I awake Saturday morning to news that Kate started having contractions. They are irregular and moderately painful. I spring out of bed and I am ready to deliver a baby.
I have a lot to learn about birthing.
Kate rests. I am wired. I grab my bike and bomb to downtown Berkeley. I run every errand that needs to be ran. I loop “San Bernadino” by the Mountain Goats on my iPod. I think about holding my baby son, and chills run up my spine.
We make pancakes and wet scrambled eggs and fresh carrot juice and we pretend we’re at La Note. The contractions continue throughout the day. They continue through the weekend. Kate gently touches her belly and pauses. Breathes. She bears her teeth like a rabid dog and exhales rapidly. She is strong and she is happy. We take a Sunday evening stroll. It is warm and the air smells of jasmine.
She is one centimeter dilated, 95% effaced and 100% ready.
2 responses so far ↓
Damon Circosta // April 29, 2008 at 1:32 pm |
Neil, when amy went into labor I went to bed… slept 6 hours and then woke up with a start when she said “we should go to the hospitial”… so I’m not getting any awesome points, but rabid dog breathing? man, when kate reads that…
anyway, much love to you both (three?) So excited for ya. so happy for all of us
SG // May 2, 2008 at 12:56 pm |
Neil,
Got the address for this blog through an e-mail from Kate. You are a great writer! I’ve bookmarked the site, and look forward to your entries going forward.
*s