Saturday, April 16, 2011

....welcome Brody Austin.....

......I knew the instant I woke up on Monday that it was the chosen day we would meet our sweet baby......my longest, yet easiest labor of the three; he was perfectly placed in our arms seconds after he was born.....


.....and we didn't pass him over to be cleaned, suctioned or weighed for a very long time.....because we soaked up every second of those first long moments with our son......the precious time when it's just the three of us........ooohing, aghing and brushing sweet kisses all over him......thanking God for the miracle that we had been given......the birthing experience of welcoming a new baby is unique and breathtaking every time......and I soak in every detail because I want each minute to be branded in my memory forever.....



.....I happened to have had a check up scheduled for that Monday afternoon and since I had told Stefan as he was leaving for work that today would be the day, he met me at this appointment.....I left my Mom with the girls, as Elsie was headed to school later that afternoon and Callie needed a nap....... and I walked up the sloped hill toward the subway, mulling over how I was going to tell my Dr. that I would be in labor soon......because sometime a Momma just knows......and it seemed that everyone else knew that it was labor day because I had four cat calls on my seven minute walk to the subway......not the type of cat calls pretty women get, but the ones you might hear from the deli owner screaming across Lexington Ave. at a woman whose belly was bursting, It's gonna be a boy.....your belly is pointing straight up.....or when two policemen holler, you due soon?, you look like you might pop.....laugh, giggle, laugh......congratulations!......It made perfect sense to have so many jovial people starting banter with me on this walk, as it was a gorgeous 75 degree day.....the sun was shining, the cherry blossoms just starting to show their pending buds on each tree that drapes over our streets and I was thankful that the most gorgeous day of the year would be what I knew to be the birthday of our baby.....

....and although labor had not officially started, my water broke once I got to the Dr.'s office; solidifying my motherly inkling that today would be the day......so one pit stop back home to pick up our bags......


.....labor pains increasing the closer we got to the hospital and then comfortable and anxiously waiting soon after......


......and as Stefan and I waited, we enjoyed the text updates from my Mom about how much fun the girls were having.......they were definitely cherishing some time with their Bambi......

.....and we also loved the shots that Sara sent us of the kids enjoying the first really warm day of the year on our front sidewalk.......





.....words can't express how relaxed Stefan and I were knowing that the girls were having the time of their lives with family and friends......on one side of Manhattan, we anticipated the arrival of our third child, while on the other side of Manhattan, technology allowed us quick glimpses of our girls in the last moments of them being our only two children.....we were able to relish in all aspects of parenthood and it made for a happy Momma and Daddy......

......and inviting friends over for dinner and dessert made for some happy toddlers......



.....and they were missing us too......Elsie taped up her note from Daddy from last week right next to her bed......so we were with them as much as they were with us.......




......and just shortly after they went to sleep for real, opposed to playing around in Bambi's bed, they placed him in our arms......


.....and this birth was so serene and peaceful......our doctor had us all positioned so close together that Stefan and I were able to share every moment side by side, hand and hand, inches from our baby in his first few seconds of life outside the womb.....I held Brody as Stefan cut the cord, all the while; our sweet baby was as peaceful as an angel......besides our doctor and one nurse, there wasn't anyone else present......and it was a long while of the two of us embracing the gift of our little boy......it was the most personal, intimate birth because of the immediate bonding time we had with him......our sweet baby boy......it still feels incredibly exciting to say it......we have a son!.......

......and because of the fact my Mom could take care of our girls, the bonding continued well into the first hours of the morning......





......and the moment that Stefan and I had been waiting for now that Brody was here was introducing him to the girls......proudly sauntering in with their new Big Sister dresses, Elsie and Callie were thrilled to meet their baby brother......and watching them enjoy the moment from a 2 and 3 year old perspective was endearing......it was heart warming.....it was another moment branded into my memory bank because it was filled with so much love.....




......and Janet, my postpartum nurse, was kind enough to allow the girls to diagnose that their brother was healthy and ready to come home......


.....actually, we were all healthy......our girls were ready for all of us to come home together......



.....and soon enough we would.....but for the first 26 hours of Brody's life, we loved on him all over the hospital room......




.....at last, both girls were officially big sisters and it doesn't get much better than that......


......and after Stefan, my Mom and the girls all left to start the nighttime routine, I was left alone with my boy.....feeding, cuddling, enjoying the quiet moments with him.....cherishing the view that I have savored three times now from the same hospital that has welcomed all of my babies......

......my blessed, beautiful big city life......




.....and as dusk turned to night, I took in a few more moments of the view.....holding my little man close, reflecting on all of the good that the last seven and a half years in NYC has brought us......there has been so much change in our lives in the glimpse of time we have lived here......but holding my third baby.....remembering the miracle and beauty of the two births before him; it was hard not to well up with emotion.....by far, the best part about our experience up here has been welcoming our blessings and starting our family.....and with that, I said a prayer of thanksgiving and packed up my things......Stefan was on his way back to take us home......







......and there is no place like home......



......there have been so many moments of pure joy.....also moments of slight panic on how I am going to handle all of this once my Mom leaves and Stefan has to resume his schedule.....but more moments of joy and happiness than anything else......

                      Elsie will not take off her big sister dress......it's the only thing she wants to wear.....




......and a few heart stopping moments......like walking by the couch with Brody in my arms, but seeing this image and thinking for a moment the girls may have buried him with warm and cozy blankets......



......quickly realizing as he is nestled against me that Callie's baby looks pretty real and sleep deprivation is taking it's toll.......

......but beyond anything, I am thankful.....I am grateful.....I am blessed.....


.....and God is so good.....