Oh, wow! You never know how you’re going to react when you give birth. Every child is different, as well as every mother and every circumstance. Put all these variables in to the mix and you just never know what will happen. With me, each of my pregnancies were delightedly uneventful. My babies seemed to enjoy my hospitality just enough and came out just when they were supposed to (except my youngest son, who stayed just a little while longer–but he’s always had his own pace). My first labor was 36 hours, but mostly relatively comfortable until my water broke 24 hours into it. The rest were cut in two, or half as long as the previous labor, so that my second labor was only 19 hours, my third was 12, my last 6 hours.

The thing that I see as the game-changer is my age. My last pregnancy ended before my twenties did. By the time I went into labor with my daughter, I was 41. Those 12 years did a number on me. I feel better than I have in at least 6 years, but that doesn’t change the fact that I am not bouncing back from this like last time. Luckily, unlike last time, I don’t have 2 toddlers in diapers waiting for me when I get home. My God is accommodating! Still, I could do with some extra energy, just to spend a little time with my teens and preteen without talking to them over a nursing baby. When she sleeps, I sleep, but I’d like some time beyond potty time and shower time. You know, I didn’t even have shower time with the others, so I should just be thankful and wait until next week when I can sit out on the deck with the boys and enjoy the mountain air with my new baby girl.

The biggest surprise that came from this labor was how fast I fell for this little imp. I know my husband is smitten, too, but I’m just gaga over this girl! I look at her and see perfection. I talk to her and I can’t help but smile. I don’t want to hand her over to anyone so I can eat because I don’t want to miss a thing. I just finished the degree I’ve been needing to get the dream job I’ve wanted my whole life, and now I can’t imagine spending five minutes away from her. I have an appointment next week and I’m going to have to leave her with the boys for an hour or two and I don’t know how I’m going to do it. It’s not just that I’m worried how she’s going to do if she gets hungry, but how am I going to think straight when I don’t know what she’s doing?