Game Changer

I've always said I was born ready. I guess my son was too. Eli James was born October 8 at 5am, nearly a week before his due date. Shannon's water broke as I was cleaning out our tub drain with the drain trap completely off, and she was making some spicy soup she would regret later. From the start we've found babies don't really always come at the most opportune time. I figured I should probably get the drain back together so I put it back on and ran to the grocery store for some draino and a few last minute birth items.

A long story short, Shannon started labor in our bedroom, moved to a birth pool and then finally to the bathroom to birth the baby. I'm still in awe of the fact that: one a woman's body can grow and birth a child and two that she did it all without any pain medication or intervention. During labor I was calm for the most part until the very end when she really started pushing and released some "primal" screams. At that point I a bit overcome by the pain she had gone through and was currently going through. Then Eli was born and almost instantly was placed in Shannon's arms. There was a huge change in her demeanor from 10 minutes before he was born to right afterwards. Near the end of pushing she didn't respond to questions and had the droopy eyes and cognition of a cross between a three year old and a college student at the end of a long night of drinking. As soon as Eli came out her eyes were wide open and her whole demeanor had changed as she received the "love hormones" that come along with birth.

Since the birth it's been one new thing after another. First night with a baby in the bed. First bath, poopy diaper, pee all over my hand, trip outside, putting clothes on, typing emails one handed while holding a baby, and much more. Being at home to figure out all these new things has been wonderful. It's nice to be in a place where you and the baby are comfortable to learn together. A few weeks ago I had some worries and fears about having the baby at home, but now that he's come I think it's the best thing we could have done. It makes the transition for us and him some much easier.

Ever since a sermon a few months ago titled "Game Changer" I've been ponder how a baby was going to change our lives and what that means. The lack of freedom and sleep. The new found joy in small things (first poop, cry, step, word, etc.). Not going to movies. Having a third person to consider when we make decisions. A lot changes, so I'm told. Now that Eli has arrived I'm excited and ready for the game to change.