The Day You Were Born

Dear Baby Holler,

The day you were born, Daddy and I were born too.

Your birth and the miracle that occurred in our lives changed us.  We thought, prior to you getting here, that we were happy people.  We found out what it truly means to be happy on December 4th, 2012, at 5:58am.

Many things led up to that moment.  I was induced.  I didn't progress very quickly at all.  I had a LOVELY epidural, and while we waited for you to make your way to the EXIT sign, I was totally comfortable and I actually slept a lot:)  

When the time FINALLY came (almost 36 hours after starting the induction medications) and my body was ready, Daddy held my hand as I gave a practice push.  The Dr coached me into a second practice push, and said that she could see the top of your blonde head.  I could not feel any pain, but I felt slight pressure with each contraction.  The Dr said it was go time, and that in just a couple of minutes, you would be on the outside.

The next 2 times I felt pressure, I pushed with everything I had...  I was getting closer to you!  It was surreal and almost dreamlike.  I didn't know what to expect in those next few minutes, the most important minutes of my life.  The doctor told us that one more push would get you out.  Daddy and I looked at each other, I squeezed his hand as tight as I could, and pushed a third and final time.


It felt like nothing I have ever felt before, a "whoosh!" Of pressure releasing out of my stomach.  It was such an incredible feeling!  Seconds later, they placed you on my stomach.  You looked so startled!  You stared at me wide-eyed, with the biggest, bluest eyes I've ever seen.  You took a few moments to process what was happening before you cried.  Daddy and I were both crying with you.  

Daddy cut your umbilical cord, and the nurses whisked you off to get cleaned up.  It was important to me that Daddy be the first person to really hold you...I wanted him to have that moment, and I had secretly let the nurses know that.  After you were all clean, the nurses brought you over to him and he was confused, as he had assumed I would hold you first.  He was elated to get to hold you, and as he sat in awe and stared at you, with tears in his eyes, he said, almost to himself, "This is what it's all about."  It was the sweetest thing that I've ever seen, and that moment in time is forever imprinted in my memory.

After a few minutes, I let Daddy know that it was time to quit hogging you, and he handed you to me for skin to skin.  At 6lbs 9oz, you were a tiny little thing, and we were in love with every inch of you.

Every single day I think about your birth and I wish I could go back and do it again.  It was so mind-boggling and amazing, I want to go through it again, to get to experience all over again.  From that first practice push until you latched on for the first time, I want a time machine to bring me back to soak it up even more.

You were so beautiful and sweet from the moment you got here, and the greatest joy of my life is watching you grow and learn every day.  Nothing mattered before you.  My life wasn't complete until I saw your stunned big blue eyes.  

Daddy was right...This IS what it's all about.