Polite Mommy-to-be.
It is 5:08 am. I have been in a hospital off and on for the past two days. Waiting.
I am writing this in a semi-lit room. There is light filtering in from the hallway but it only illuminates the basin that little Gwen will soon make her debut in. Mark is beyond exhaustion, stirring ever so often to sleepily ask how Janel is doing and to rub her hand and let her know she will never be alone. Janel's mom is being a loving mom, telling her she is doing great and that this is the home stretch. Norma is one of Janel's attending nurses and she has a beautiful English accent. She is funny, charming, and full of energy even though her shift ends in 1.5 hours. Norma has just exclaimed, "We're going to have a baby!" and went off humming and preparing. I love her! And I am sitting here, soaking up the beautiful relationships and not wanting to forget details.
Today I will meet Gwendolyn Rose. I am super excited and super emotional (I am blinking back tears as I write this and hope the glimmer of the computer screen doesn't alert anyone to my overly emotional state). I haven't experienced anything like this and I can't begin to tell you how meaningful this is to me. Janel is one of my dearest friends...and she is about to be a mommy. I need someone to pinch me, just so I feel it...because I know this is real.
Earlier tonight, there was a baby being born somewhere else on this floor. She/he came out screaming and announcing to the world that they were alive and ready. It startled me because I realized that I can't wait to see Janel's reaction to HER baby. Her new addition to her bond with Mark. It will change life for them, it will make moments alone seem bittersweet, and it will make moments with Gwendolyn precious and scarce. Before you know it, she will be a toddler, a kid, a teen, and then they will be watching her walk down the isle. The cycle continues.
But until then, we will await her arrival. Blurry eyes and all. The miracle of birth, love, and friendship.
I am writing this in a semi-lit room. There is light filtering in from the hallway but it only illuminates the basin that little Gwen will soon make her debut in. Mark is beyond exhaustion, stirring ever so often to sleepily ask how Janel is doing and to rub her hand and let her know she will never be alone. Janel's mom is being a loving mom, telling her she is doing great and that this is the home stretch. Norma is one of Janel's attending nurses and she has a beautiful English accent. She is funny, charming, and full of energy even though her shift ends in 1.5 hours. Norma has just exclaimed, "We're going to have a baby!" and went off humming and preparing. I love her! And I am sitting here, soaking up the beautiful relationships and not wanting to forget details.
Today I will meet Gwendolyn Rose. I am super excited and super emotional (I am blinking back tears as I write this and hope the glimmer of the computer screen doesn't alert anyone to my overly emotional state). I haven't experienced anything like this and I can't begin to tell you how meaningful this is to me. Janel is one of my dearest friends...and she is about to be a mommy. I need someone to pinch me, just so I feel it...because I know this is real.
Earlier tonight, there was a baby being born somewhere else on this floor. She/he came out screaming and announcing to the world that they were alive and ready. It startled me because I realized that I can't wait to see Janel's reaction to HER baby. Her new addition to her bond with Mark. It will change life for them, it will make moments alone seem bittersweet, and it will make moments with Gwendolyn precious and scarce. Before you know it, she will be a toddler, a kid, a teen, and then they will be watching her walk down the isle. The cycle continues.
But until then, we will await her arrival. Blurry eyes and all. The miracle of birth, love, and friendship.
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