Moms, I felt your pain (well, almost)...

... Actually not really at all, but I thought I would share a little excerpt of our birth experience that my wife (and anyone that happens to be in the room) absolutely cannot get enough of.

So, I have been trying to write a birth story for a while now... the following will probably not make it into the final version:
... We have been in the birthing pool for about 4 hours, things have ben going very smoothly, the contractions have become stronger and stronger but Rachel is going through each wave with extreme strength... and a lot of the strength has been directed at my inner thighs. Let me explain, I am sitting behind her with her leaning backward into me. She is bracing herself with her hands behind her on my thighs, each rush directly corresponds with an iron fist clenching of my flesh. After each resting moment I would brace my self for the next one, at least subconsciously. I was entirely focused on Rachel and our baby that was potentially minutes away from being before us for the first time...

... A couple of contractions came and went, but the next one was noteworthy. I'm not sure if her aim was off... or very precisely on... but she applied a squeeze that would make Chuck Norris cry, a little ways from my inner thighs. That's right, she applied a death grip directly to my balls, I did not cringe, I did not groan, not even a furrowed brow, for I knew that my discomfort couldn't compare. I did enjoy telling the story afterward, and no one in the room had any idea, and Rachel didn't realize that she had done it... so she says. 

It was a beautiful day, I kissed my Daughters head for the first time, I saw a side of my wife that made me respect and love her more than ever... and I learned what it feels like to get a vice grip to the nuts...

to be continued.

Home is where the heart is.

Adeline is my first child, so I don't have any other birth experience to compare to, but I couldn't imagine a more beautiful way to bring our child into the world than right in our home. I spent the prior 2 days really getting everything set up just perfect. I set up the birthing pool,on our book case, I had stuffed animals, receiving blankets and a baby music box. A sheet was hung in the big open doorway with it pulled back a little, so there was privacy and a comforting feeling, but no separation from the rest of the house. Bing Crosby pandora station was playing for much of the day, candles were lit, while the chandelier was dimmed just above darkness. We had family sitting our our settee supporting us, our midwife was with us for over 24 hours, sleeping having meals and being so nurturing and helpful, bringing us to a point of ease and confidence that is needed. I'm not going to tell the entire story here today, I hoping to have a guest blogger (Adeline's Mommy) to write about the experience.(hopefully in the next couple of days) I just wanted to write today to express our gratitude to everyone that helped us that day and have show us support in the days before and after. Our home is forever transformed by the experience and now the Love shared By Daddy, Mommy and Baby.

Best Day of My Life

Adeline was born in our home, 11:56 pm on October 17th, 2010. Our midwife was amazing, Our families were amazing, most of all, Adeline's Mommy was the strongest, most determined, loving woman. The experience couldn't have been any better, and neither could our little one. I couldn't feel any more Love than I do right now.