The newest Sabera

Our little African Violet arrived Saturday morning, February 12th, weighing in at a whopping 9 lbs 4 oz. She was born at home (the first baby born at Green Acre in quite some time) and across the street from where her big sister made her appearance. Twelve days with our little flower and we are so ridiculously in love. Born half in the water, half out, she never made a sound; simply curled up on my chest, seemingly fast asleep, seemingly here all along. You have to admire that in a newborn- unperturbed by the sudden and dramatic entry into a new world.

My labor started Friday night, and by 1 am Samaya had joined the party, refusing to miss out on the excitement. While I sung Amazing Grace through contractions in the bathroom (I don't know--it just needed to be done), Samaya and Sisay sung Baa Baa Black Sheep and everything else they could think of in the bedroom. My mother came and took her at 4:30 and just in time because I really needed Sisay by then. I stayed in the birth tub for the last three hours, keeping the rising winter sun always in view from our living room window. If the morning could usher in the sun, I was confident it would also welcome this child. At 8 am, Violet Olivia was born face up. Her shoulders never turned and came out in line with her head (which made for the half out of water birth since I had to stand up and push her body out with every ounce of my being). It was intense and beautiful and everything I could have wished for.

Sisay was the epitome of confidence and calm. Samaya was safely in the hands of my mother and sister. And when I think of our midwife Brenda, tears come to my eyes. I am so eternally grateful to her for being fully present, yet unobtrusive, incredibly capable, yet always humble, a steady support, yet fully trusting in my own ability to birth my child. I cannot express how much I love and admire her, as well as our two other midwives who could not be present. A special relationship is inevitably formed when one witnesses you naked, sweating, screaming, excreting every known bodily fluid from all possible openings, and ultimately birthing your very own child. Such things cannot and should not be shared with just anyone. We love you all so much!

So far Violet has cumulatively slept more than Samaya has to date, screams just as loudly, and is just as gorgeous. But OH BOY, two children sure does seem like 100. Sisay has already declared that the next one will come when the others have left for college. All I have to say is thank God for grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends.