Birth Blog-Outs

On this - Brooke's one week birthday - I am eating a chocolate-covered marshmallow santa and reflecting on the most amazing thing that has ever happened in my life. So, in honor of this most amazing one week birthday, I have some blog-outs to give to all those who made Brooke's birth so amazing. (Did I mention that it literally is amazing?!?!)

My first blog-out goes to God - who completely got me through Brooke's birth (aka the day I've been dreading for the past nine months). Brooke's birth story began the night BEFORE when I was up sobbing at 3am because I couldn't sleep for the 14th night in a row. I was incredibly anxious about our doctor's appointment the next day, there had been talk of inducement - and as much as I did not want to be pregnant anymore, I was not sure if I was ready to NOT be pregnant anymore. I just prayed, prayed and prayed some more, that God would allow me to trust in His timing and to be flexible knowing that our doctor appointment the next day had been lifted to Him in prayer. After sobbing and praying, I turned on the computer, watched an episode of Glee and fell asleep. (Who knew that God works through high school musical sitcoms?!) Little did I know that God would answer my prayer the next morning when I woke up, got out of bed and my water broke with NO warning (which was also an answer to Scott's prayer that my water would not break in bed and ruin our mattress). Scott and I are in awe that her birth went so smoothly and perfectly - and we know for a fact that God left His awesomely distinguishable handprint on the entire day. It is incredibly comforting to have absolutely no doubt that the Lord was with us throughout the birth of our child and to have literally felt Him so close. I love knowing that His presence does not end there - in our lives or in Brooke's life. And for all of that, God gets my first birth blog-out!

Blog-out #2 goes to Scott. I've tried to express to him

several times how amazing he was throughout Brooke's birth, but words really cannot do him justice. His encouragement was unbelievable - and I literally remember thinking, as I was pushing, how incredible it was that he knew exactly how to encourage me and affirm me during the scariest and hardest thing that I've ever had to do. In between each push, my eyes went directly to his eyes, and every single time he was looking directly back at me. It sounds silly, but that was probably the most meaningful part - being completely in tune with him. Scott is the most amazing husband and it is so fun to watch him be a dad - he is perfect.

Anna, my "doula", gets the next blog-out, even though she doesn't even read this blog (out of laziness, not because she doesn't like it). Anna is one of my best friends, and she was my second "support" person in the room when Brooke was born. Anna was a calming and encouraging presence. She even skipped her class to be there - and she brought all 10 seasons of Friends' on DVD. I think it's safe to say that our friendship has definitely reached a completely different level from where it ever was before! She was amazing, consistent and calm. She made me laugh in between contractions and it was perfect - Scott and Anna complemented each other, all to my and Brooke's benefit. Go Anna!

Our parents are next - From my parents dropping everything to come and get me when I called to say my water had broke to Scott's parents driving up from Philly to see their most recent granddaughter on the day that she was born. My parents waited with me in the hospital until Scott got there, and my mom came back later in the day to check in and stayed until I was ready to push - she then proceeded to go back to my condo and clean my bathroom - the site of the water-breaking. Only a mom would do that! My dad took care of Wrigley whilst my mom cleaned and they took Wrigley to the farm for the next couple nights. Scott's parents stayed at our condo for the night and when we got home, things had been cleaned! Our bed was made, our living room was picked up, the dishwasher was emptied, and I can't be sure, but they may have swept the floors as well! Balloons and a card were left from Scott's mom and dad to welcome us home, along with a pointsettia from my parents. Parents are awesome - and that's why they get blog-outs!

One of the most important blog-outs goes to Brooke - who came into this world as easily and wonderfully as I could imagine. She is beautiful - with barely any lip issues (which I may or may not had been concerned about from her ultrasound pictures). I love her more than I ever thought I could! Brooke is the sweetest little thing I have ever seen, and the best baby she could be - despite our sleepless nights. I am so excited to be her mom....I literally fall in love with her over and over again every day!

Thanks for all of the encouraging messages - it is so fun to know how blessed we are to have friends and family who are covering us in prayer and loving us so much. So, this last blog-out goes out to you!!

Everyone says that you can't describe the feeling of having a baby and how much you love the little kiddo right away - and it's true. Not to be cheesy, (although I think just using the word "cheesy" makes it cheesy), I really can't find words to even describe what has gone on over the past week emotionally, physically and spiritually, (something similar to the rooster story a few weeks back!) It's overwhelming and awesome (having a baby, NOT being attacked by a rooster). The only words to describe the whole thing are that God takes care of us in ways we could never imagine. So so so so amazing!