's legs, and for Carmen to give a little push. Then Sara said to push harder. That was where I got nervous. I was so afraid she was going to say he was stuck. Images of Carmen having to flip over onto her hands and knees and deliver while Sara tugged started flashing in my head. I was so happy when Carmen gave a gasp of relief and Sara asked if I was ready to grab Christian.

With the head out and shoulders safely free, you'd think he just slid out the rest of the way. Guess again. Christian was stubborn. Sara said to wait for the next contraction. I watched Alex reach between my legs and cradle the baby. He stroked the baby's cheeks and had tears running down his face. I felt the next contraction start to build. Alex told me to help him.

Alex: I wanted us to deliver the baby together. Sara brought Carmen's hands down to mine. She gave a gentle push, and we pulled the baby out and up onto her stomach. Christian was screaming his head off right away. Carmen was in tears. She hugged him to her stomach while Sara's assistant dried him off with a towel. I cradled them both in my arms and kept telling her how proud I was of her and that I loved her.

We got to share that moment with Christian just like he did with Alejandra. Delivery took about 20 minutes. Alex cut the cord and I delivered the placenta shortly after.

Christian weighed 9 pounds, 8 ounces. I was so glad I didn't go to term. I didn't have any real tearing, only a little knick that Sara said wasn't even worth stitching and that it would heal on its own.

Overall it was the perfect end to a perfect pregnancy. Afterward, it was just the three of us in bed together. Alejandra came later on that day with the family to meet the latest addition.

Now we're a family of four. Alejandra adjusted pretty well to having Christian in the house. After a couple of days, she realized that he was there to stay. Everyone is happy and healthy, and hopefully this year Alex and I will be getting married.