Partner.

I like to think that I’m a lucky girl. Though luck really has no part in it. My life is blessed.

When I was six years younger than I am today, something stirred within me. A heavenly sort of stirring. And things that were very broken back then, were healed.

I had a best friend named Jared.

Fast forward three years, by my side was an angel in the form of a man. My husband. I remember his hands and his face and his eyes guiding me through each grueling moment as I labored with our firstborn son. Looking back, I really only remember him.

I remember lying by him night after night, as my belly grew. I remember us dreaming up how things would unfold and I remember setting out a plan of what we wanted for our birth.

I made him promise to hold me to things I knew I would change my mind about once pain overcame. (I was right.) When the time came, he lifted and touched and held. He set right by my side and believed in me. He winced and breathed with me. I listened to him when there was none else I could hear. When I forgot, he reminded me. And when Miracle finally arrived, his strong arms held him first, when mine could not.

When I hear people suggest to me a doula, I agree. I need one.

Lucky, blessed me, I have one. And I know he’ll be holding me the whole way through.

I believe in birth. I believe that it can be a sort of heavenly experience that can teach us to believe in ourselves and our holy capabilities as pro-creators; divine children of a Supreme being. I believe in pain and have felt the cleansing power of it, as I’ve looked back.

I think we’ve come to realize that what was hard back then, has become, in a way, sacred to us. While we were praying for things to be easier, Heavenly Father was sealing us closer, and making us strong.

I heard someone once describe giving birth as coming to the highest wall you’ve ever seen, and then scaling it.

I know I won't be climbing alone.

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Fact and Fact: After Morg was born, my mom told me all the L&D nurses told her they wanted to clone my husband. And two days later, my midwives called to ask if he would teach a class to other expectant fathers on labor coaching. (Brag I can, because I'm his wife.)

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Favorite birth story.
Favorite birth documentary  -- watch it on Netflix Instant Play
Favorite birth book -- buy it super cheap on Amazon - I recommend this for all expectant mommies!
Sweet (almost) VBAC birth story.