Meeting Evelyn

"Welcome baby welcome

all the world is new

and all the world is waiting

to be introduced to you"
~ Barbara Reid

I'm often stopped by people who say "Oh, you have your hands full" when we are out and about. And, it's true. Our hands may be full. But, so are our hearts. Our happy family of 4 has grown into a happy family of 5. On September 25, 2016 we welcomed a healthy, beautiful baby girl. Evelyn Isabelle Wubs was born safely at home weighing 8 lb and 13 oz. Of course big brothers, Isaac and Micah are pleased as punch with their new little sister. As with all of my babies, I'm writing her birth story. It's so that I can treasure the memory of it and so that I can share something special with anyone (if there is anyone other than my mother) who stops by this little (neglected) corner of the web of mine. Because, life is full of sweet little moments, and maybe you'll be blessed by them too.

It's a relatively unremarkable story. But, it's full of delights and surprises. So, so many surprises along the way. Thankfully, I had a very nice couple of months off work before Evie came along. Something I did not have the luxury of before with Isaac and Micah. In teaching, I am fortunate enough to have Summer holidays. However, in the past, I've often had to work throughout the Summer. This year, I was able to stay home with my boys. Which allowed us to make wonderful memories together before our new addition arrived.

First of all, reaching September 25th for Evie's delivery was a surprise in itself. My due date was September 21st (the same as Isaac's due date). I had been told throughout my pregnancy, especially nearing full term, that I likely wouldn't go over my due date. Isaac was born 2 days over his due date. Micah was born 10 days early. I was quite uncomfortable near the end. My midwife, told me I likely wouldn't go over, my birthing attendant told me this, the other midwives at the clinic all felt the same way. And, I told myself that I must be farther along and therefore, I'm going to go into labour a bit early. Well, I didn't. And, each day that went by past my due date was a surprise.

Labour officially started on the 25th. But something happened on Tuesday September 20th. Now, this is a full 5 days before Evie was actually born. And, one day before my due date. I wasn't in real labour for that long (praise the Lord for that!) But, I did experience some contractions that night. I hadn't been sleeping well for many weeks anyway. I'd often get up to go to the washroom, or get something to eat, or walk off some foot cramps. Oh the joys of being pregnant at 40 weeks. That night starting at about 3 a.m. I had contractions that woke me up and consistently came every 8 to 10 minutes. We called the midwife at about 4:30 a.m. She reassured me that it sounded like things were progressing and that she would be ready to come to our home as soon as I made the next phone call to her. She encouraged me to just try to stay in bed and rest. I took some Cal Mag and went to bed. At about 6 a.m those contractions had completely stopped. I called her to say, that nothing was happening. But, I would let her know if anything changed. She reminded me, that this is still early labour. And, any contraction is a sign that baby is getting ready to be in the world. I felt so encouraged by this as I was getting anxious to meet this little one. The 21st would not be the day.

Isaac's birthday, September 23, was coming up on Friday. We had already postponed birthday party plans for him as he was sick the week before. I thought perhaps, if baby was not going to come, that we would have a little birthday shindig for him on Sunday, the 25th. But, baby had different plans.

Our plan was always to deliver at home. And, thankfully, we were able to have all of our babes at home with a wonderful team of midwifes. With Isaac and Micah's births I had little worry and fortunately very uneventful births. This time around, we planned a home birth and had no complications during pregnancy. But, lately I've found myself worrying about things that shouldn't matter. And, once those uninvited negative thoughts creep in, they grow and breed more negativity. Why would I have another successful home birth experience? Why would everything go as planned? How would I get through the pain without interventions? Why would we have a third healthy child? I'm not quite ready for our family of four to become a family of five. There is no end to a mother's worry. But, I prayed so much for this child and for the labour to go smoothly. And, all went well. It's amazing how quickly you can forget the all about the pain once you hold your child. I continue now to repeat mantras to my spirit. Reminders that build me up, edify my soul. So that the power of words and thoughts will create a different reality for me. Sure enough, I now say I'd relive the whole experience of pregnancy and labour all over again. It is incredible what our bodies can do.

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

Romans 12:12 

Gorgeous photos captured at 3 weeks old by Lakeview Photography

After being so surprised that we had indeed gone over our due date, September 21st, each night before going to bed, Tim and I would say to eachother, tonight could be the night. When the 24th (a Saturday) rolled around, I had no idea that we would have a new little one on the 25th. In fact, I even said to Tim that night that I did not think this was the night. Little did we know that in the morning our sweet little peanut would be joining our family.

At approximately 2 in the morning. I had a slightly uncomfortable contraction. Not uncommon when you are 41 weeks pregnant, but I just knew that this was different and I waited expectedly for the next one to happen in the next 8-10 minutes. Sure enough, another surge came and came again. This was it.

My first birth, with Isaac, was 10 hours. My second birth, with Micah, was 7 hours. Not long, but they certainly were the most intense hours of my life. I was anticipating and hoping for it to be shorter. But, my midwife had warned me that the third is a wild card. After about an hour of some slight and some strong surges, I decided to wake Tim up and call my mid-wife to confirm, once again, that this is probably it. As for Tim, he was an amazing support. As for the mid-wife, she suggested that this time I don't take the CalMag for relief as it seemed to have slowed things down last time. But, to rest if at all possible. Of course, we were giddy and decided to review our plans once more. His mom and step dad were aware that they were on call, that they may be receiving a call in the middle of the night. We decided we would wait until about 5am, and ask them to come over for 6:30 am to watch over the boys as the boys tend to get up around this time. We may or may not be done the labouring by then, but this way we would have someone else available to watch over them, as Tim and I would be in no shape to meet their early morning demands. I've come across many birth stories where children are there and experiencing the labour and delivery as well. The idea of it is lovely. I was open to having the boys there. But, at age 4 and not even 2, they can be quite demanding in the morning. And, a back up plan for them was necessary.

Surges were getting stronger and closer together. At about 4:30 am, I called the mid-wife to come and she promptly arrived to our home by 5. At this point, Tim had sent a quick email to some of our friends about cancelling Isaac's birthday party. He also had drawn a bath for me as water was a key soother for my previous birth experiences. I decided I would hold off on getting in the bath as I wanted to walk through some of the surges and let gravity do a bit of the work. When asked how things were going by our mid-wife, I was in the middle of a contraction which I could hardly speak through. This is when she knew that baby was coming soon. She quickly began setting up our room for baby and checking our vitals. My blood pressure was great and baby's heart rate was great. By 5:30 the second mid-wife and second birthing attendant, a nurse, had arrived. And, they arrived to see me breathing hard through some painful and close together contractions. At this point I felt the bath would have been a comfort, but there was no way I was getting up to move to the bathroom. My focus was on my breathing and staying in my bed was the best place to be. at 6:15 a.m. after a few contractions where I felt the urge to push, we welcomed our beautiful baby to the world. Announcing with much joy and pride, my Tim said "It's a girl!" And, was given the opportunity to cut the umbilical cord. Again, we were surprised and thrilled that we had a little girl. We love surprises, and we never have had the gender revealed through ultrasound with any of our children. For some reason, we were so convinced that we were having another boy. No matter, the gender we would have been thrilled and blessed. Another surprise was her birth weight. A great start at 8 lb 13 oz. When the mid-wives announced her weight, we were truly surprised as both of our boys weighed closer to 6 lbs. I must have enjoyed a few too many cheeseburgers this time around.

Through those last few contractions I could hear Micah's little voice in his bedroom waking up for the day. He wasn't crying, just asking for momma to come get him. Shortly after our daughter was born Tim went to get Micah and brought him in to see me and his new little sister. He was immediately quite enamored with her. Another big surprise, as I thought this little, now, middle child would have a difficult time adjusting.

At 6:30 a.m. my mother and father in law arrived to watch over the boys. They gave them breakfast and kept them busy downstairs while me and babe spent some precious skin to skin time. Our little girl latched on and began to nurse right away. All three of my children seem to be pros at figuring out this nursing thing right away. She suckled away for quite a while and fell into a sleepy dreamland. We snuggled skin to skin for a while  and my amazing mid-wife team began preparing a breakfast for me to get some nourishment and energy before getting up to have a bath. I enjoyed a relaxing herbal bath of shepherd's purse, comfrey, witch hazel, and sea salts. While I was getting cleaned up, my little girl was getting bundled up in her first outfit.

Grandma and Grandpa along with the boys who were active downstairs and even outside (see video above) came up to our bedroom to say hello. And, the moment was absolutely precious. The memory of my boys meeting our little girl is something I want to hold on to and treasure forever. Both of them were enamoured and in love. Micah wanted to give her "knuckles and high fives." Isaac was smiling ear to ear. After awhile, it was time for us to rest up, make some phone calls, and figure out a name for this sweet girl. The boys went to spend the day at Grandma and Grandpas. I was told that while Isaac was at the park with Grandma and Auntie Danielle, he was telling everyone there that he had a new baby sister at home, and her name was Lucy. He had been telling Tim and I for months that he wanted a sister and that her name should be Lucy. A lovely name, but not the one we settled on.

Evelyn Isabelle Wubs was the name. For a few weeks, Isaac asked if he could pretend her name was Lucy. Eventually, "Evie" (pronounce Eve-y) grew on all of us. And she is our little Evie now.

Birth. It's the most incredible experience. Those first couple days, when my sweet newborn babe barely leaves my arms if only to be held by another adoring family member and I barely creep out of my bedroom, feel like pure bliss. I imagine it is a little taste of heaven here on earth. It's exhaustion, mixed with euphoria. And, there is nothing like it. We've had our sweet little Evie for a few months now. And, we still can't get enough of her.

So, yes, life is busy. But, these are precious times. Life is rich with beautiful moments and not so beautiful ones. In the grunge of every day, I often think to myself I wish I had more time to write and record these moments that make life sweet. I never thought I'd be so happy to be so tired. Like soo soo tired, but sooo sooo sooo happy. I've missed writing and we've already reached some bittersweet milestones that make me just want to snuggle her all day long. But,children grow, and it's so special to see them learn and discover.

Some of those milestones include:
- Smiling (for real, not the gas grins or sleepy ones). Baby smiles are the best. And I'll never forget the words from my first midwife with Isaac "if it's not followed by a fart, it's real."
- Kicking in the bouncy chair to the point where, yup, we need to buckle her in or she could bouce herself right out
- Moving the 0-3 month clothing into diaper boxes for storage, and getting out the 6 month stuff. This one is oh so bittersweet as a mama. Slow down girl, you're only just 3 months.
- Holding her little body now in my arms and seeing that her chubby little thighs are resting in my arms a little farther than they used to reach. She's already grown so much.
- Bath time is now enjoyed in the big bath tub as she has already outgrown the baby tub. We use the Angelcare baby bath support for her. And, often all three of our kids fit in the tub.
- Rolling and getting more on the move are just around the corner. And, I don't know if I'm ready for that yet.
 

Meeting her brothers. A pictures speaks a thousand words.

They are so in love with her.

Sunday best. This is the best we could get.

4 weeks goes by incredibly fast.

Tired momma. But, feeling so blessed. Zoom into the background to check out Isaac's smushy face.

Mr. Hoots, A Roaring Dino, and A Sweet Dalmation Puppy for Halloween

2 Months old and be careful, she might clobber ya!

Snips and Snails and Puppy dog Tails

"If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you." -Unknown

Well, our Isaac is growing up to being a boy, not a baby anymore. He is certainly a determined one. In the last month he has surprised us in so many ways. He is growing in leaps and bounds. I can remember the first time Tim and I listened to Isaac's heart beat when he was still inside my belly. It was quick and strong, making us think we might be having a girl, yet it made the rest of the world around us slow down.

Dear: Isaac

As you grow, you'll have opportunities to listen too. And, you'll learn from, and help those around you. I hope you take time to really be there when your siblings or friends need someone to talk to. Sometimes they'll just want a listening ear and a shoulder to lean on, and that's when you have the chance to hear more than just the words they are saying.

Life is an adventure. You have turned mundane moments into pure magic. The wonder of a child is simply the best. I now know why they say that little boys are made of snips and snails and puppy dog tails. Your life's adventure does not have to go as planned or be perfect to be wonderful. Sometimes the unexpected, bumpy road leads to the memories most treasured.

Love: Mom

Gratitude List:

117. Jumping on the bed, fresh out of the tub
118. Playing with the tractors his Daddy played with when he was a boy
119. Stealing kisses...
120. Splash pad fun
121. Awesome half-wet hair dos
122. Telling Mama what dinosaurs and lions say
123. Dancing in the kitchen - it's our favourite dance floor
124. Crying - sometimes it just feel good to cry -when you're sad and when you're happy
125. Farmer's market
126.  Honey, cilantro, and lime chicken... Mmmmm Try it!
127. Mango, Avocado Salsa... Nom nom nom Try it!
128. Exploring the library
129. Life in the womb - Undeniably beautiful. How precious we are in His sight (Isaiah 43:4)
130. My borrowed maternity wear to boost my mat wardrobe. Thanks Sarah!
131. Camping or I think we should now call it Glamping as we have a pretty great trailer now
132. I won something! That never happens. Thanks Linda Bolinger Creations
133. Turning weeding into something to be grateful for - Reflect on small gratitudes while weeding
134. This book ... Beautiful Oops by Barney Saltzberg
135. Life lately...

 

Throwing rocks into the lake is so much fun!

I couldn't hull them fast enough!

 

If I Could Keep you Little

Dear Isaac;

I can feel your breath on my skin, your head nestled in the bend of my elbow, and your cute bum tucked in my right hand. Your legs, all cozy in your blue and white striped footy PJ's, and they're draped over my lap. When did you ever get so big? Slow down a bit, pretty please. ~ xxoo Mommy

.....

Some of you will think this is crazy and some of you will find this normal. But, I was parted from him for the first time the other day. It felt so strange to be more than 100 feet away from him when he has gone everywhere I have gone in the last 4 months. I felt this tug to get back as soon as I could. Fearing that he needed me or would have separation anxiety. It's nice to feel needed. Meanwhile, I knew that he was surrounded by love. I whizzed through my errands as fast as I could. For, I was the one with separation anxiety. And he was once within me, my flesh and blood. And, since entering this crazy broken world, the distance between us has never been more than half a football field away. I recalled reading about a Mbuti Pygmy tribe and their custom for mother and newborn. It is not until the third day after the birth of her child that mother and babe leave their womb shaped leaf hut. During those three days she rocks and sings to her baby as she did while he was still in her womb. She might sit close to the doorway so he can slowly adjust to the bright light of his new world. And, I think on the adjustment it was for me to move him to his own room. And, I wonder how we will handle it when I go back to work, or when he steps on the school bus for the first time, when he gets his drivers license, and when he goes off to university. I know all of these experiences will be hard, but as he grows, he is going to need to find his own way. He can know, though, that his parents will always be there for him. We will never be far away.

.....

It's a tumultuous world we live in where the weakest don't have a voice and the hunger for wealth seems to trump all else. And, this new mama is trying hard not to worry but to trust and to be content in every circumstance. How now do I live for God when I'm now living for my son and family? I think on the story of the Isaac of the Bible. Isaac was the promised son to Abraham and Sarah in their old age. His name means laughter. God commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. And, Abraham, trusted so much in the Lord that he was about to give Isaac as a sacrifice knowing that God would really never ask that of him. And right at the last moment, a ram was provided to take Isaac's place as the sacrifice. And I'm sure I couldn't do what Abraham did, especially if I had a hard time leaving him for 15 minutes. I would tell God "No, sorry God, but I don't have the strength to. I would give anything, everything I own, my air, but not that." And, in doing so, I'd be saying "God, You're not worth it. You are not number one in my life. My family takes priority over you."

.....

I want to make my God the first priority in my life. But, now that I'm a mama I can see God falling by the wayside. Instead of saying "It's all about Him" now, I find myself saying "It's all about the other him in my life, my son." I have two lights of my life and I struggle to give priority to the great I Am. And, the God who knows my inmost, knows me by name, knows the number of hairs on my head, has slipped even farther down the priority list. How do I reverse this? How do I pay special attention to following Christ while being a mother? So,I  pray for my son just as much as I do for myself. That I may love You, God, first and then my family. Because, that way I can only love them more. Because God is love and you cannot experience the fullness of love if you have not loved God. I pray that all my actions and words no matter how menial may be a reflection of that love. That in the grunge and grime of every day I may be thankful because my family is clothed and fed and warm and sheltered and loved. That even the most mundane of tasks can be done with my heart trained on God.

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!" Matthew 7:11 

"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men." Colossians 3:23

And, that revelation gets me through. I know that loving God first is a powerful witness to not only my son, but to those around me.

.....

And, when I can't be by my son's side, I pray that You, God, may wrap your loving arms around him, that he may have the peace of Christ with him and come to know the love of his Heavenly Father. That he may feel grounded in faith that it brings him home even when he is not home. And, this is my prayer for all children. That they may feel surrounded by love, a love that takes them home, even if they don't have a home.

.....

Yes, Jesus "Wubs" Me and We "Wubs" him too!

Isaac 3 1/2 months - hanging out with Dad at lunch time

Isaac 3 1/2 months - does not usually like tummy time but is getting there!

This book really spoke to my heart. "If I could keep you little I'd keep you close to me, but then I'd miss you growing into who you're meant to be."

Just when I think that I'm getting my groove thang down - I learn something new. Some of the best advice I've received - Babies change so fast, so hold on to them a little longer and forget about your messy house!

Isaac's Birth Story

Heather Dietz Photography http://www.heatherdietz.net/

It has taken me a while to write this. Partly because I now write in between waking hours and partly because I don't want to skip over anything. This is a record of the day we met Isaac and I want to remember every moment of it.

Heather Dietz Photography http://www.heatherdietz.net/

What a incredible job it must be, to deliver babies for a living. To usher new life into the world and to experience and share in the joy felt by parents when they first get to hold the one they have been waiting for. We really wanted our child to be born at home and we had an amazing mid-wife team. I had known our mid-wife for many years as her daughter and I were great friends growing up. Her daughter, Lori, is still one of my best friends and has her own two children now. And, her mother was there to help her welcome them into the world.

I just always knew that I would want to have a mid-wife deliver my babies. But, I don't think I fully realized how much a blessing they really would be to us. Our mid-wife team, two mid-wives and a nurse birthing attendant, were confident in me delivering at home. They had been involved with my pre-natal care all along and they came to our home for a visit before Isaac was born. I was nervous about having a baby at home. What if something were to go wrong? And, what if I'm not strong enough to do it without pain interventions? But, I think it was nerves about labour in general. I think I would have been just as nervous if I had planned to deliver in a hospital. We learned mid-pregnancy that with a hospital delivery we might not be able to have the mid-wife we had hoped for. As, the hospital that she had privileges at in our small town had just decided to close their obstetrics unit. Sad news for our community for sure. The next closest hospital where she had birthing privileges was over an hour away. So, we prayed and listened discerningly for God's voice letting us know that it was okay. That a home delivery would be in His will for us. We also prayed for the prospect of a birthing centre in our area for those who want a mid-wife but do not want a home birth.

Of all that I read about labour and childbirth, from a woman who had died in a London hospital, to a woman who had delivered successfully by herself under a tree in the middle of the Kalahari Desert, worrying about hyenas, nothing can prepare you for it. There were moments where I thought: "What am I doing here? Why did we decide to do this at home? Why did I think I was strong enough to do this naturally? God, get me through this, I am not strong enough, I need Your strength and I need it now." And, He gave it to me. He gave me the sense of strength and calm that I needed.

Heather Dietz Photography http://www.heatherdietz.net/

I tend to go back to the moments and places that took on meanings. Places that were mundane before, like the stair hallway where I paced back and forth in the middle of the night to coax that baby down. I'll now stop there once in a while and call up the memory. The sweet moments I spent holding my child in the tub while we took a herbal bath together. That bath was such a special moment of intimate bonding between mother, father, and infant.

We had been out with friends all afternoon enjoying a car poker rally game and I had not even the slightest inclination that that evening would be the beginning of Isaac's birth story. The afternoon went on with lots of fun and we have memories from that day to reflect on as the beginning of our family, the beginning of our new life. How it has changed! The afternoon adventures came to an end and we joined our friends for dinner at a near-by restaurant. Tim and I were on separate teams for the rally, so we had to pick our vehicle up at our friends house before heading home. Normally we would have stayed at their house for a bit. But, I had been growing a bit uncomfortable. I was one day overdue and I just figured it was from a long day of driving, and walking, and indulging in a somewhat spicy supper. So, we said our good-byes to our friends and laughed at the thought that this might be the last time we say good-bye as two of us. I did not realize then that the slight discomfort I was feeling was early labour.

We got home around 10:30 and settled in for a good night's rest. Or, so we thought. At 11:30 something woke me. It wasn't a pain, or a gush of fluid, or a sudden discomfort. It was just the slightest dream-like jolt causing me to wake. I still didn't know this was early labour. But then again, it was something and that something woke me. I started to question. I decided to get up, get a drink of water and go to the washroom. I decided to wake up Tim just to let him know that something woke me. Perhaps this was a mistake and I should have allowed him to sleep. I let him know that I didn't know if this was just pregnancy discomfort or maybe just maybe this was it. He reassured me that even if this was it, it's not likely that we need to call the mid-wife just yet. We could wait awhile for the feeling to come back again.

Sure enough, the same slight feeling came back again and again for the next few hours. I knew now this was it, but I figured if this is early labour, these things go on and can last for 24 hours or more. I'll call the mid-wife when I grow really uncomfortable or when the contractions come a little more regularly. By 2:30 am they were consistently coming at 8-10 minutes apart. I decided to call her. She confirmed to me that this is the beginning of labour and that she was going to get her van packed up. She encouraged me to rest in between them if I could and to call her again when I grow more uncomfortable. Together, Tim and I made our bed the way we were instructed to do so for a home birth. We placed a plastic shower curtain to line the mattress beneath the layers of sheets. I put some Powerade drinks in the fridge to cool for later on and drank some Vitamin Water, figuring I should stay hydrated. We still figured we had lots of time, thinking that our child might be born sometime the next afternoon or evening. I tried hard to rest, in between the contractions, but I felt the need to get up and go to the washroom a lot. And, sitting on an exercise ball or on the can was where I was most comfortable. It was 4:30 am when Tim got on the phone to call her back. At that point, I was having stronger contractions and more often and I didn't think I could talk through them. All he said to her over the phone was: "Things are getting pretty intense here" and she was on her way.

The team arrived together at our home around 5:30 am as I was pacing and trying to keep vertical through some of the powerful contractions. I was praying that with each contraction the baby was descending and coming closer to being born and I was trying hard to breath the breath of Heaven to get me through. The team began to set up our bedroom for home birth. They boiled water, drew me a bath, set up an area for emergency resuscitation, just in case. All together they made our bedroom look a little bit like a hospital room, but it still felt like cozy home to us.

Heather Dietz Photography http://www.heatherdietz.net/

Our mid-wife checked me and I was 5 cm dilated. "Don't be discouraged by a 5" she said. "5 is good, your cervix is really thin, this baby is coming and we're not going anywhere." Discouraged? I found this a relief. I was half expecting her to say "1" or "You're not dilated at all. I'll go home and come back when you're further along" This was me, convincing myself that I was not strong enough to bear through even early labour, let alone the later stages and delivery. And, it turned out I made it through early labour already! She offered me some CalMag in the most motherly way and suggested I get into the tub. "You have nice long legs, you can make it back to the bed in time." Boy, was she right about the CalMag and the tub. It brought everything on much faster than I expected. I laid in the tub on my side and the nurse poured soothing hot water over my hip as I bore through each contraction. I was in the tub for perhaps 3 more contractions at 2-4 minutes apart and began to hiccup. "Hiccups and burps mean 8 to 10!" the mid-wife proclaimed. Man, they know everything, I thought. I decided to get out of the tub and sit on the toilet for a brief moment. And there, I began to grunt through the next contraction. The nurse suggested I move to the bed now, if I'm feeling the urge to push. It was about 6:45 am now and contractions were coming one on top of the other. After being checked and confirmed at 10 cm, I was ready.

Pushing came as a relief, however my contractions now seemed further apart during this final stage of labour. This actually was good, because it allowed me to rest in between them. To the point where I could almost fall asleep. Don't get me wrong! Pushing is difficult, but your body knows when it is time to push and it allows you to use the breathing you had been doing through pursed lips before to be put to good use. Now, all three members of the team and Tim were by my side encouraging me. They were so supportive and encouraging. Tim held my hand which I squeezed so hard I'm surprised it didn't break. And, our mid-wife checked our baby's heart-rate after every contraction. Every time she would announce "Baby is happy."

The pushing stage lasted for over an hour with our little guy descending little by little and sometimes moving back into the birthing canal. Finally with one last push, his whole body came out, head, shoulders, knees and toes. We joke now that he shot out like a torpedo. Right away he was placed on my chest and he was crying, using his lungs for the very first time. As he lay on my chest I could see that we had a boy and that he looked like perfection. I was shocked. A firstborn boy, I had no idea or feeling as to what we were having. But, for some reason it was still a shock. A wonderful shock!

The nurse encouraged me to try nursing him, suggesting I don't sit up right away but rather lay on my side and let him discover for himself what to do. A very clever boy, he latched on right away and this calmed him down. It was an amazing feeling to bond with my babe right away after he was born. Tim and I admired our new little bundle as he nursed and we were offered something to eat by the nurse who had prepared us some toast and fruit. We felt so incredibly blessed, we had forgotten that it was time for breakfast! We made a few tearful phone calls to our parents. The nurse, who goes to church with my mom, joked that she'll be wondering why I'm not there this morning. Sure enough we reached my mom when she was on her way to church. All of our parents were thrilled with the news of their first grand-child.

Heather Dietz Photography http://www.heatherdietz.net/

Because he came out all at once, there was some minor tears to repair. So, after nursing him and a little bit to eat, I was stitched up and a bath was drawn for us to enjoy. A lovely healing herbal bath of Uva-ursi, comfrey, shepherd's purse, sea salts, and garlic is used for rapid healing for myself and cord healing for our babe. He loved the bath so much and again it was an amazing experience of bonding, the three of us together. He had his eyes wide open. Experiencing all these new sensations must have been a shock for him as well. I remained in the tub a little longer to get cleaned up while our boy was weighed, measured and finally dressed for the very first time. As I returned to our bedroom, dressed in cozy PJs I was greeted by my son dressed in his fresh new cozy PJs and he was sound asleep. Our bed was made and all the mess cleaned up. The mid-wife team even gets your laundry going for you.

It was time for us to get some rest. We dimmed the lights and admired our son together. My blood pressure was checked over one last time to be sure it was safe to leave us on our own. The mid-wives gave us some info on mother and babe care for the first 72 hours. Basically, make sure he nurses every two hours and that you both stay hydrated. They reassured us that they were proud of us, that it was a great home birth, and that we would be great parents. We knew they would be returning every day for the next week and every other day the week after that for post partum care. But, for the most part, it was time for us new parents to do this on our own. I felt great joy rise up in my heart, but at the same time I was totally exhausted. After all, not only was it was the hardest work I'd ever done in my life, it was also a whole night of lost sleep. But, as nervous as I was about giving birth naturally, I was relieved that my body stepped up to the plate to do the most important thing of all when it really mattered. It grew, nurtured, accommodated, and birthed another human being, which is nothing short of miraculous.

We thanked the ladies from the bottom of our hearts and said our good-byes. We joked that we should do this again sometime - but not in the too near future! The realization that we didn't get to keep them with us forever was sinking in. I think they have the most incredible job. They get to witness the miracle of child-birth on a regular basis. We looked at our son and admired the most adorable baby we have ever seen. Isaac Elder is a sweetheart. Truly a miracle.

Heather Dietz Photography http://www.heatherdietz.net/

I've been mother to baby Isaac now for 10 weeks. He's healthy and happy. And, motherhood is beautiful.  Not easy. I'm not sure I'll never get the hang of sleeping at 40 minute intervals but I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts. I'm enamored with him and it brings me great joy when he smiles and coos and when I know he is experiencing something for the very first time. The dust and the dishes can wait now, I'm loving on a little one who won't stay little for long.

Heather Dietz Photography http://www.heatherdietz.net/

The book On The Night You Were Born was given to us and I love the whole story, but here is just a short excerpt from it that sums up how life is changed. How a baby fills a place in your heart that you didn't know was empty.

On the Night You Were Born

“On the night you were born, The moon smiled with such wonder That the stars peeked in to see you

And the night wind whispered, “Life will never be the same.”

Because there had never been anyone like you…ever in the world."

 by Nancy Tillman

This beautiful benediction song, Something Beautiful, by Alexi Murdoch also gives a glimpse to the love of a Heavenly Father and is a perfect prayer for a child - that he would come to know that he is a child of God and the apple of His eye.

Isaac's Blessing Day

Showered with love!

Surrounded by our loving family and dear friends, this weekend was Isaac's baby shower. How blessed or should I say spoiled rotten we were. It was an intimate gathering in our home. My wonderful sister in law, Danielle, came over the day before to clean my house from top to bottom. We are so fortunate to have such wonderful family. During Isaac's shower I had such an overwhelming feeling of the love of our Heavenly Father for him. I think he felt it too, he was so calm and peaceful. All the voices served as background noise and soothed him to sleep for most of the time.

The lovely party planning committee, my friends, planned an amazing day! They sent this little poem with the invitations to the party and everyone came with books in tow.

I want to be a bright child

As smart as I can be

That is why I am hoping

Mom and Dad will read to me.

If you plan to bring a card

Please take another look

I would love to learn my ABC's

From your favourite storybook.

Please add your name and a note

It will be my favourite part

And someday I can thank you

From the bottom of my heart!

Being a teacher, I thought this was a fantastic idea. Reading for pleasure is something I encourage parents to do with their children all the time. I was reading one of the books to Isaac today from his Great-Grandma Wise. I thought one of the prayers in it was suitable for the day. It says:

Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me
Bless Your little lamb tonight.
Through the darkness please be near me
At my side til morning light.

All this day Your hand has led me
And I thank You for your care.
You have warmed me, clothed me, fed me.
Please listen to my evening prayer.

Amen

I'm so grateful for many things, but I sure have many thanks to give after this weekend. Writing thank you cards is my goal for this week. There will be a lot of them. Earlier today I was also taking pictures of the little man (something I've become obsessed with doing) and he gave me a couple of little smiles. Oh, I was an absolute puddle.

- ♥ - Sonya

Changed Forever

Nine months of waiting and wondering and now, here he is.

Welcome to the world Baby Wubs! Isaac Elder Wubs was born safely at home on Sunday, September 23rd at 8:09 am.

More perfect than I could have imagined and more loved than he'll ever know. How can someone so tiny fill your heart with so much happiness and love? 

Attending to the Coming One

Today is our baby's due date. While we've been coaxing with kisses and trying to be patient, it's hard to wait for a little one you've been loving on so much in the last 9 months. And, you're so looking forward to meeting this child and giving it a lifetime of love. I wish I could say I have mother's intuition about whether it's a boy or a girl. But, I have no idea. Will it be pretty crocheted flowers and bows? Or, a fresh blue outfit with giraffes and elephants? Either way, we are completely giddy about meeting this little one.

I made some little hats and flowers.

A little while ago, we had a friend of ours take some photos to help us remember all the sweet moments during pregnancy. She did such a great job recording a special time for us! I'm going to miss feeling the movements, the stretching in tight quarters, and the little hiccups. I've loved all the food cravings this child has too. The bottomless pit excuse works really well when you're pregnant. I don't suppose eating Nutella sandwiches and Ben and Jerry's ice-cream all the time is encouraging this child to come out!

http://www.loulouwestphotography.com/2012/08/01/welcome-to-loulou-west-photography/

During our photo session we even managed to fit on a little child's teeter-totter (or "seder-soder" as Grandmaman-Claire would say). So, we definitely need to do a photo retake of this with our little one in a year from now or so. I have to say, I'm so glad to know that this child is going to have a great dad growing up. We're pretty blessed to have him in our lives.

I've been in nesting mode trying to put the finishing touches on the nursery before the little one arrives. I was inspired to make some Pinterest projects, make a quilt, and bake some casseroles. Though the baking I've been doing doesn't seem to make it to the freezer.

Quilt in the works!

 With being off work, I've had some time to prepare and wrap my head around being a parent. I don't think you can ever be fully prepared though. But, while I have some time, I thought I'd write this letter to my child.

40 Week Letter to my child:

Dear Daughter or Son;

Thank you for giving me glimpses of what it is like for our Heavenly Father to love me as His daughter. I'm filled with gratitude for you growing inside of me. Feeling you move around is the sweetest feeling and knowing that I am in partnership with your dad is beyond incredible. I give thanks to God for all the blessings I have. It is a relationship with Him and His Son that has blessed me most in this life and has allowed me to love you forever into eternity.

I have made many mistakes and no doubt will make more before I die. But I have learned to take responsibility for my mistakes, repent, and accept forgiveness. You cannot re-do history, and repentance seems such a small offering to the God who gives us all we have. But, it is all He asks. That's what's so amazing about grace my love! T'is grace.

You can't control all the events that happen to you. But, you can decide how you react to them. Make every effort to change the things you do not like. If you cannot make a change, change the way you have been thinking. You might just turn a lemon into lemonade. Don't complain. Tell the truth, even if it hurts.

Dear daughter: As you grow into a young woman, please remember to dress modestly and keep your body a temple. 1 Peter 3:3-4

Dear son: Please don't be conformed to the pressures of this world. Pants on the ground will not make you look cool, only unkempt. "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." ~ Matthew 7:12

You are loved so much that is doesn't matter if you follow the latest trends. Trends are only lies of this world anyways. There is so much you can do if you put your mind to it. We can't wait to meet you and am praying for your safe delivery.

"The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing." ~ Zephaniah 3:17

- ♥ - Mommy


- ♥ - Sonya