Will's grand entrance into this world!

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Saturday morning, August 16, our son decided to make his grand entrance into this world, keeping us on our toes by making an unexpected arrival 2 weeks early! We were at "4 mile" a surf spot 4 miles north of Santa Cruz, and right after Micah paddled out, Kirsten went into FULL labor! She was curled up in the back of the car, a friend's car, for over an hour with STRONG and frequent contractions! (Will really wanted to come out and surf!) Unfortunately the car was a half mile from the beach and there was no cell reception! Micah finally returned only to find Kirsten doubled over the back door in a full contraction and our bewildered puppy Phoenix tied to the front!

We raced across Hwy 17 to the hospital in Redwood city (about 1 1/2 hours from Santa Cruz) and Kirsten swore she was about to have a "car baby!" We stopped right in front of the hospital entrance, left the keys in the ignition with a dripping surfboard on top and big, panicked dog in the back, and raced up to the maternity ward. The nurses scrambled to prepare a room and upon checking, our primary nurse exclaimed, "She's fully dialated... Oh shit! Call the doctor!" Kirsten held off the pushing for another ten minutes until our doctor arrived (no time for meds!), and 16 minutes later, at 2:17 in the afternoon, Will Ryder was born, at 7 pounds and 6 ounces and healthy as could be.