my elenora mae.

Elenora Mae is here! Born September 24, 2007.

The labor was quick and hard. The contractions started around 2:00 pm on Monday about five minutes apart. J. and I went for a walk around town and my water broke on our way back up the hill at 4:00. I had six contractions in the car ride over to the birth center (a twenty minute drive), arriving at five. The contractions were one on top of the other and at 7:40 the midwives said I was ready to get in the tub and push. Elenora was born at 8:24, wide eyed, alert, and absolutely the most beautiful sight I've ever seen.

I can't say the labor was painless (dear god, nothing prepares you for that, does it?!?), but I felt really prepared by the hypnobirthing classes to work with my body instead of against it and I think that's why everything went so quickly. The midwives said I was acting more like a second time mother in labor, so I guess it went really well.

J. asked me what the contractions felt like. I told him it was like being possessed by the devil and you just have to use every ounce of strength within you to resist the panic and just breathe and let your body work.

Elenora is gorgeous. I am the luckiest woman in the world because I get to be her mother and keep her. She is really alert and likes to hear J. and I talking to her. She lost a little too much weight after birth due to my lack of breast feeding knowledge (she was sucking but not gulping), but a lactation consultant helped me out and she's doing fine now. J. and I are tired, but extremely happy.

Right now they are both napping in our bed. Her face is the most precious in the world and her expressions are amazing. I feel so grateful for J., who has been incredible as a partner in all of this. I feel so much love for him, and when we kiss now it's like there's this whole new understanding between us. We're a family. Complete.