The Wilcoxsons: July 2013

Two weeks ago during a planning meeting at work, I let the guys know that based on the way Rivka was feeling, she thought that she was probably going to have the baby on Tuesday of the subsequent week, so they could expect that I would be out of the office. They laughed and made wisecracks about crystal balls, but they don't know Rivka. She is the Babe Ruth of all things child-bearing. She's an all-star, laborer of the year, M.V.P. (Most Valued Pregnant-lady) etc., etc. Like The Babe, she called her shot, and the rest is history. She is truly amazing.

Not only did she call the "when" of little Blythe's arrival, but also the "how". I'm not sure if I am just the worst planner in the world, or a masochist, or both, but it seems that every time we are having a baby, I throw us into some sort of topsy-turvy life event. With Matilda, we had just moved to Chicago in the dead of winter and bought our first (and very fixer-upper) house weeks before she was born. With Eloise, I was contemplating career changes and we were steeped in remodel projects (including the bathroom wherein she was born). Now, just to top them all, I decided that we should buy a very "needy" house, while starting a new job, while getting out of our crazy landlady's rental place early which caused us to have to live at my parents' house on an air mattress since two of my siblings and their spouses are also living at home for the summer (there goes my chance at husband of the year), while we work like dogs to make the house habitable... I'll just leave the rest of the details out. We may need to stop procreating, because I'm afraid of what kind of mess I'll get us into the next go 'round.

Anyway, back to the "how"... Since our life was/is so up-side-down, and since Rivka's labor with the first two was so lightning fast, she had very specific plans for how she wanted things to go with Blythe's delivery. First, although our experience having Eloise at home was wonderful, Rivka ABSOLUTELY did not want to have Blythe on the air mattress in Mom and Dad's study (strange, I know), or anywhere at their home for that matter. Second, she did not want to have Blythe in transit to the birth center (like what almost happened with Matilda). Rivka wanted to have an unhurried, stress-free labor and delivery (something we really haven't yet had). So, our plan was to leave immediately at the very first sign that things were happening. I know that the Lord hears Rivka's prayers, because we got exactly the "how" she was hoping for.

Tuesday morning, at about 12:15AM, I was gently encouraged to wake up with the words "I think this baby's a comin'..." I shot up, gathered my faculties and began asking some of the typical questions about contractions, where's the bag, etc. I got dressed, made Rivka a bed in the back of the van, and we were off. We made excellent time and arrived at the birth center a little after 1:00AM, greeted by our wonderful staff of midwives.

Although something was definitely different with Rivka's contractions, etc. things did not progress as quickly as we are used to. We spent time lying in bed, munching on cereal, talking with the staff and walking around the parking lot. I admit that I was feeling kind of silly about having come all this way and having woken up the staff. A little after 2:00AM while Rivka was in the W.C. and I asked one of the midwives when we would call it a false start and go home. She said that Rivka was progressing and that we would stay until progression ceased or reversed.

Sometime just before 3:30AM the progression accelerated and Rivka asked for the tub to be filled. She labored in the tub for the next 40 mins or so and then with no more than 2 good pushes, Blythe Penelope Wilcoxson entered the world. She (Blythe) cried immediately (so did I), and took great big breaths. She started nursing right there and has barely stopped eating since (she gets that from me). When she isn't eating, she sleeps and sleeps (she gets that from her mama). I'm happy to report that she grows cuter by the minute. I can't wait to see her little personality start to shine through.

I am incredibly blessed to have another little lady to adore. I'm so grateful that everything went perfectly well and that everyone is safe and sound. I am again in awe at my amazing M.V.P. of a wife. I really think she hit a homerun with this little girl.

The Wilcoxsons

Monday, July 29, 2013

Blythe and Clive

Sunday, July 7, 2013

My babe is The Babe!

Introducing...