We made inspirational signs to post around the apartment, so that in a fit of intensity, I could find some grounding and attempt to relax. This was Jelani's.
Living-room home birth. I pushed and experienced intense contractions for 8+ hours, many of which were on an IV because I couldn't keep any food down. Finally, at 8.5cm dilation, nothing was progressing, and we all agreed to transfer to the hospital at 11pm. It was the most uncomfortable car ride of my life, but I was greeted with kind faces at the hospital door, including my doula teacher so I was in good hands, literally.
My dad looks proud
Safe on the outside
From the dream of a home birth to the operating table is a lot to process
That's a better view of my insides than I got at the time. Cesarean in action.
Our Lesbian Superheroes, Reina and Christina
The Hearing Test
Dr. Sara likes to visit you
You heard that right
Our old friend, Cannon Beach, Haystack Rock to be precise
To calm your nervous system, we will try anything, little one
Meet Uncle Brett
RIP Alpenrose
Meet your Uncle Shenoah. He's a professional goofball.
Gramma Lydia. She's the best with kids.
First Chanukah
Cousin Sienna was super interested in being responsible for you, even though she was the youngest. She was your great first babysitter.
Up in the Sandia's
It looks like we sleep a lot, but really it's just the easiest time to capture a good photo, lol
Drum lessons from the very beginning
Up, up, and away
Meet your Aunt, Uncle, and Cousins
Do you hear that?
We're starting a band, and you should be ready
Had to get you a passport to visit B.C. to meet your Uncle. It was your first international trip.
Aunt Kashia and Cousin Sienna
Cousins and friends in Alb
How did I get stuck with these people?
Cousins Lila and Kaia
My Cousin Hannah came to take some photos of us, and she just happens to be a professional photographer among many other art forms
First Halloween: me as a flapper, and you as a caterpillar. Natural mix, right?
Yep, you figured that out pretty quickly. Unfortunately, nursing not so much, so I pumped round the clock for eight months, and you drank my breast milk plus the liquid gold of strangers through a bottle.
Meet your friend, Donzia. She can't get enough of you.
Maybe Pooch was your first babysitter.
In case you can't tell, there is a sleeping baby under that corn, napkin, and blanket.
Pumpkin patch!
Corn Maze
Kenilworth, bathed in light
Huh?
Calm people are godsends
That's Chai Rex
...back at the beach
Your first friend: the shiny, purple balloon. You were so delighted with this simple gift.
That's one way to sleep.
There are so many things to experience.
The Gorge
See that smoke in the background? That's not a cloud. In fact, it was the beginning of a major wildfire in the Gorge that resulted in thousands of tree acres being lost and the beloved Gorge being off limits for years.
Jane's first time seeing you outside of me
Amelie and Kai at the eclipse sighting
We look like we're in a bad sci-fi movie, but I swear we were genuinely enamored with a major solar eclipse.
We make regular visits to our community garden plot.
I think this is such a beautiful photo taken with our good friend, Shulamit
Little Boo
Yes, your dad will do anything for ice cream
The Titanic scene, in horizontal
Napping with Gramma Jill
Yep, that's your Auntie Sho
We have over 20 pots on our back patio with colors and textures galore.
Cousin Jana and Phillip come to say hello.
Grandma Jill looks so honored to hold you in her arms.
Fern love
I'm exhausted and on narcotics, but I can feel your warmth and rightness against my heart.
Our new family
Meet Uncle Lowell
Pooch is holding down the home fort while we grow a family in the hospital.
A work of art
Dad has no idea what he's doing, but he's happy doing it.
The A.C. was too high in the hospital room, so Jelani and Stargazer rest under a sheet. I woke from a narcotic daze to this strange sight from my hospital bed.
Meet Saba
Dr. Sara spent 8 hours with us at home trying to facilitate our desired home birth, and then she came with us to the hospital in the middle of the night. Though she wasn't warmly welcomed by hospital staff, she wouldn't leave my side. As they set me up in a bed, she bunked down on the floor given that it was the middle of the night. She continued to take my vitals with her own instruments and check on me every few hours, and despite not being admitted into the O.R., she was waiting eagerly outside to meet you.
A New dad
The view from my birthing tree at Powell Butte
The garden doesn't stop needing attention
Dr. Sara's expert hands
The body is so amazing.
I can listen to you whenever I want.
I love my garden!
