NEW KID IN TOWN

Just some quick thoughts about the birth of my grandson Joseph Paul last night. Ok all babies are cute and he is mine, but he really is!! Perfect skin -no wrinkly pruney look and bellowing like a banshee on the hunt.

His Mother, my daughter, was strong, resiliant. Cussing a bit and frustrated at times, but no tears and a worker to the end with a beautiful result. Sweat pouring down, no rest for 24 hours and she gave her all and then some. Whatever was asked, she gave. Whatever was needed, she had. Women are so strong when it comes to childbirth and there is a reason they call it labor! Then after all that work and while they continued working on her, she kept looking anxiously over at the baby "warming bed" where her little guy was bawling his head off. When they finally swaddled and handed him to her, she immediately went into Mama mode rocking and soothing him until he quieted down.

Matt was a rock, barely leaving her side, soothing, comforting, cheerleading and just murmuring to her when she seemed to falter a bit. Lovingly rolling ice over her forehead in between contractions, feeding her an ice chip when she had a little break. Her hand was wrapped up in his shirt through some of the rougher contractions when she needed that one anchor that kept her tied to her reality -just hanging on to her rock.

As soon as they took Joe back from Kristen and Matt to take him to the nursery he started fussing again. He turned his head whenever he heard Mom or Dad talking. Then the first thing Kristen wanted was a large glass of water - 3 of them! The circle continues. More updates in the days ahead.