A Birth Story from Dad

Birth story
Dad's version
It was Monday morning
We have been anticipating the "signal" that things were about to progress into labor. I was just waiting for my wife to look at me and say " we are going to have a baby today"
Monday March 11th it happened. She looked at me and said "we are going to have a baby today" I instantly started the list of To Dos in my head. All that was put on hold. My wife wanted to help it along. Walking, pumping, exercising her hips. And big meal of spicy food. I thought what a cool day to have a baby since the two oldest siblings were born on the 11th of different months. As evening approached and no progress I was starting to think. It's not going to be today. But she was having contractions but not the OUCH ones yet. Then as I was about to give up hope then she says "these are the ones I've been looking for and they're steady" I started timing her contractions. Really steady about 4 1/2 min apart. Our midwife was called and coming. And suddenly I'm saying to myself. Dude, it's on like donkey kong man! Get on the list of to dos!!! Start laundry, change outside bulbs, clean kitchen, blah blah blah I had super human energy and speed BLAMO I was ready! I kept looking at my wife's face to measure where she was physically and emotionally. My job was to help her stay on top of this. Give up is not an option so it's Go or Go.
Time went by and at 11pm she was at 4cm. All day and she was just at a 4! But I knew things could pick up pretty quickly. So at 2 am I was expecting 8 or 9.
Nope!!! 5!!!!
Inside I thought "no no no this is going to be drawn out long!" I had prayed all day to God that it would be quick for my wife. I didn't pray for easy but quick and for her to have strength. We were both in the water now. I'm keeping a little pressure on her low back. Everyone left the room. We now had us time. Her laboring and leaning on me. Me encouraging her best I could and just loving her. It seems we spent all night holding each other in the water. I had notice her contractions had gotten steeper.
Suddenly she cries out "Lucy!!! I'm pushing!!" At this point my emotions were super high and every bit of my body became numb as if my only focus was Vivian. Everyone was back in the room with just Vivian and I focused on one another. She switched gears and was now on mission. I could see the focus shift in her. I was gently telling her she is doing it. Breathe through baby. Her grip tightened on my shoulders and I craved it. It was like she was putting some of the burden on me and that's what I wanted! Lucy was using a flash light to see if she could see a baby coming. I seem Lucy's face say "I see a head" but I didn't hear her speak it. Vivian did. She reached down and felt the baby's head. Her face lit up brightly and a huge smile on her face she looked at me and said "ok! Here he comes" this is the first time she assigned gender to "it" and with a huge push griping my shoulders and a loud exclamation she did it! Lucy and I both reaching for the baby. Both grasping this new life!
We both pull the baby up as Vivian rocked back to a squatting position. And he emerged out of the waters. Vivian had told me prior that she didn't want me to tell whether "it" was a boy or girl. She wanted to find out on her own. I was half way determined to fulfill her wish but baby was not into it. As soon as "he" broke the water surface his gender made its appearance with an arc of pee proudly pouring into the air. I looked at Vivian while I avoided the incoming fire if she figured out he was a boy yet :-)
We both just held him. In the water there he was, our brand new baby boy. Beautiful as a morning sun rise and just as much created by God almighty. Every thing was perfect. We together us three for moments just holding one another. Then as mommy was talking to her brand new son he opened his eyes looking straight at her. This is where I may have had a few leaks in my eyes.
Glorious! Then it was time for me to get out and dressed into my dry clothes. With lightening speed I was dressed and ready. My next task to cut the cord. Lucy handed me the surgical Scissors. I checked them to make sure they were sharp by rubbing the blades with my thumb. Things I do is check my tools before use. And when she told where to cut I did. Now our boy was shareable!
So I was handed our son. All by myself just me and him. So little. So fragile. My proudness beaming. So since the momma was going to be busy for a bit getting out if the water I was going to go show him off to his sleeping siblings. First Hannah. She was really sleeping and very hard to wake but she was the oldest so she was first to get the news. Then Hallie. As soon as I said baby she was in an upright position. Hannah was fully awake by now too so I had them both guess boy or girl?
They stuck to their previous guesses. Hannah boy, Hallie girl. Then I looked at both of them and said say hello to your new baby brother! Both had the biggest smiles :-)
Now Lane. He would not be roused from his slumber. So I took my son and went and sat in our rocker just staring at him and left the job of waking Lane to the sisters. He came in to see his new baby brother :-)
Then Lucy called me back and said "your wife wants you and the baby" Hahahahaha I couldn't help myself I asked " what? She jealous?" 
The rest of the morning is a blur from making sure my wife was ok to our new son being weighed and measured until it was time for everyone to leave. 6:30 am we laid down. His birthday 3/12/13 a good day to have a baby