Noah Emerges

The day is December 21, 2006. I am 37 weeks, 2 days pregnant with our second son. Here is the story of his wonderful emergence:

Let me preface the story by confessing that I am not a woman who enjoys pregnancy (but I love the end result so much that I would gladly endure it 1,000 times over!). I know that it is truly a miracle, and I do not take that for granted. The first few times the baby moves, when I have to hold my breath, not sure if that is him, but hoping it is the first little tap-tap-taps of baby...those are miraculous moments, ingrained on my heart forever. But the rest of it, the nausea, the gastric ulcer that plagues me the first 4 months, the exhaustion, the bulkiness and even the constant moving, kicking, thumping, I can definitely do without. Add on top of that fairly regular, mildly uncomfortable, very draining contractions starting around 15 weeks, and by 37 weeks I was definitely beyond ready to have baby come OUT! My wonderful OB, whom I adore, sympathized with me, and so on this day, at my normal weekly visit, she entered the exam room with a bright, sunny smile.

"Are we ready to have a baby today? You are now term!" she chirped. Since I had a c-section with Owen, we had decided to do a repeat c-section, making timing a little less of an issue.

"Yes, yes, 10,000 times, YES!" I had packed my bag and arranged accommodations for The O just in case such a wonderful thing happened. I was sent over to Baylor to wait until my OB's regular appointments were over for the day. Jeremy and I excitedly made all the appropriate phone calls to alert loved ones, and then settled in to wait the 7 some odd hours until my c-section time. We played cards; we watched tv; we entertained various visitors that popped down from the NICU (where I work as a nurse) to help pass the time. Meanwhile, my contractions really picked up in regularity and intensity, so I guess Noah was ready to make his appearance! Oh, I could hardly wait! This delivery was to be so different from my last experience, like a dream come true!

Mommy is ready to meet Baby Noah

Finally a little before 5:00pm, my beloved doctor arrived and the go-ahead was given for Jeremy to change in to his scrubs for the delivery. (He loves wearing the scrubs and begins to refer to himself as Dr. J when donning them. So funny!) My doc also allowed my sweet sister to attend the delivery to take pics for us. My BFF DeAnn was allowed to be the NICU nurse in the operating room (a NICU nurse attends every c-section) and was to "catch" the baby right after delivery, the first person after the doc to hold our precious newborn. A whole bunch of our family members filled the waiting room and an excited O was bouncing around full of energy. What a dream team of supporters!

Jeremy and LouLou ready for the delivery

Our last photo as a family of three!

The O is not quite sure what is going on...but he got a cute shirt out of the deal!

Here is Noah's precious head and the umbilical cord sticking out of the incision in my tummy. My sister kept inching past the blue sterile field into the doctor's territory during the c-section. I not-so-subtly corrected her, worried a nurse would scold her, but once I saw this incredible picture, I was glad she pushed the rules a bit!

Noah Cole Halpin has arrived! Here my doc is clamping the cord in order to cut it.

Beautiful Baby! He weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces and was 20 1/4 inches long. The first thing everyone noticed about him were the full, pouty Halpin lips!

He also has a very handsome cleft in his chin. We are not sure who he inherited that from, but it gives him such a distinguished appearance! He was working on that pout in this photo!

I finally got to get a good look at my new baby. I am in love, love!

Let me get my hands on that miraculous baby! Look at how alert he was! He nursed wonderfully well as soon as we got settled in the recovery room. There was no doubt that his instincts kicked right in and he got right down to business. What an incredible blessing it was to have Noah with me in the recovery room and in my room in postpartum. I got the joy of introducing Noah to all the family and friends that visited us. I got to be the one to give him his very first bath. I got to snuggle with him as much as I wanted all night long, soaking up his newness. These are all joys that I missed out on with Owie and so I appreciated it all the more. Thank you, God, for a healthy Son!

Here is Owie's first glimpse of new baby brother. Not the best picture, but the best one I have. Noah thoughtfully provided O with a new stuffed puppy. O was very pleased! Owen had a fairly bland reaction to the baby. He has no idea how much his life is about to change. He has just met his new best friend for life!

What is that? A yawn? You aren't sleepy, are you, Noah? We discovered through the long night ahead that he did not much appreciate the great wide world around him. He would much rather have been snug back in the cozy womb he was accustomed to. He barely slept a wink. And yet, how I treasure that first night together. The only time he was content was when he was skin to skin on my chest, curled up in a tiny ball. And so we spent the night like that (the first of many!): Noah tucked under my chin, his ear over my heart; me wide awake, giddy with joy over the blessing and responsibility God has entrusted me with, just breathing in his sweet scent. What irreplaceable moments those were. I would not have changed one sleepless minute of the time we spent snuggling. I already am completely taken with you, Noah, and I love you more than words can even begin to express.