I had the privilege of getting to know your family during your brother’s pregnancy. That’s also why our meetings during your pregnancy always felt familiar; I was always happy to see you.
When you weren’t yet in the world on your due date, that didn’t feel familiar at all to your mama. Your brothers were both born well before their due dates. Your oldest brother tenderly explained to you two weeks ago that everything was ready for you now. At this point, he didn’t even believe anymore that you would ever come into the world at all.
That’s just how it is sometimes with you third children—we think we’ve played this game twice and understood it. And then you turn it all upside down. That’s probably how it should be. Still, you must have listened to our wishes after all. Your brothers, according to your papa, came into the world at inconvenient times. But you announce yourself comfortably toward the early Friday morning. Your papa calls me around 5 a.m. and tells me that your mama has been feeling your waves for a while now, and they’re becoming increasingly intense.
Your brothers are picked up by Pops and Nana, and shortly after, I arrive at your home. Your mama is already concentrating hard through your waves, yet fears that it’s all just a false alarm and you’re not on your way yet. A full 20 minutes later, she looks at me with big, surprised eyes and is caught off guard by your first pushing contraction. Since it’s now quite clear that you’ll be here soon, I inform your second midwife, Andrea. I’ll tell you right now—she won’t make it to the birth. Your amniotic sac is already showing quite impressively, like a white, large, soft balloon. Your little head is not far behind.
A few waves later, your mama lifts you out of the water into her arms, already pink as you are. By the way, you chose a special path through the pelvis. Your face was looking forward, passing closely along your mama’s pubic bone. You can see that a bit shortly after birth—you have lots of little red dots on your face. They actually match quite wonderfully with your beautiful reddish-blonde hair.
Welcome to this world. I thank you.