4
Oct
2014
Elliot's Birthday Week IV
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since one of the most momentous events of my life has occurred, i feel inspired to record some history, and a bit of a love letter to my precious son.
the summer i was a pregnant wasn't an extraordinary summer, in the way summers go. the summer was kind to me, though. it wasn't terribly hot, we had a ridiculously fun trip in michigan, and i never made it to the pool, not once. by the time summer drew to a close, i was heavy, feeling large, swollen, and oh so ready to meet my sweet boy. the weeks slowed to a crawl and it seemed like he would never come. he "dropped" and yet i grew larger and larger, until i felt as big as a house. i needed a thousand pillows to sleep and lots of emotional support from ross. i quit work before my due date, thinking maybe that would encourage elliot to come early. my due date came and went, all the while friends and strangers gawked in amazement that my belly was still growing. "he's going to be huge!" "you look miserable!" "is it twins?" "that boy is going to be a linebacker! maybe for alabama! he's going to have huge shoulders!" thank you. thank you. ross and i waited through our days. occasionally doing some silly jobs around the house, but every minute was filled with waiting. i scrubbed the floors and baseboards on my hands and knees - trying to convince myself (and elliot!) that labor was imminent, but it felt like he would never come. at 40 weeks, we took an impromptu overnight trip to cheaha mountain. we tried to escape and think about something other than our present reality.
finally at 41 weeks and 5 days, our midwife agreed. it is time for this boy to come. she did the things that midwives do, and then i did the thing that only terribly desperate women do. i plugged my nose and i downed it. castor oil. this boy was going to come.
the contractions woke me at 3am on sunday morning. i lumbered out of bed and onto the couch where i began timing them. 5 minutes apart. everyone said "when it's the real thing, you'll know!" this didn't feel like the real thing. did it? i dozed on the couch, and mom came out around 6. they were still steady and regular and i began to hope. i texted a few people, and prayed that this would finally be it. around 10 i sensed that they were slowing down and i remember saying "if this is labor, it is moving very slowly." around 12 mom, ross and i started a puzzle and i swayed on the ball, trying to convince myself things were more serious than i felt that they were. lauren arrived around 2 and gretchen at 4. i never had the "i'm in labor" moment i expected, but finally, finally, i was. giving birth to a son, to a brand new soul - it is not easy, let me tell you. my little boy made me work so hard for him, but my strong body preserved with the help and encouragement of our team.
elliot clark webb arrived at 6:05am, monday, october 7th, 2013. he was 8lb6oz and just shy of 22" long.
what is there to say after that? it is like a trumpet promenade "dum dum dudum!!!!!" any thing that tries to follow would sound quite squeaky and trite.
my little one had arrived, and he was perfect.
since one of the most momentous events of my life has occurred, i feel inspired to record some history, and a bit of a love letter to my precious son.
the summer i was a pregnant wasn't an extraordinary summer, in the way summers go. the summer was kind to me, though. it wasn't terribly hot, we had a ridiculously fun trip in michigan, and i never made it to the pool, not once. by the time summer drew to a close, i was heavy, feeling large, swollen, and oh so ready to meet my sweet boy. the weeks slowed to a crawl and it seemed like he would never come. he "dropped" and yet i grew larger and larger, until i felt as big as a house. i needed a thousand pillows to sleep and lots of emotional support from ross. i quit work before my due date, thinking maybe that would encourage elliot to come early. my due date came and went, all the while friends and strangers gawked in amazement that my belly was still growing. "he's going to be huge!" "you look miserable!" "is it twins?" "that boy is going to be a linebacker! maybe for alabama! he's going to have huge shoulders!" thank you. thank you. ross and i waited through our days. occasionally doing some silly jobs around the house, but every minute was filled with waiting. i scrubbed the floors and baseboards on my hands and knees - trying to convince myself (and elliot!) that labor was imminent, but it felt like he would never come. at 40 weeks, we took an impromptu overnight trip to cheaha mountain. we tried to escape and think about something other than our present reality.
finally at 41 weeks and 5 days, our midwife agreed. it is time for this boy to come. she did the things that midwives do, and then i did the thing that only terribly desperate women do. i plugged my nose and i downed it. castor oil. this boy was going to come.
the contractions woke me at 3am on sunday morning. i lumbered out of bed and onto the couch where i began timing them. 5 minutes apart. everyone said "when it's the real thing, you'll know!" this didn't feel like the real thing. did it? i dozed on the couch, and mom came out around 6. they were still steady and regular and i began to hope. i texted a few people, and prayed that this would finally be it. around 10 i sensed that they were slowing down and i remember saying "if this is labor, it is moving very slowly." around 12 mom, ross and i started a puzzle and i swayed on the ball, trying to convince myself things were more serious than i felt that they were. lauren arrived around 2 and gretchen at 4. i never had the "i'm in labor" moment i expected, but finally, finally, i was. giving birth to a son, to a brand new soul - it is not easy, let me tell you. my little boy made me work so hard for him, but my strong body preserved with the help and encouragement of our team.
elliot clark webb arrived at 6:05am, monday, october 7th, 2013. he was 8lb6oz and just shy of 22" long.
what is there to say after that? it is like a trumpet promenade "dum dum dudum!!!!!" any thing that tries to follow would sound quite squeaky and trite.
my little one had arrived, and he was perfect.
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