26

Today was one of the best days of my young fatherhood life. Aden slept deeply all night and Rylan was cooperative with us in our room. We slept in, 6:30, but got an early start after showers. We decided to go out for breakfast and make our way to Belfast to visit the Coop, our favorite grocery store. This was our first grocery trip as a family of four. Aden had fun running up the aisles with a mini-cart and Rylan had fun...peeing. Fortunatly the Coop is an organic store and family friendly; none of the patrons seemed to mind the knee high read head tearing by or blocking the way.

Ciara and I unpacked while Aden hung out side. I eventually went up to the woodshop/garage/barn to open the door so he could go visit with the ducks and chickens. This was time he spent a prolonged period of time outside on his own. I'm sure both grammas would not have been happy had they been around but for Ciara and I was proud moment to see him finding enjoyment in the outdoors and being independent. This is why we live where we do.

This was the first weekend without company. I hadn't really connected with Rylan since his birth. Unlike Aden at that age, Rylan spends most of time asleep, when not nursing. So once I finished unpacking I settled down to enjoy a nap with the little guy. Ciara and I will both miss these times when the boys are young and small enough to fall asleep on us.

On the way home I had a new revelation. We knew on night of Rylan's birth that both Aden and were born on the 26th day of thier birth months (November and January respectively). Today I realized that Aden was exactly 26 months old when Rylan was born. Hmmm. So I googled 26 and found some interesting things on 26. Here are a few:

• Number of letters in the alphabet.
  
• Atomic number of Iron.
• Gematric number of the true name of God - YHWH.
• A Spiral Galaxy in Pegasus.
  
• The number of Spacetime dimensions in the original string theory.
  
• Michigan was the 26th state to foin the Union.
• The age at which males can no longer be drafted.
  

Does this mean you're sick?

Ciara stayed home from work on Monday, what would have been her first planned day of maternity leave. Brandi, who watches Aden during the day, had to cancel due to her kids having the same 24 hour flu that we had had the previous week (Oops! Sorry Brandi.) Tuesday, just before 4:00 A.M., I rolled over and coughed. I had swallowed wrongly and was merely trying to clear my throat. Ciara, who had been denied a real nights sleep for a month because of the alien growing inside of her doing pilates at odd hours, commented with a "tone" in her voice, "Does this mean your sick?". That should have been my first clue. An hour and a half later after we had both showered and I was on my way to work, I commented "Someone's grumpy today." She said to me, "This is the day I'm going to have the baby."

At 11:30 I got a phone call from one of Ciara's friends. "I'm bringing her into the hospital". We arrived at the same time just after noon. Ciara was putting on her gown and getting ready for a physical exam. Beth, the attending nurse was quickly our favorite and we requested that she stay with us. Once we were admitted, I stole a few moments to make some phone calls and take snap or two. Ciara, though in pain during contractions, was calm and as relaxed as I have seen her.Ciara had recently had her haircut, which we both agreed may make birthing easier for her. Notice the big smile on her face, this was at 2:05 in the afternoon, just 15 minutes before the baby would arrive....Ciara's a rockstar.






This birth was some of the best communication between she and I. We had an excellent breathing pattern reminiscent of a crew team. When it was all said and done, I told Ciara that I counted only 3 actual pushes. Rylan Thomas Hargrove was born at 2:20 P.M. It was a textbook delivery,

au natural and Ciara was walking around a short time after.















I highly recommend afternoon deliveries. The doc and nurses were done with much of their work by the early evening. We had time to have a moment with just nuclear family. Aden was not initially impressed with the addition but warmed up as the afternoon wore on to evening. My mother was there as was Aunt Caity. They were tremendous help during this time. With such an "easy" delivery we only had to stay in the hospital for 24 hours. We got home as soon as possible on Wednesday....and how good it was to be home.