the day i met her

my daugher, that is. There's a lot about childbirth that they just don't tell you. Contractions seemed nothing like those bendover-scream-in-pain things you see on TV. At least they weren't for me. I had a miserable pregnancy...22 weeks of morning sickness (the pull over and puke out of the car kind), I had high blood pressure, SHINGLES. And then I fell down and we thought she was so mad, she'd come a week early. She didn't.

Anyway, I pushed for three and a half hours - my doctor thought I was a champ. I guess I didn't realize it was that long until I got exhausted...and then a little fearful. What if I'm the only woman in the history of civilization who can't make the baby come out? They threatened her with the vacuum after Courtney saw the desperation on my face. I said, "I can do 15 more minutes but I don't think I can do another hour." Courtney said, "let's get her out of there." She knows me better than anyone.

Ellie responded to the vacuum by deciding she wanted no part of that contraption. As soon as the doctor held it up, I had to push and down, down, down she came. It was the weirdest thing. I had no control - threw my head back (I guess you're not supposed to do that) and closed my eyes, pushed. The nurse - trying to encourage - said, "put your hand down here, feel her head...she's coming." I said, "I CAN FEEL HER HEAD FROM HERE!!!"

Two more pushes and I heard the doc say, "reach down here and grab your baby, melissa." The sweetest words - I had no idea how but I just did it. Grabbed that precious girl and pulled her to my chest. I wept. Like in the movies. I cried, cried, cried. Kissed Courtney, watched the nurse cry, too.

Best moment of my life. She's 18 months and I remember it like it was yesterday. Thanks, Rosie, for helping me remember that day.