well it's Sept - guess I didn't do too well considering I have one post and that was in April. Lots has happened since then - baby Giesen is here - beautfiul, healthy, strong - a God given joy to our life. I had the distinct pleasure of being in the delivery room and for all the times I've witnessed a birth - this was the most special (remember I was 'knocked out' with my own - c-section deliveries). I couldn't believe it when a few months back Nat asked if I wanted to be there - guess you can believe it took me only a second to respond yes. Her comment was - I need you to be there for Joey and I know you'll make sure everything goes ok --- not sure if she was asking her mom or her personal nurse to be there - but didn't care - this is absolutely one of the most precious memories of my life --- Nat did great, was patient, composed, calm, cool and collect and it was a pleasure to see my baby welcome her firstborn into the world. Most of the time I did great - she had great labor nurses so didn't really need me to coach, just 'hold my leg' and be there. I was so proud of her - she 'pushed' for 2 1/2 hours and only 'grunted' the last couple of pushes -- I was beginning to worry that baby Caleb wasn't going to turn -yes he was head first but not turned just right so it took a long time to decide he was actually going to appear. I was afraid the nurse had started her pushing too early and she was going to do all this work and get too tired to deliver - but never fear - my baby girl did great! I've always wondered how anyone could witness a birth and not believe in the God who made all of us - it's so amazing to see that perfectly made life. There's one picture I love - it's Nat looking over the sheet when Caleb first appears to see for herself that everything is good - I remember looking from her to Joey and seeing the look of complete joy and the glisten of tears in Joey's eyes --- it reminded me of how blessed this little boy is that God chose Nat and Joey as his parents. I held the tears in - I honestly don't know how, but feel so blessed to share this special time with them.
After a few minutes, I got to go to the waiting room with a camera full of pictures (I had already texted tehm pictures so they would know he was here and healthy) to share with the family that was patiently waiting while Nat and Caleb had 'skin to skin' time and Joey and Nat had time alone with their new son --- I'm gonna try to post the picture of the nurse wheeling them down the hallway to their post partum room - the joy is so evident on everyone's face as they meet Caleb for the first time. Since I had already met him, I was able to take all this in and enjoy this time.
I love this second picture - everyone is watching Noah's reaction to baby Caleb -- that's sooo funny to me !
Caleb is blessed to have not only grandparents but great-grandparents on both sides - here he is with the Giesen's and Gram
do you think Nana and Pop are proud of Natalie?!?
Over the next few days - I got to witness the joy of watching these parents welcome their baby into the world and their lives. They are blessed to have such loving family and friends. Learned a lot - did you know if you have a question about what to do today - like how to keep him from wetting 'everything' no matter how carefully you put on a diaper, that all you have to do is look it up on-line - guess that's changed a little since mine were little. Wished I had invented the 'boppy' - I probably wouldn't have had to come home and go back to work -these are cool. Swings are nothing like what mine had - they're sophisticated now - you can hook up your ipod to the swing and choose the music you play. We didn't have little 'duck bath blankets' to keep our's warm but they are so cute and we sure didn't have diaper genies - great creation. Donnie said the greatest update is the carriers that are also car seats - great to not have to wake up a sleeping baby to buckle them into a car seat. Anyway I loved helping with all the 'firsts' we experienced those days -thanks for letting me share in your first few days with Caleb - it is something I'll always cherish. Gonna leave you with a couple of my favorite pictures from that first week and a half.
think she's fascinated with him?
just a bowlfull of joy!
