(1.2) A Baby is Born

Going Batty - Act I, Chapter 2 - bringing a bright new soul into the world

Fleetwood Mac's 'Dreams' echoed throughout the delivery ward of St. Elizabeth's Hospital in the town of Enumclaw, Washington. I sang along and grabbed onto Mackenzie's hand. Looking deeply into each other's eyes, my wife Mackenzie gave the world everything she had and I held on for dear life.

With a maternal yell, with tremendous waves of emotion, our lives changed, and we became three. Baby Robert held onto his mother and opened his eyes to a big bright world. Flash forwards of our life together were are clear as day. The moment felt so huge, and yet so fleeting. The minutes, hours, days whirled by. Freshness, fear, love, pride, hope, closeness, warmth. Life rolls on.

---

CHAT HISTORY

Nina (friend):

Awww, he's so beautiful. His ears are the shape of a heart!! I can't believe it, he's so perfect. Congratulations -- you earned it, and Kenzie is a frickin champ.

Also - you stinkers! I was stuck in there for DAYS! Less than 24 hours and we have Bobbert! All of that hard work manifesting

Good job!

Martin (friend):

All I gotta say is yall better not make the next 3 months look that easy!

Tom (me):

So much to cover, but we've finally  caught some sleep and milk is maybe starting okay

He's dozing in my arms. Mackenzie did so well.

[Video showing Robby's face and Mackenzie recovering.]

Mackenzie (in video): I'm feeling pretty good, pretty tired, but it’s so nice you're all checking in. I feel very loved and taken care of. Tom's doing a good job with contact naps and feeding me snacks like every two hours.

Kate (sister):

video received! so glad to see all your faces, happy little family!

Elizabeth (Mackenzie's mom):

Received thank you so much!!

Barb (Tom's mom):

Lovely. Hugs to you all!

---

Hearing from family was nice. We were just at the tail end of COVID, and another disease called RSV was running amok, so we opted to keep family out of the mix until Robby was a month old. Those first few days, we called everyone we knew, connected, slept, took care of our new son.