The new addition has arrived...

Heidi and I got word around midnight on 9/8/09 that her sister Serena's water had broken around 9:00pm. We tried to go back to sleep but we were so excited that with any noise we were waking up, "was that the phone?"... and I would realize and think to myself "no dummy it was the dog rolling over". I mean you guys know how similar a dog rolling over and a phone sound... The next morning, still no baby but I think there were some tired adults who mentally felt like babies.

The idea of a 9/9/09 baby coming at 9:09:09pm was pretty cool so we were all at the hospital poised and ready for Araya to join us at that time. So 9:09:09pm on 9/9/09 rolled around and still no baby. We had watched the same episode of Top Chef for the third time without even really paying attention to that fact. The clock was closing in on 11:30pm and those of us in the waiting room (Oma, Vanessa, Lindsey - God Mother, Becky - God Mother's mother, Heidi and I) had not heard anything yet. Just as fate would have it, at 11:29pm Araya was born. Serena was a champ and with the help of Cory and her mother Lorna, she brought her daughter into this world. Serena you are so amazing and strong!!!

This was my first experience seeing a baby that was literally minutes old. It is such a special experience as we were seeing the start of a new life. Our niece Araya did not have to do anything except breath and be healthy and she was already adding so much happiness and joy to all our lives. Both mother and daughter are happy and healthy so we could not have asked for more.

All of you mothers in the world, you are so amazing and so much stronger and tougher than I will ever be. Thank you for bringing us into this world. ~ Namaste