My first birth

Last night/today I attended my first birth. Well. Actually that's a misnomer. I attended MY birth (as in when I was born) as well as the births of my two biological children. But this was the first time I've seen birth from the other side.

It was unreal. I didn't feel sick or queasy, but I did feel a little scared a couple of times. But mostly it was just amazing, and miraculous, and kind of gross and disturbing at times too. But DANG, Anise is one strong mama. No medical intervention-- no pain meds, no pitocin, no episiotomy. She delivered in MY bed surrounded by two midwives-- Sarah and Jonna-- me, her mom, her aunt, Nahomie, and her two sisters. (It was a crowded room.)

It was a long hard birth for Anise-- 31 hours in all. Sarah and I were there for 16 of them. We pulled an all-nighter. It's been my first all-nighter in Haiti and my first since college maybe.

But I thought I'd show you what Anise has been working towards for the past 41 weeks---

Meet Max Danielson.

Mama is sore and tired. Baby is great-- mellow and wonderful.

God is gracious.