Callum Asher Scott Charles

A new phase of our lives started on January 15, with the birth of our first child! He's a beautiful boy, if we do say so ourselves. Although we'd been planning a home birth, we ended up opting for an elective c-section when we were told that his estimated weight was 12lbs 2oz. He was born at 10lbs 11oz; but our decision was validated when it took 3 people to pull him out. He would not have fit the natural way. We are so glad that he is healthy and have been spending as much time as possible getting to know him. It has been challenging at times (days 3 and 4 featured a very frequently crying Mommy and a Daddy who was doing his best to keep us both calm); but we worked as a team to resolve our feeding issues and have been doing much better since then. Callum is now back to his birth weight on day 10, which is great!

I have to say that I didn't think I would be an over-emotional rollercoaster rider when I had a baby - just goes to show how little we can know about ourselves before these huge things happen in our lives. I thought I knew a lot about babies, since I have lots of nieces and nephews and lots of friends with kids; but all of that knowledge did not fully prepare me for being a mother myself. During this adjustment time, which will continue indefinitely, I've had great support from my husband Scott and from countless friends and family members who have shared their stories, cooked us dinner, knitted us hats (well, just for Callum actually) and just lent their support in so many ways. We are truly blessed to have such a solid circle of friends. They say that it takes a village to raise a child and I believe that to be true! I do not know what I would do without people there to talk to, people who will actually listen as I babble on about every little nuance of my experience as a mother! I'm sure that I'll ask their opinions as each new experience comes along; and they will continue to encourage me to trust my instincts and to focus on the joys of being a parent. This is the most challenging, amazing, emotionally important thing that I've ever done!