Wednesday, July 10, 2013

A room with a view

Baby Kennedy





  
I slowly rode the elevator up to the 2nd floor of labor and delivery and the waiting room was  bustling with the anticipation of impending life. Taylor and I went to her birthing suite to find the usual beeps and the noise of a tiny heart beat going at a constant rhythm in the room.
 I've known Valerie since she was a little girl and wore pig tails and her sweet face hadn't changed as she lay there laboring for her own little girl. Her hubby Stephen constantly at her side. She was 6 centimeters when she got the epidural and when we got there it had just barely started working it's slow ease on the pain of birth.

We would share a green visitor pass with her mama and daddy and every time those double doors would open their faces grinning, her mama would whisper, " I'm giving you this but if I miss that birth I won't be happy.." I took the little visitor pass and safely tucked it in my jeans knowing my time to work was limited and so I hustled down that long hall. I honestly don't believe I've ever met grandparents so proud and so loving and kind. Her daddy sat out in the waiting room with me, filling me in on all the details of her beautiful wedding and where they bought flowers and rented tables. He talked slow and deliberate for a man.
 He is so proud of his daughter and son-in-law.
Her mama stood by the edge of her bed and slowly stroked her brown hair. She looked at me and smiled and said, "every time she's sick she wants me to play with her hair".
 Valerie looked up and smiled at her mama. I loved seeing their relationship so close and deliberate. 
The nurse said she would be born between 12 and 2 and well she was pretty close.
Kennedy Ann Sims was born at 2:05.
Ten fingers, ten toes and absolutely breathtaking. 
Thanks you, Sims Family, for allowing me the awesome privilege of
being there to share in your joy as you escorted your daughter into the world.
May God be glorified and may her life never know a day that she didn't know Him.

So here's to the best view, the one through your doorway.