On the Day that You Were Born…

6:00am and I’m pulling myself out of bed. I can’t remember the last time I had to get up this early. Pulling up the shades and glancing out the window into the darkness, I realize I’m not as young as I used to be. This getting up early stuff is for the birds and seminary students. Lumbering around, I locate my clothes and slowly get dressed. It probably feels slower than it really is because my belly keeps getting the way and the aches of pregnancy have finally gotten to me. I’m such a wimp this time around. I swear this kid seems so much bigger than the others. I guess we’ll soon find out. Throwing my socks to the side, my feet slide into flipflops and I rustle Will to remind him of our imminent departure. And we’re off.

The freeway is a parking lot. It’s a little difficult for me to fathom anywhere like Cypress having enough cars to create traffic, but here we are, all together bumper to bumper and going nowhere fast. Reaching the parking lot finally, I can’t help but laugh as we try to find a parking spot at 6:30 in the morning. I’m not sure if the difficulty comes from the amount of cars or the fact that the lot doesn’t actually have any lines painted for spaces. Will chooses a nice spot toward the front and soon I’m at my full waddle and all it’s glory headed for the entrance.

A few signed pieces of paper and one gorgeous hospital gown later, we are ready to go. I’m now adorned with plastic tubing and a full arm of glorious plastic bracelets bearing my name as well as other important numbers and such.

Truth be told, I got the best epidural of my life today. I was pleasantly numb, is the best way to put it. It was there just long enough to take a 20 minute nap sleeping on my left. After a nurse flipping, another 20 minute nap on my right and suddenly the once dim and calm delivery room becomes a bustling community of nurses and other medical personal preparing for the arrival of another human being into this world. The small bed is heated, and I’m once again poked, prodded limbs are arranged in preparation. The next thing I know, the Doctor, Dr. Kirkman(a doctor apt for the occasion with her curly red hair and sassy personality, considering St. Paddy’s Day is tomorrow.) is there telling me to hold my breath and push. Then she says something. I can’t recall what, but I start to laugh and then we see head, shoulders, knees and toes. Harrison Archer Blattman is here!

They push him up onto my belly so I can see him as they clean him off. His purple hue gives way to a soon very pink glow and sharp cry. Look at all that black hair! Oh, I just love and adore him already! Is this tiny human really ours…to keep?! Will is there, cutting the cord and then Harrison is off getting weighed.

Wagers had been made and recorded long ago, but no one had guess on the nose…my biggest baby by far. No wonder I haven’t been able to breathe for the last month. No wonder I felt like my insides were going to explode. What a wonderfully plump and chunky baby!

Oh my love, my heart has grown today! How I absolutely am in love! We are so lucky and oh so very blessed!