Today was a day to celebrate Levi and to thank God for the gift of his life.  Mike took the day off of work and we just spent time together as a family.  Our morning was spent hanging out and opening Levi’s presents.  We celebrated his birthday lunch with Wouletts’ cupcakes (a family favorite!).  After naptime, we went to Aamodt’s Apple Orchard and had a blast!  On our way home, we stopped at Red Robin for supper.  While at supper, Levi learned how to drink out of a straw, was sung to and had a hot fudge sundae (most of which he graciously shared with the rest of us!)  The entire day was a fun celebration!

I have been reflecting upon Levi’s birth today.  Levi entered the world 11 days late.  The wait was long, but when he decided he was ready to come, boy was he ready!

I woke up in labor on October 15 at 2:30 am.  I remember leaning over to Mike and saying, “I think I’m in labor.”  What I meant was, “This is it!”  What Mike, in his sleep-deprived mind heard was, “Probably another false alarm.”  At 2:50, Noah called me into his room.  After comforting him for a few minutes (and dealing with a contraction at the same time), I called Mike in and was able to tell him that this was really it! ☺  We still chuckle about how long it took us to get our communication signals working!

We called our midwife and she told me to take a hot shower and call her back in an hour.  Well, my gut told me we shouldn’t sit idle. We called my parents and told them to come over.  By the time I took my shower and continued my stretches, my contractions were getting rather close together.  My parents arrived shortly after 3:30 am.  We called my midwife back and I convinced her that it really was time.  (My labor with Noah was 15+ hours so none of us, my midwife included, really expected any need to rush!)

Mike and I arrived at the hospital around 4 am.  By the time we parked, walked up to labor & delivery and got assessed, I was dilated to 8! (My midwife later confessed to me that when the hospital called her to give her an update, she ran 4 stoplights to make it to the hospital in time!)

My labor with Levi was exactly as I had prayed it would be.  I was able to give birth to him naturally.  I have never felt more like my body was doing exactly what it was created to do than during this labor.  I look forward to my labors.  For me, labor is a powerful, earthy experience.  It is a time when Mike and I need to work together unlike any other. It is a very intimate experience.  It is a time when I stand in awe of how God created my body and how He brings life into the world.

Levi came hard and fast.  At the hospital, I remember thinking that I just wanted a hair-twistie to keep my hair out of my face, but there wasn’t time to open my suitcase!  At 6:32 am, 4 hours after waking up in labor, Levi Alan entered the world!  What a time of celebration!  Levi weighed 8#9 oz, and was 21.5″ long.

From the time we first held Levi against our chests, he has been a great source of joy to our family!  Since his birth, we have called him “our bundle of joy.”  From his earliest days he has brought smiles and laughter to our household.  He has changed so much in this year.  He has gone from being a snuggly newborn who would sleep on my chest each afternoon to a gerber-faced, pudgy infant.  Now he is an out-going toddler who is walking all over and is always on the verge of cracking a grin. Levi is our comedian.  He tries to make us smile and giggles with glee when he does.  His belly laughs often echo through our home as he plays with Noah, begs to be tickled or the boys wrestle with daddy.  I truly do stand in awe of the gift of this child. I eagerly anticipate seeing what God has in store for Levi.  I love you buddy!  You are our bundle of joy!  Happy Birthday!