My First 30 Minutes

I was born at 8:16 AM on the twelfth day of April, 2007, the same exact time of morning that Mommy was born. I looked around the room, took my first breath of air, and started crying softly. I was fascinated by light, sound, air, and gravity. It was probably a bit of a reflex for me when I cried, because I don't remember being sad. I may have felt a bit scared, but not sad. I didn't cry very loudly because my lungs were a little "wet".

Aside from the ultrasounds of me when I lived in Bellyworld, these are the first two real photographs of me. The first shows me being pulled into the light of day by Dr. Duncan who watches as I take my first breaths of air in the second.





Daddy cut the umbilical cord that tied me to Bellyworld and Dr. Duncan passed me off to a neonatal nurse. I recognized Mommy's voice when she called out for me, "Come here, sweetie pie!" She held me to her heart and gave me a hug, but the nurse grabbed me and took me into a side room.

Daddy stood with Granny and both watched closesly as I got my lungs suctioned. It was not very fun, but it helped me breathe. I weighed 7 pounds 7 ounces and measured 20.25 inches long. That put me in the 75th percentile for height and 50th percentile for weight.

The nurse pulled a little trick on me first though and put me in a scull cap that made me look a silly. Mommy and Daddy love some of the first photographs of me and for that reason, I guess I love them, too! Granny took all the pictures to capture those fabulous moments. I'm glad she did, too, because not many kids remember their first minutes of life and I was able to have mine memorialized through photography.

After scoring a five-minute APGAR of 8 and getting wiped down, diapered, and swaddled tightly, I spent a few minutes in Daddy's arms. He looked pleased to see me safe and sound. He brought me back over to Mommy who was being cared for by Dr. Duncan and obstetric nurse, Cindy. Grandpa looked on as Mommy and Daddy shared views of me.

Granny grabbed me and snuggled me close. I sure hope I am as pretty as she is when I grow up. Her smile made me feel welcome in the world and I knew she loved me at first sight.

Mommy held me for a few minutes! She sure was joyful that I turned out to be a beautiful, healthy baby! I am happy that everyone was so thrilled to see me.

Cindy took Mommy away from me to the bathroom and I got taken to the nursery. Mommy would later be transported by in a wheelchair with a Teddy Bear in her lap and a congratulatory card in hand. She looked at me through the window and smiled. Daddy and Granny and Grandpa were there, smiling also.

Mommy said I was due on April 13th by her recollections and April 15th by the doctor's calculations. I'm not very superstitious so I'm happy I wasn't born on Friday the 13th and even happier I avoided a Tax Day birth! Funny how nobody guessed correctly that I'd be born early on Thursday the 12th!