Rebekah's water broke on Friday, unbeknownst to either of us. A routine check-up on Monday led to a hospital visit to check if things were getting started. They were concerned for the health of the baby since the water had broken several days previously and asked her to return today so they could induce labor. Shortly after she arrived at the hospital today, her contractions began naturally.
I left work around noon, reassured by Rebekah that I should take my time getting to the hospital (i.e. take mass transit instead of a taxi), since these things usually take time. She even asked me to stop at the store for some snacks. I arrived by 1pm to my wife admirably weathering her contractions, which were now coming every two minutes.
Shortly thereafter, her contractions became stronger and more frequent and the second stage of labor began. Rebekah gritted her teeth, pushed with all her might, and gasped in air during her contractions. She had no interest in pain killers, preferring to work through the pain, yet she hardly made a peep until the very end. Slowly, Rebekah pushed our baby into this world. Her contractions were short, but she used all the time she had to its fullest.
Finally, I watched as this new, little person arrived. Tears ran down my cheeks as I heard our child squeak for the first time. Rebekah radiated happiness, overjoyed at her accomplishment, grateful that the worst was over. The mid-wives went to work on our new child, so it took a minute or two before we found out that our little person was a girl.
Sara Ellen Juliana Altman was born today in Oslo at 3:49pm CET (that's 9:49am EST for y'all East Coasters). She's 3718g (8lbs 3oz) and 50cm (19 2/3 inches). She's our first child and the first grandchild on both sides of the family.
I was overwhelmed as our baby girl rested in my arms while Rebekah recovered. I'd never held a baby before, yet Sara Ellen didn't seem to mind one bit. She squirmed and squeaked, hid from the light, and cuddled against my chest for warmth. She lay in my arms many times throughout the afternoon, re-energizing after her first big ordeal.
I know that something huge has just occurred, yet I don't feel that different. I wonder if that's thanks to the nine months of preparation we've had. Whatever the case, I'm thankful that our little girl came into this world healthy, happy, and beautiful. May God bless you, Sara Ellen.
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:D :D :D :D :D
i'm soooooooo excited for you guys! many, many congratulations all around, and i darn well better get to see that kid when you guys come back over here! ;) anyway, thanx for the good word. I hope mom and baby get to come home soon. and i hope those years of college taught you how to get by on very little sleep ;) much love and many squeals of happiness (also from jax, ang, amy, betsy, and trisha... chelsea doesn't get home till 9, and mia didn't answer her phone)!!! be good, daddy longlegs.
Congratulations
Many congratulations Tim and Rebekah.
This is a major turning point in your lives. All of your future decisions together will now be made with this new precious and individual life in your minds.
I hope and believe that Sara Ellen will bring you as much fulfillment in your lives as our children have in ours....
Enjoy it! :)
Congrats!
Congrats!
Congrats!
Aaaaaabsolutely congratulation for young and fresh ;) both parents!
Greetings,
janbar.
YAY!I was talking about you
YAY!
I was talking about you and Rebekah to a friend just yesterday, too...kinda ironic :-) Congrats!
HUZZAH!
Congrats! Glad all went well.
The lack of shock is "normal"... the change didn't hit me all at once either. Now, 3.5 years later, I have trouble remembering anything that happened before Ethan was born. They seem all a long way off.
May the days ahead be happy and healthy.
Congratulations
Congratulations to the three of you!
\\//
Congratulations
All the best for you and your family. Enjoy the great times that lie ahead of you.
Gratulere, alle tre
Congratulations, all of you, and all the best! :)
Congratulations!
Wonderful news, and a beautiful little girl! :) Tim, from that picture it doesn't look like it was your first time holding a baby, you're a natural!
All the best, congratulations to parents and grandparents, and a big welcome to the world to Sara Ellen :)
Gratulerer!
Congratulations to all three of you. Enjoy what's to come.
Woo hoo!
Congratulations, man! I guess we'll miss you on the boards and newsgroups for a while (we still miss you in IRC!) but we'll still be wishing you all the best until (and after) you return!
Glückwunsch!
Alles Gute, happiness and luck for all that is to come for you three.
Congratulations!
Your life will never be the same, trust me! Likely the 9 months of preparation did nothing and it still hasn't hit you yet ;). It will continuously hit you over head through the next several years - - I'm still getting used to being a Dad to our twin sons (21 months old).
Good luck with getting some decent sleep and remember to be patient with your new family!
Gefeliciteerd!
Best wishes from the Dutch department as well! She's lovely, adorable of course :)
Re: Gefeliciteerd!
Also congrats from the other half of the Dutch department! :-)
Gefeliciteerd!
Congratulations to all three of you! That will be pink "beschuit met muisjes" [1] at work!
[1] A Dutch custom; when a baby is born, the parents give "beschuit met muisjes" to guests. Beschuit is a round toast, very light and crumbly, smeared with butter to hold the muisjes (lit. mice) which are sugar covered kernels of aniseed. Aniseed is said to be good for breastfeeding as well as a symbol of fertility. Pink and white muisjes for a girl and blue and white for a boy!
Pink beschuit met muisjes
Gratulerer
Congratulations to all parties involved. :)
Bravo!
Congratulations.
Gratulere!
Now, take some quality time off from work. ;)
Congratulations!
Congratulations! Now, enjoy the welfare state, and spend your months off well! Don't even think about going back to work until you have to. This isn't America, as you might have experienced.
This is koselig, hopefully en rosin i pølsa, and it will only last for et øyeblikk. I can't say takk for sist, since there is no sist, but at least: Ha det bra!
Very, very nice Norwegian
Very, very nice Norwegian use. :)
I'm a Norwegian
I'm a Norwegian, so one should assume that I was able to use my own language. The phrases was selected such that the other readers should be able to understand my message...
However, my abilities in English could and should be questioned.
Oh, err, very, very good
Oh, err, very, very good English, then. ;)