"It looks like we're going to have a baby today."

That's what the nurse midwife said as she measured my amniotic fluid levels at what should have been a routine visit. I was relieved at her pronouncement. My levels had been low the entire pregnancy, leaving me with a 10 pound weight gain over the past 37 weeks. My thoughts turned to my husband who was golfing on business over an hour away and to my best friend who had committed to watching my children for 45 minutes, and to the grandmas who would want to be a part of this magical day. Phone calls were made setting my support system into seamless action.

I was hooked up to a machine and it was joyously announced that I was already in labor. How wonderfully compliant of me. I watched the contractions closely as they systematically appeared on the screen. I was teary with worry and hope and anticipation . . . teary in Brandon's absence. And then he was there, holding my hand, kissing my cheek, stroking my hair. I was instantly stronger, ready for the work that lay ahead.


As things progressed my nurse midwife calmly announced that the window for an epidural was quickly closing. I was taking a passive aggressive approach to natural childbirth. Not wanting to commit beforehand but happy to give it a good college try I said nothing. I discovered some amazing things over the next three hours:


1. Contractions don't get more intense, they just get closer together.

2. Together my husband and I are invincible.


3. A woman's body is divinely built to do what I was there to do that day.


4. I am strong.


"It's a girl," Brandon said in a reverent whisper.



I have discovered some amazing things over the past 5 years:


1. My love for her gets more intense.

2. Together we are invincible.


3. She is divine.


4. She is strong. She is really, really strong.

Happy Birthday
sweet Allie