Natalie's Arrival

When I reflect on the kids' births, it's amazing some of the random things that come to mind. For example, as I look back on Natalie's arrival five years ago, here are three things I wouldn't have changed:

1. The look on the receptionist's face in the clinic when I asked if I could skip my scheduled appointment and just walk across the hall to the birthing unit. The woman flew out of her chair and snagged a nurse from the back, all while I was chuckling with Jason. Surely, this wasn't the first time an OB patient was in labor at their desk. Was it?

2. Waiting to be surprised by the baby's gender and frankly, not being surprised. We had hummed and hahhed the entire pregnancy about what we were having. Then, when my doctor called out, "It's a girl," we barely reacted. "It's a baby!" we kept rejoicing. A sweet, healthy, screaming baby was all that mattered.

3. Having a baby in the middle of the night. The whole experience was surreal, looking out through our huge window at a sleeping, snowy city with twinkling lights. Most were tucked in their beds and here we were, bringing new life into the world. What a sweet, little secret we had.