She's Here!!!

It's true! The Little Olive has arrived!!! Last Thursday morning my wife had a regularly scheduled doctor's appointment. At that appointment we decided that the Little Olive was going to be delivered the very next morning.

This is the Little Olive's birth story...

When we arrived at the hospital around 6 in the mornin'. I had to wait the customary half an hour before I could accompany my wife in her prep room. The nurses had to ask her if I beat her on a regular basis. Sad, really, that these things have to be done, but whatever. I'm all for keeping women and children safe!

Eventually I joined her in the prep room. That's where I had to get into this whacky assed outfit. My wife says I looked like a Ghostbuster....




Here we are on the operating table. My wife was extremely nervous at this point and I was beside myself. I was in a daze and didn't really know what was going on. There were lights everywhere and people all around.



All I could do was hold my wife's hand and talk her through her nervousness. I'm pretty sure I sucked at that and she could tell I was even more nervous than her. I tried, however. I recall a few conversations about our happiest times with friends at Rehoboth/Dewey Beach in Delaware.

Then it happened. I heard the sound we'd waited nine months for!

We heard her cry for the very first time at...



The Little Olive was born. This is her very first picture (random nurse holding her).



Another random nurse took a ton of pictures for us. I'm glad she did because I wouldn't have been in the right mind to do it myself. Here's a picture of the Little Olive getting her stats taken. Isn't her little foot adorable?



I held her for a few minutes and then they gave the baby to my wife. A lot of other things were going on at the same time, so she wasn't really able to hold her. She certainly tried, however.



As Mom was being fixed up, baby was moved to the nursery. I accompanied her there. Look who we ran into on our way! It's Grandma and Grandpa B.! This was one of many touching moments for me.



After about an hour of cleaning and prepping (I watched every fricking moment of it), I was able to take the Little Olive back to her awaiting mother. I snapped this picture of the two of them together. It's an amazing picture that I'm certain will pass the test of time. Through all the insanity of the previous few hours, they both show their beauty and strength.



Mother and baby were moved to a more comfortable room and look who came to visit! It's Uncle Dusty! Thanks for stopping by, my friend.



That night we slept here and there. Quite honestly, it's all a bit of a blur. I'm not even sure we slept a wink.

The next day we had more visitors! It was such a joy to share this moment with everyone. Grandmom held her first...



Then Grandma got her turn. This was such a special time...



The next day Grandpa and Margaret came to visit. The Little Olive enjoyed them as much as her mother and I did. Oh, and they brought some outstanding macaroni salad! Thanks so much for your help.



Soon after we were allowed to take the Little Olive home.

More to come in the near future.

By the way, Bill Stewart won the bet. He was fired 8 hours after the Little Olive was born.

:)