We had a most welcome guest at our Thanksgiving table this year! Rita Grace joined our family at 4:18pm - just in time for pie!
Her birth was one of the best days of our life. The day was slow and gentle and filled with friends, family and celebration. I've been trying to assemble words in my head to describe the day but I fall so pitifully short with each attempt. Here instead are a few pictures that try to capture the feel of the day.
The day started with contractions at about 4am. Pretty mild but enough to get me out of bed. They continued to get a bit stronger with each hour so by 6am we were starting to make phone calls to all the players. I was so nervous making those phone calls - it was Thanksgiving, after all, and I was asking people to leave their plans and families and spend the holiday with us...it better not be a false alarm! Russell kept assuring me that the "train had left the station" and not to worry about it. Still, it wasn't until I was ready to push that I was 100% convinced we were having a baby that day.
The angels started arriving around 8am - my friend Annelie came to whisk the kids off to breakfast, the midwives, Lori and Adria, came with their bags of supplies and Tuli, my lifeline to reality, came radiating her positive energy.
I was feeling restless so Tuli and I headed outside for a walk while Russell made a big pot of his amazing oatmeal for those at home.
It was a gorgeous fall day and we would stop every 5 or 10 minutes so we could enjoy the view while I swayed through a contraction.
The excitement of the day was escalating as phone calls from family and friends started coming in to wish us well.
The walk cured me of my wanderlust and when we got home I was ready to head for the tub.
The tub, as a sidenote, was actually a 3 ft x 5 ft watering trough. As I was getting it ready a couple weeks ago I couldn't help visualizing myself sitting in the tub and sharing the water with some thirsty goats. That didn't end up happening but I do remember Rhett being asked to put the bath toys back in the regular tub...they weren't for playing with in Mommy's tub.
The day slowly, slowly progressed. One contraction after the next. I was aware of the quality of light changing the bedroom. Starting out bright and then getting gentler and gentler as I was sinking deeper and deeper into the zone. I have very few memories of this time - mainly just impressions. The most significant awareness I had was of Tuli gently stroking my hand. That was the tether that kept me grounded and still.
This image brings tears to my eyes. I wish I could describe how profoundly comforting this simple act was. We were truly on sacred ground that day.
And then...after 12 hours of labor, more time pushing than I can wrap my mind around, and some quick instructions for Russell on how to catch a baby, Rita Grace entered the world.
Time stopped.
And then the celebration began! She was introduced to family and friends both in the room and beyond. There was cheering and laughter and the deep giving of thanks.
Over the next few hours there were lots of phone calls to be made, healing processes to start, and records to be taken and kept.
Russell initially cut the cord but Grant got to make the final trim. It was the greatest thing to have the kids be such a big part of welcoming their sister into the world. They were in and out throughout labor and totally enchanted once Rita was here.
Especially Rhett!
As the day wound down and the helping women gracefully departed on their angel wings, Russell and I were left alone with our sleeping girl. We watched with awe as her tiny chest moved up and down with each new breath. Filling with the peace and love and gratitude that was overflowing from us.
