Wednesday, December 21, 2005

Our Christmas Baby

It's my Little One's birthday today, yesterday now: the one whom we call Butterfly on this blog. Back then, her mother had been in labour for two days, and I can tell you that it was mighty hard on me! Cuppa was high on drugs for most of the time while I held a day and night vigil amidst much care and angst. In fact, there came a point when the nurses were more concerned about me than either mother or baby-to-be. They were so concerned that they put me to bed in a room across the hall sometime after lunch on the second day of the marathon.


Possibly an hour or so later, I awoke to screams in the hall and emerged from my room, just in time to see Cuppa being wheeled toward the delivery room on a stretcher. I got a final pre-birth hug before they took her in. During the hug, she had another contraction and just about strangled the life out of me in an incredibly powerful headlock.


They didn't let fathers into the delivery room back then, not in our town anyway. In that moment, I was glad of it because I was emotionally wrung out, especially given the screams or bellows (take your pick) that I had just heard coming from my delicate little flower. Being male, I turned myself towards tasks and busied myself by gathering up all of the oddments that we had accumulated over two days in the labour room. It took several trips to the car to evacuate the room, and then I settled into the waiting room: an emotional and nervous heap.


It didn't take long, however. They soon brought mother and daughter down from the delivery floor to the maternity ward. Mother was fine and ecstatic, but I followed baby to watch the proceedings from the window. I fell in love in those few moments as I gazed in wonderment at that little pink bundle that I share with you in the photo below. She stole my heart in ... well ... in a heartbeat, I guess.



She is very much Our Christmas Baby. Not only was she born in that season, but she came home on right on cue — right on Christmas Day. Since then, by fluke or by angelic design, Christmas has always been precious and special to Butterfly. Now that she is grown, she decorates her house early and much. She has two large trees, abundant ornaments, and a love of the season. Joy fairly sparkles off her pretty face in December.


We made a card for her. We usually make our own cards in this house. I do the computer part; Cuppa usually finds a quote; and, then we try to make a personal note that uses the quote in some way.


This is the picture that we put on this year's card. The quote follows.



Great hearts steadily send forth the secret forces that incessantly draw great events.


Ralph Waldo Emerson


She does have a great heart, that daughter of mine. She is a compassionate and caring human being who does me proud. Just as she drew the deer to her in the picture, I believe that other great events will be drawn to her. I cannot predict what these events will be but I do predict that they will be.


 

14 comments:

Dora said...

Happy Birthday to you too, Daddy :)

Rainypete said...

I was so grateful to be allowed into the room for both our children's births. I can't imagine sitting in a room with a pile of other anxious Dads wondering if it's all going well or not. Happy birthday and a Merry Christmas to the entire Anvil Clan young and old alike.

Madcap said...

That's lovely. I love to hear a proud dad. Nice card, too!

Ginger said...

What a heart-warming post! I love it when a Daddy is sold on his daughter like you are. Mine is too; it's a blessing I'd wish on every girl.

Matthew May said...

Cute pics!

Hey I like the bells and new design you got going on here.

Merry Christmas to you!

Anonymous said...

This is a lovely post A/C.
Happy Birthday Butterfly.

Bonita said...

I hope great and small good events happen for Butterfly in the coming year, and I know she has 'done you proud'. Gee, time flys...

Valerie - Still Riding Forward said...

Another great list Anvil!

Rhonda Gibson said...

I just had to catch up and I'm so glad I did. Love the pictures and the heart warming story!! Babies are awesome but loving Daddies are even better. I am blessed to be a Daddies girl and so is my daughter. Merry Christmas!

Gina said...

Ah yes, AC, you are a prime example of what will probably happen to Hubba-hubba if we ever have another child and it is a girl.

There is just something so wonderful and special about the father-daughter bond, and I am grateful to be close to my father.

Lovely card, and Happy Belated Birthday to Butterfly!

Judy said...

My husband/daughter team is especially close also. A real blessing!

In fact, she is great with child, and wants her dad close at hand. Her husband would gladly sit in the waiting room!

Your love for your family comes through so well in your blog. Thanks for sharing.

Lora said...

Awwwww!

Tom.... said...

I was able to be in the delivery room for all my kids births...It was just coming into vogue when we had our first child in 1974 on Christmas Day...Jill had a 20 hour labor...don't really know how those women do it...
Jamie is a very creative and warm soul, much like your daughter seems...she has two great rugrats of her own..
while I was able to handle all the births of my own clan, it is the labor and delivery of the grandkids that almost do me in...next time, I told them to call me in the local pub when its all over..
Merry Christmas and Happy 2006 to you and yours..
( would you allow me to link your site to mine...thanks)

Anvilcloud said...

I should have mentioned that I was present for the birth of our second child. It was quite a remarkable experience.

Thanks Tom. Link away to your heart's content.