On December 28, 2002, I was very largely pregnant and awfully uncomfortable. An additional seventy-five pounds can wreak havoc on a body.
Matthew was playing in a basketball tournament. I had gone to the first game but could not find a sitting or standing position that would allow me any relief from my discomfort. He went to his second game and I lay on the couch at home.
He called me after the game was done and asked if he should pick up a movie. That sounded absolutely perfect to me. I hung up the phone and waddled off to the bathroom. I saw something strange, but all of my prenatal classes and pregnancy reading had prepared me for this. I had some “show” which meant that things were starting to loosen up in my nether-regions. No contractions yet, but they followed a short while later.
I quickly called Matthew back to tell him that we may not need a movie after all. While he sped home, I stood alone in the kitchen. What we had been praying and preparing for was about to happen. We took classes, talked to many who had gone the road before us, and had an amazing doctor. We were as prepared as we could ever be.
I burst into tears.
I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN.
No amount of reading, classes, or cheesy seventies labour videos can prepare you. I was venturing into something that I had never done before. Something that was supposed to be hard, and painful, and possibly even life threatening. What had I gotten myself into?
I would find out the very next day.
It was hard. It was painful. After eight hours of labour (three of which were spent pushing a baby whose big head was stuck), an OR team on standby waiting to take me for an emergency C-section, an episiotomy, three attempts at the vaccum extraction and the final success with the forceps, Graham entered the world.
All nine pounds, twelve ounces of him.
He was kind enough to give me a fourth-degree tear on his way out. He had nice big shoulders to match that nice big head.
He was battered and bruised, but after a trip to the pediatrician he was declared to be perfect. And he was. He really, really was. He was the baby we had prayed for and longed for and dreamed about.
He was (and is) even better that I could ever have imagined.
To my sweet boy. My Bubba.
My stinker.
My G-Force.
My turkey.
My little man.
Mommy loves you more than you could ever know or even begin to express. You are one of the neatest kids that this world has ever seen, and I thank God for you daily.
You rocked my world to the core with your arrival and I have never been the same. I am better, thanks to you.
Happy fifth birthday, Graham!
30 Comments
10 lbs???!!!
I am surprised you have any vagina left whatsoever! ACK!!!
(Apologies for the use of the “V” word on a birthday post for your son…I just COULD NOT HELP IT. DAAAAANNNNGG!)
Happy, happy birthday to Graham. He is a total cutie.
Comment by Loralee on December 28th, 2007 @ 3:53 pmI have a saying about large babies. “Made your eyes water, didn’t it?”
Your post made my eyes water.
Happy Birthday, Graham!
1. The third picture looks a bit Nathan-ish.
2. OH MY GOODNESS ALMOST 10 LBS YOU POOR WOMAN!!!
3. At first I read 8 hours of labor and said pfft that’s nothin … but THREE HOURS of pushing? You deserve a medal. Or a really cool kid. Oh wait, you got that.
4. Those cheesy seventies videos are HORRIBLE!!
5. Your little boy is the cutest I’ve ever seen!
beautiful, absolutely beautiful!!!!!! (made my eyes water too:))
Comment by familymclean on December 28th, 2007 @ 4:31 pmI laughed at witchypoo’s comment because watery eyes? Check! I never used to cry at stuff like this till I became a mom. (When I was pregnant, everyone always told me, “You can’t possibly imagine how much you’re gonna love that little baby, it just blows you away!” But they were all wrong; I knew how strong my love for my child was going to be, and it really didn’t take me by surprise. What has blown me away is how much more I love other people’s kids, without even knowing them.)
Comment by bethany actually on December 28th, 2007 @ 4:45 pmAwww, what a wondeful post, Angella. Graham has a sweet mom.
Comment by hello insomnia on December 28th, 2007 @ 4:51 pmGreat post!! Happy 5th Birthday, Graham!! A big milestone … a big “grown up boy” age … a big celebration!
Comment by Hannah on December 28th, 2007 @ 4:54 pmDo you want me to make you feel a wee bit better? A friend of mine has children and each of them were 11 lbs!!! My thought…You are more the woman for it!
Happy Birthday to your son.
Comment by Southernbelle on December 28th, 2007 @ 5:33 pmOh, I LOVE what Bethany said! So true…
Happy 5th Birthday Graham! 
(p.s. I love how serious newborns can look sometimes. Like they’re solving the world’s problems.)
Comment by LVGurl on December 28th, 2007 @ 6:10 pm10 pounds? Tears? (Clutches groin and whimpers.) I still think I want one, though. Perhaps I’ll see if Amazon delivers.
Comment by Moose in the Kitchen on December 28th, 2007 @ 6:19 pmHappy 5th Birthday Graham!
Ang, he is absolutely gorgeous - back then, and now! From what I can see, it looks like he is a fabulous guy, with fabulous parents!
Comment by Michele on December 28th, 2007 @ 7:35 pm[...] Dutch Blitz put an intriguing blog post on Five Years Ago TodayHere’s a quick excerpt [...]
Comment by Movies and Film Blog » Five Years Ago Today on December 28th, 2007 @ 8:09 pmHappy Birthday Graham!!
And a fourth degree tear! I had one with my first too. Just please tell me it doesn’t happen again with baby #2.
Comment by Teresa on December 28th, 2007 @ 8:14 pmHappy Birthday Graham. Love the picture progression. Wow, he was very LARGE!!! You are woman!!!
Comment by Dana on December 28th, 2007 @ 8:56 pmHe is going to be a stunner when he grows up, that’s for certain! I especially love that last picture of him.
Happy Birthday, Graham!
Comment by Sharon on December 28th, 2007 @ 9:46 pmWow, that’s one big baby! But he’s a handsome lil’ guy now. Happy Birthday Graham!
Comment by ashpags on December 28th, 2007 @ 11:58 pmAnd I thought Landon was a biggie:0 You are my hero!!
Happy Happy Birthday Precious Graham:)
Comment by Randi on December 29th, 2007 @ 5:35 amHappy Birthday Graham! What a big boy. Seems like just yesterday we were having that joint birthday party for Abby’s 1st and his 3rd birthdays. Crazy! He definitely is something special.
Comment by Jen on December 29th, 2007 @ 1:52 pmHappy birthday to the big guy!
Kamo was nice enough to leave me with a third degree tear. Good times. Good times.
But? I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
I am a few days late, but Happy 5th Birthday to Graham!!!!!
I loved all the pictures! He has an awesome huge smile.
Look at that sweet kid. (Although my lady parts are hurting FOR you at the thought of a nearly TEN POUND BEBE.) Happy (belated) birthday, to Graham!
Comment by metalia on December 31st, 2007 @ 8:00 pmHappy birthday Graham (a bit belated). From one Capricorn to another, here’s hoping you always get separate Christmas and birthday presents You’re just the cutest little kiddo.
A belated birthday wish to Graham! He’s such a cutie. I can just imagine what he is like by seeing his photos. Both of mine were nearly 10 pounders and I gained a whopping 60 lbs both times. It wasn’t pretty. I couldn’t push either out of me though! OUCH. I hurt for you thinking of it. Either way, it was worth the pain!
Comment by 180/360 on January 2nd, 2008 @ 10:53 pm
Oh my goodness, an almost 10 lb baby. Bless you and your poor battered body.
But what a cutie he is! Look at all those gorgeous curls too!
Happy Birthday Graham.
Comment by Karla on December 28th, 2007 @ 3:42 pm