15 Years Ago
Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at 11:03AM 15 years ago, yesterday, I was a study in nesting.
Knowing I was going to be admitted that evening to have labor induced, I got up early and tackled my list. Every surface was cleaned, every floor vaccuumed. I checked on all the tiny clothes that I had washed weeks before with Dreft and folded into drawers. I double checked that the car seat was properly installed.
I cooked.
I baked.
Why? Why did I bake? It was somehow of the utmost importance that I leave a batch of fresh cookies to serve visitors coming to see the new baby.
The pregnant mind is not a rational one.
Then I double checked my bags and laid down for a nap. Yes, "nap" was on my list. I figured if I was going to be in labor all night that perhaps a nap would be a good idea. So I stretched my swollen, disfigured, 203 pound body across the bed and closed my eyes.
And did not sleep.
I did not sleep because my mind was racing and because, as I tried to relax I realized I was having contractions. So much for the induction.
Rich, who was finishing up his degree, had a night class that evening so my mom and my youngest sister, Beth, took me to the hospital. Poor Beth was 19 at the time and I'm pretty sure my whole distorted, laboring self pretty much freaked her out. They sat with me until Rich arrived.
Around 11 p.m. I decided I was having back labor. I had no way to confirm this fact but I had heard that back labor was the most painful kind of labor and surely what I was experiencing was the most painful kind of labor! Surely. The nurse gave me a wonderful concoction called Stadol.
I heart Staydol. If Stadol were a man, I would leave Rich for him. Stadol is a happy, happy thing - while it lasts. But then it wears off leaving you worse off than before because now you hurt and you know you don't have to.
And so the beautiful man with the blessed needle came and gave me an epidural.
I heart epidurals too and I don't care who knows it.
I'll spare you the details of the next few hours. The important thing is that at 10:12 a.m. Mountain Time, 15 years ago today, Reagan was born.
All 9 pounds and 9 ounces of her.
It's such a good thing they didn't tell me how big she was before I pushed her out. Because if I had known? I would have refused. Flat out said no. But I didn't know and I'm glad because she made it out just fine.
Goodness she was big though. In the nursery, next to babies who were literally half her size she looked like Gigantinfant. In the most precious way possible of course.
That was the most magical day of my life. I love them all the same. I wouldn't trade one for another but the first time for anything is wonderful in a special way.
Now she is 15 and very much into self-portraits. Her boyfriend is joining us for dinner tonight and she asked for cash for her present (she's not getting it.) Her driver's licence is just around the corner and in three short years she'll be headed for whatever The Next Big Thing may be.
She is every bit as wonderful and magical as her infant self (though considerably less chubby) but now she is a person of great complexity.
I love her.
Happy Birthday Bunny.
Reader Comments (24)
Happy Birthday Reagan!! I hope you enjoy it to the fullest. Enjoy these next few years. I miss them. Yes - I miss them and I'm only 21.
Mindee - were all your babies nine pounds? I think I'm set to have a big babies in the future - Kevin was 9 or 10 pounds (as were all his siblings) and my dad was 10. And people wonder why we're going to wait a few years!
Aubrey - Reagan was the only baby I carried full term. Hayden was three weeks early and was 6 lbs, 9 oz. Faith was two week early and 8 lbs, 4 oz. So yes - three big babies and it's all Rich's fault. I was normal sized - the big baby gene comes from his side. :)
Beautiful, lovely post!
Happy Birthday, Reagan! Your mama loves you. :)
Big babies here also...but that made them sturdier for when I dropped them...KIDDING!
Happy Birthday Reagan! You have a fantastic mother, but you won't realize how awesome she is for another 10 years...that's okay, she will wait.
You had freshly baked cookies for people coming to visit? Now that's hospitality.
Happy Birthday! Enjoy every minute you can with your mom. Trust me, you will be glad you did when you get older.
Happy birthday, Reagan! Your hand looks just like your mom's in the last picture!
Love you!!!!
Mindee, the cookie comment sounded so much like you that I couldn't believe it. Of course, I have known you via cyberland for most of Reagan's life. I remember the young mama and now you have a baby turning 15. Enjoy every minute even though sometimes it is hard to enjoy teenagers. Before you know it she will be 32 and you will wonder what the heck happened to your little Reagan.
Happy Birthday Mindee, a new mother was born today, fifteen years ago!
Much love,
Ardee-ann
Very nice. :O)
I wish I could start nesting... without being pregnant, of course. Wouldn't it be awesome to be that productive all the time?
Congrats, Mindee. You are one year from having a personal driver for the other kids. That's truly worth celebrating. :)
Marla @ www.asthefarmturns.wordpress.com
Happy birthday Reagan!
And thanks for posting that pregnancy pic Mindee - I feel like I know you so much better now :)
Happy Birthday Reagan! I was also a large baby at 10 pounds 11 ounces (and also am not nearly as chunky as I was then!). I have no idea why or how my mom had two more 10 pound babies after me! I was in NICU for a few days and in the pictures my parents took of me, I look like a toddler compared to the premies in the cribs next to me. My husband was also a chunker at around 9 pounds, and I fear the day I give birth to our monster baby. Good thing we decided to wait a few more years for kids - I am not quite ready for that yet! :)
tears in my eyes. TEARS IN MY EYES. i know before i know it benjy will be 30 and not calling me and i'll have to find out through facebook (or whatever replaces facebook) how he's doing.
Happy birthday Reagan!
This post is beautiful!!
You look so cute pregnant! I love big babies, had 'em here too. When my fourth one was average sized I thought something was wrong!
I wish back when I was pregnant that they were doing those really artsy photos of pregnant bellies that they do now. Even though I was always miserable, at least the picture would make it seem magical and capture all the good parts like feeling them kick and turn around. I loved thinking about how there was a whole new person in there.
I hope Reagan had a great B-day. I love that name. Cheers to you Mindee for getting through another year of teenager bliss!
The last half of your post makes me look forward to children, the first half terrified me. :) And so it continues the ever revolving conflict about the possibility of the "first"
Pardon me a cruel chuckle to myself at the quick comment on her birthday present.
Mwah - ha - hmmm. . . . .
(I'll work on my chuckle)
Congrats and I'm adding the note about no cash and invite boyfriend to dinner to my parenting tips file. Not because I'm stalking you, but because I'm gonig to need all the help I can get with my own drama queen and I'm squirrelling away tips like its canned food in a Y2K shelter.
Happy Birthday, Reagan!
That was a sweet post, mom. We do love our kids, don't we? :) Even though they drive us to temporary insanity sometimes. LOL
Oh we call our youngest bunny too. Not in public, unless we slip and forget of course : )
And I heart epidurals and complex daughters too. Happy Birthday wishes!