Zoey

Holy shit, look what Amy and I just did! Zoey! She glows, she is an angel, she is perfect. Ye Gods, I was the first one to see her face. WHAM! Instant love. I could sit and just look at that face for hours. She is like an extension of me, we just sorta fit. My heart swoons when she opens her eyes and looks at me, and gets it's ripped from my chest when she cries.

The thing is, there are things, very important things, like say food, that daddy, at least at this point, can not provide her. He can make a hell of a funny face, daddy is great for afternoon naps, and a little kidding around, but at this early stage, Zoey is totally dependent on her mom. Daddy is biologically useless, he is still figuring out his place in the delicate dance that is your brand new life. He tries hard, he always means well, but he is a mere mortal, no matter what your older brother might say, he can not karate chop a car into two pieces... yet.

But where was I, oh yes, Zoey. Should I return to the beginning? Her beginning at least? Zoey Eliza Lane was born at home at 7:50 pm on August 28, 2009. Her father (that's me!!) was the first to see her perfect little face. Her mother and I gently brought her into the world. She coughed twice, maybe spit up a bit, then took a wee nap. It is hard work being born. Zoey woke up about 10 seconds later and searched her mom's chest for boobs. Oh how she loves the boob.

Mom, baby and daddy than spent the next half hour or so in pure awe. We stared and touched, and grinned and cried. Relief would be the wrong word (although mom, I am sure felt 10 pounds, ok, 8 pounds 2 ounces, lighter), the right word would be more ecstasy or maybe bliss. Zoey's birth was exactly what he had hoped for.

Haven't you heard? Yes, we are that crazy couple that had an unassisted home birth. What, you ask. What about, this, and that, oh and this thing here? Sure, you can live in the fear of the what ifs, but we prepared ourselves as best we could for those. In the end however, we had the utmost faith in each other and in human biology. We weren't really trying to make a political statement, or be anti-establishment (oy, how many times did we hear that?), we did the research. YES it is safe (probably safer) to deliver babies at home. Again...STOP with the what ifs, we were prepared for the what ifs, we live 10 minutes from the hospital, we would not have hesitated a second if we felt that Zoey was in any sort of danger.

So there! I am as proud as I have ever been. Zoey is my greatest accomplishment. The birth was beautiful, words can not do it justice. Have you ever watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas? Well if you have, I am sure you remember the scene where the Grinch's heart grew 4 times... that was exactly how I felt when I saw Zoey's little head emerge. Every time I look at her I could burst. I love you Zoey Eliza, you are daddy's special little girl.