Just love these...

Isla's First Week

One of baby's first outings: Blue State!

Happy & alert

Nico loves me!

Early morning time with dad!

My finger found my mouth!

Papa Longinotti we miss you! Do I look bigger?

Isla's first day

Meeting dad!

In awe!

Meeting Nonna & Papa!

Isla with her Papa Longinotti

Hands are almost always near her face

Home from the hospital!

Nascita

On Saturday morning June 20th, Isla was born as the sun was rising to a beautiful summer day. The first signs of labor began early Friday morning but were infrequent and mild. It was unclear if I was actually in early labor, or having false labor contractions. By Friday evening around 6, contractions became regular and increasingly closer together. Dinner plans with our friends Bern & Todd changed to take out, and movie plans changed to an evening of dealing with the increasing discomfort of my contractions. Bern & Todd stayed on for the show. Elise, the labor whisperer, one of my midwives and an amazing friend, came over at some point in the evening and encouraged and assisted me in ways I will never be able to describe.

Walking in East Rock with me dropping to my knees for a contraction, several showers to alleviate some of the pain, back rubs from Bern, leaning on the yoga ball, and amazing support from Taylor, these were the events of our Friday night. We left for the hospital at a point when I thought I would never manage to survive crossing the lawn to get in the car let alone a car ride. Bern drove, running red lights, I was on hands & knees in the back seat with Taylor- me moaning out the open window with each contraction. We arrived at the hospital around 3 am and my amazing midwives, Linda and Elise (I had two since Elise stayed on with me), Alyssa my RN, Bernadette and Taylor orchestrated an amazing atmosphere, subtle and nurturing, as I let go with each contraction and came closer to meeting our baby. I will never in my life be able to fully describe the details, of which I was only sometimes consciously aware, of the care and support this amazing group of individuals provided me during the most amazing and most challenging experience I have ever had in my life. In between what would be my final two pushes, I watched the sun rise in the window of the hospital room- and within minutes my life changed as Isla was passed to me and I held her in my arms. We are absolutely in love!

Isla was born completely encased in her unbroken bag of water. This is called being born in the caul. The amniotic sac, or bag of water, is like a veil over the face of the baby. This is considered a highly auspicious birth, with a variety of meanings in different cultures and traditions. It is very rare, and considered that the individual born in the caul will have a life of good luck and many blessings. She may be a mystic, a healer, destined for great things. Very special indeed!