Deliver.

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
~ Psalm 139:14

 

 

 

It’s very hard to believe that little Leia could still b in the womb right now.

Hard to believe a week has gone by so fast.

Hard to believe that we have been so blessed with such a wonderful addition to our {ever-growing} family.

I wasn’t sure how to post or what to post about the birth of our new baby girl … it all feels so personal and yet such a miracle … such a joyous experience … so here it goes …

Let me just say, the birth of Leia was absolutely amazing – it was all I ever hoped for, really. I didn’t know what to expect with a home birth, but I knew (or rather, hoped) it would be a quick birth looking at the history of my other four deliveries. I’ve witnessed a few (so beautiful!) home births and was ‘sold’ on the intimacy, the calmness, the privacy of having a baby in the comfort of your own home.

And with the birth of Leia, it was exactly as I had hoped … my contractions started and stopped all night long on Monday night. I really didn’t know if it was real labour or just some really intense Braxton Hicks (at this point, I was still 2.5 weeks away from the due date) .. I was hoping for labour so by 3 a.m., I woke up Abby and suggested that we set up the birthing pool and mattress (No, nothing was set up yet!) and lay out whatever was needed – just in case. After that, we found it hard to go to sleep – my hubby paced the floor a gazillion times (he’s never done that – he usually stays asleep till I finally wake him up and say “TIME TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL!”) and then finally said, “Well, we’re up – I may as well make bread…!” And so he did. Two beautiful loaves of the freshest bread at 4 a.m. What a guy. I slept a little off and on and still nothing big contraction wise. I timed them but they would stop and start or I’d fall asleep and lose track.

Eventually, after a night of nothing too serious, the girls woke up for breakfast. They saw the birthing pool set up and started to look a bit puzzled. I told them maybe today might be baby day – they were excited but everything was still very calm…{so thankful for the calm!} It was so nice to see the girls, give them kisses and know their daily schedule was barely even interrupted (especially important for the little ones).

 

 

The contractions were still there in the morning around breakfast time, but not too bad…

 

But by this time, I figured I had better call the midwives and let them know I felt ‘different’. I called my BFF, Leanne, to come in and be here in case we needed help with the kids, etc. {So grateful for her help this morning!! She also took these lovely photos!}

My primary midwife, Heather, showed up at 8 a.m. and checked the progress and to my joyous delight, promptly announced, “You’re 8 cms and the baby is ready!”

 

 

 

I was AMAZED that it had progressed that far …! And I was excited and OVERJOYED this was the real deal! So my sweet BFF put on a movie for the girlies to watch in the living room and gave them a snack while the midwives broke my water. I stepped into the birth pool, felt normal and thenย  … holy smokes … LABOUR … woweeee … it just happened so fast … within minutes, the baby was there … the midwives said “You can push now!” and I could barely believe it! Already?!

No kidding – less than eight minutes …. and I went from normal to intense … to sweet, sweet baby …

 

 

 

 

 

 

and just like that, she was born – so healthy, so wonderful and so beautiful … she barely cried … it was so peaceful once Leia arrived as I held her to my chest and met this little one who wiggled and kicked and hiccuped inside of me for the past nine months …

 

{And can I admit that I was so happy she was a girl! I love having girls and it’s so awesome to have this sisterhood to raise and nurture – I was overjoyed to have another little angel to care for.}

 

… it wasn’t long after Leia was born …

 

 

that her sisters slowly began to come back into the room … they walked over to where I was with the new baby and were quiet and yet so excited to suddenly see “their baby was out” … I think it surprised some of them at how quickly this day had come … “The new baby is here?” Lucia kept asking … now a week later, she still walks around saying, “My new baby is out now!” Precious.

 

 

This was my favorite part of the day, naturally introducing the girls to their new baby sister, slowly, in their own timing, without rushing and without stress …

 

 

and of course, Lovelyn is just fine as a big sister … she’s still my baby … I just have two (or five!) now … ๐Ÿ™‚

 

 

 

It was fantastic for the girls to watch the midwives do their routine checks on Leia, listen to her heartbeat, etc. What an amazing way for the girls to be so involved in such a special day …

 

 

 

 

I really hope this morning is etched into their mind as a beautiful memory as it is etched into mine …

 

 

 

I’m so thankful. SO thankful.ย  I am blessed beyond measure with a new life to care for … so thankful.

 

 

A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow,
because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child,
she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.
~ John 16:21

 

 

 

 

May 11, 2012 - 9:40 am

jess Thank you for sharing your beautiful birth photos. I am expecting my third tiny bundle of joy any day now. This will also be my third home birth and second water birth and we are hoping to capture those first precious moments with a photographer and friend. By finding your blog, we have been able to communicate perfectly the kind of images we hope to capture. Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful family.

May 5, 2012 - 12:30 pm

Leanne {BFF} What an awesome privilege it was to be part of such a miraculous event. I was so humbled by the whole experience..truly a day I will cherish forever…thank you for allowing me to be a part of it <3

May 3, 2012 - 12:08 pm

Tabitha WOW Gillian!! So beautiful! Congratulations and thanks for sharing this beautiful moment with us! โ™ฅ

May 3, 2012 - 10:19 am

Annie Oh Gillian. I don’t really have words for how amazing this post is. I loved that you shared it soooo much. That last photograph alone is priceless. What a blessing that you have these AMAZING photographs. What a blessed family. xoxoxox

May 2, 2012 - 8:00 pm

Debbie VanWyck Gillian, these pictures are amazing…I think Leanne has a hidden talent that she hasn’t let anyone know about. The picture right after delivery has so much emotion and strength in it. Congratulations to you, Abby and your whole family.

May 2, 2012 - 5:00 pm

Heidi Oh my friend….such a touching story and testimony of God’s goodness and grace. I am so thankful and praise Him for your precious baby girl!! Love you all!!!!!

May 2, 2012 - 1:35 pm

jen heemskerk Such a great story to tell. You are incredibly blessed with five little darlings! Congratulations on your precious bundle of pink!

May 2, 2012 - 1:30 pm

Amie Gillian! Thank you SO MUCH for sharing. I’ve been waiting for the pictures all week. I’m convinced… next one will be a home birth! You are so lucky to have 5 beautiful girls and to have a super quick labour!! Congrats!! ๐Ÿ™‚

May 2, 2012 - 1:12 pm

Katherine What a beautiful story. Congratulations! What a blessing to have such lovely little girls.

May 2, 2012 - 1:05 pm

Sharon Galashan Wow, that is so beautiful. I hope I can manage to capture a few moments like this when our next one comes in the next month! Thanks for sharing this!

May 2, 2012 - 1:00 pm

Angela Tears in my eyes. I am expecting in a few months and ready your story and showed the pictures to my 16 month old daughter. She smiled and was so excited to see the baby. I showed her your tummy before the baby…. and told her how the baby comes out of the mommy’s tummy. She kept smiling, pointing and squealing. Thank you for sharing. Was so neat to be able to show my daughter. Lets hope she is as accepting of a new sibling as Lovelyn is.

May 2, 2012 - 12:02 pm

Tami Biancini Absolutely incredible!! Makes me want to have a fourth, and a home birth!! Congratulations to you all, you have a beautiful family!! God Bless you all.

May 2, 2012 - 11:00 am

melissa What a beautiful blog post…. the emotion pours right through and the pictures truly capture the emotions you were feeling. Awesome… thank you for sharing

May 2, 2012 - 10:44 am

Jennifer L Ohh my gosh! What a great way to enter the world :). That last pic REALLY got me! So, so, so beautiful. You are all very lucky to have each other. xo

May 2, 2012 - 10:20 am

Evelyn Gebele I cried and still crying writing this! Thank you for sharing this wonderful miracle with all of us! You have a beautiful family! May God bless you all! <3

May 2, 2012 - 9:45 am

Heather Wow, there was no way to get through that without tearing up. Such an amazing experience for you, I’m so glad it was everything you had hoped and wished for <3

May 2, 2012 - 9:23 am

Miranda By far—- the most beautiful photos (and story) you have ever shared! Simply breathtaking…. Like your mom, I cried too! What an amazing miracle- each one different, precious and perfect! xoxo

May 2, 2012 - 9:03 am

Jojo Smith Of course….I cried. Wow – the wonder of God. Thank you so much for sharing such a truly, massive and precious experience like this with us. Thanking Jesus with you ๐Ÿ™‚ xo

May 2, 2012 - 8:55 am

Rachel Tears flowing here too and it’s not even 6am yet! What an amazing (can’t think of a better word but I know there is one) experience for you all. Wow! Congratulations, congratulations, congratulations!!

May 2, 2012 - 8:45 am

Laura Lovegrove Beautiful, thank you for sharing

May 2, 2012 - 8:43 am

Jamie Simply Amazing! I am so glad you shared this miracle. The picture of you in the tub, holding Abby’s hand actually gave me goose bumps!

May 2, 2012 - 8:42 am

Brenda (Gillian’s Mom) Gillian!!! I cried and gulped through this whole story!!! How precious and how wonderful!!! I love that it was so amazing … you deserve that “easy” birth!!! You and Abby both deserve this wonderful blessing of a new daughter!! God is soooo good and we thank Him for the safe arrival of Leia!! The heart is just pounding right now … this is such a lovely precious moment. Thanks for journalling it so that we could all be a part of it! Love you guys xo
PS You make birthing seem so easy .. LOL

May 2, 2012 - 8:33 am

Nancy Gillian…amazing…my tears are flowing with joy for you and the entire family. How precious it must have been to share this with the girls and Abby in such an intimate setting…your L’s are all beautiful and I couldn’t be happier for such a sweet and loving family…God Bless you all!! xo

May 2, 2012 - 8:32 am

Amypamela This post was my favourite one yet. I loved every single word and image, it was just a perfect way to capture Leia’s birth day. Thank you so much for this glimpse into your lives. You are truly blessed, as you already know.

May 2, 2012 - 8:27 am

Tara C SO beautiful!!!! Thank you so much for sharing such an intimate day with us! Isn’t God’s timing perfect?? PRAISE GOD for bringing another beautiful little angel into the world!

May 2, 2012 - 8:19 am

Jill Beautiful. Congratulations. You are so very blessed. Thank you so much for sharing your life with us all.