The Day Laci Was Born

I wanted to write this days ago, but as it turns out, time has gotten away from me.  Things like a baby, a home, a dog, and a skunk have been taking priority over writing - not all at the same time and not necessarily in that order.  Anyhow, I'm finally finding a few minutes to write, and I realized this is a very difficult story to tell.  In case you haven't noticed, I tend to be a little long winded, and I know that the few minutes I have here won't be enough to share all I had intended.  A story this personal and important to me deserves more than a rushed telling. 

So, the very, very, very short version of the story is...
I started having very mild contractions at 4 a.m.
I denied I was in labor for a good six hours.
I finally gave in and left for the hospital at 10:15 a.m.
We arrived and checked in at 11:15 a.m.
My amazing little girl was born at 2:15 p.m.
At 2:16 p.m. I declared that it "wasn't that bad" and I'd do it again tomorrow. 
Yes I really said that.
No I was not drugged at the time.

I had spent the good part of nine months denying the fact that I would have to experience labor and delivery, and finally gave in during the last three hours.  Looking back, I think that is exactly how it should have been.  Three hours of complete discomfort for one amazing little baby, not a bad trade in my book.  I'm sure Ryan would have much preferred if we left for the hospital at least an hour or two earlier, but he wasn't the one in charge.  It wasn't until I watched the episode of The Office when Pam and Jim have their baby that I really understood how Ryan must have been feeling that morning.  I don't usually relate to TV shows like that, but seriously, I was Pam.  "See...(teeth clenched, eyes closed)...I can still talk throooooooough my contractions."  (If you don't watch The Office you probably don't get this, but I'm not going to apologize, you should just watch it).

Someday, I hope to give this story the attention it deserves.  In the meantime, let this be enough:
I'm much tougher than I thought I was, my baby girl was absolutely perfect from the very beginning, and the second I laid eyes on that baby I forgot every bit of pain I had just experienced.  Babies really are little miracles and I'm so thankful to have had the honor of bringing her into this world.