Like I said .. we have had a lot going on ... with baby's and such.
And this is my sister's story.
It started with a phone call. Well .. for my part of the story anyway. Because definitely a baby isn't made via a phone call.
"Alana .. guess what?"
Chicken butt was not the right answer ..
"you are going to be in the delivery room again with me .. you are going to be a new auntie AGAIN!"
This is my sister. This is my sister Natalie. This is my sister Natalie who is going to have a third baby. This is the sister Natalie who created one of my coolest memories I've got in my memory bank. Being present for the birth of my nephew Travis was next to the birth of my own children ... the greatest moment of my life. That's really not an exaggeration either. Not even close. It was witnessing a miracle. Right in front of me. Having all my senses heightened. Just breathtaking. And here she was .. giving me another chance at witnessing a miracle.
My eyes filled with tears. How blessed am I?
Girl? Boy? Girl? Boy?
This is a big deal. She has two boys already. And this is the last baby. Three boys .. that would be cool. Clothes are taken care of. Brothers are easy. And Travis really really insisted on having another brother. But a girl .. c'mon. We could use more girls in the family. And a girl .. well .. it's a girl. After two boys .. a girly girl to balance the family.
And.... drumroll ... here we go ...
GIRL!!!!
Exhale. It's a girl. And then .. really?? It's a GIRL? We aren't used to saying this. I mean .. what do we do with a GIRL? A girl. Super super excited. Pink. We are having pink. SO SO EXCITED! Well .. Travis was the only one not really cool with this. So the rest of the pregnancy he insisted it was a boy. No question. It's not a girl. He was adamant.
Now for the name.
Gwenevere
Gwen for short. I like it. It's different. And fits nicely with Thor. My spidy senses did not tell me to call her something different. So Gwen. I love Gwen. She's either Gwen or little bit to me.
And here is a story that will go down in the history books about this name Gwen. Which fits into my ADHD. And not paying attention. Which we will blame on the ADHD. Because nothing is really my fault.
Nati's friend had a baby shower for her. I asked what I could do to help. Please get the cake. Of course I'll get a cake. From her favorite bakery. Child's. Nothing else would do. And I got to put pink on it. And I put "welcome baby Gwen" on the cake. Picked it up. It was gorgeous. So pretty. So girly. I bring it to the shower. Put it out on the table. My sister is chatting with girls. About 15 min later my sister whispers to me "you did know Gwen's name was going to be a surprise after she was born". GULP ... GULP ... GULP. Too late to scrape off because it was all the buzz ... "oh natalie where did you get that name?" "oh gwen .. what a pretty name" .... more GULP faces from me. Good thing my sister is easy going ... and forgiving ... and loves me. Whoops. It's how I roll. Ruining surprises and all. Oh. You weren't going to tell the name? Here .. let me take your moment away. Slapping hand on forehead.
Next up .. the BIRTH!
My sister calls early one Thursday morning. December 14th. She's in labor. Early. My sister never makes her due date. So this one isn't any different. Almost a month early. I head to the hospital. She got an epidural pretty early on. We love drugs. I just love my sister. Probably the most favorite labor patient of the day. Not needy in the least. She really has the best attitude of any person I know. She feels sick. Calls the nurse "yeah I feel a little sick". Then pukes and moves on. We hung out... with Joe .. little Travis. Mom. Dad. Bonnie. Chatted. Listened to Reggae music. Christmas shopped online. Nurses would come in and check. She steadily progressed. Enoch joined us. Then ready to push. Everyone left but Joe on one side. Bonnie holding one foot. Me on other side. Mom holding other foot. It was so fast. She pushed three times. Little Gwen made her grand entrance into the world. So beautiful. So little. So Joe.
Another miracle I was apart of. Gwen came out .... I was holding my sisters hand. I held my breathe. She cried. I cried. My sister got to hold her right away. The entire experience can't be put into words. She was just tiny. And beautiful. One of the coolest memories was when her boys were able to come in to see Gwen for the first time ... they walk in ... and carolers appeared outside the door singing. Like heaven itself opened up and angels announced the baby's arrival. Goosebump material.
This next picture is my favorite picture in the whole series. Enoch. It's like an awe-struck moment. These boys adore their little sister. Travis was super accepting and I think instantly he forgot all about having a baby brother.
Welcome baby Gwen. You come to a family full of love. Full of hope. Full of good things to come. I love you. Every last inch of you ....
Oh and baby Thor went to visit little baby Gwen at the hospital .. and I think this is one of the coolest pictures ever ...
My babies. I love my family.
2 comments:
You have such a great family. I envy you. Would you like to be my wife? I need family like you. You guys just seem awesome and close. And congrats to your sister and Gwen, too. Gwen was Spiderman's love interest after Mary Jane, so after your reference to your Spidey sense I thought that'd click with you. Gwen Stacy. Yes, I was once a nerd.
I just read this again and seriously cried. I just love you. You're the perfect sister.
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