Happy third birthday to my boy.
Three years ago.
I was 40 weeks and 5 days (ish). I woke up early and lost my mucus plug, so I knew he was coming. We took Sol to see Santa Claus for 10am. We got there early because I had to get home to… ya know, have a baby. We were at the very front of the line, naturally. Me— with my pad in, clutching my tummy every few minutes as the warm up contractions began, made sure no one pushed in front. We took a quick pic with Santa before he said ‘you’re getting another baby for Christmas!’. I said ‘mate, I’m having another baby today.’
It was super warm- close to 40 degrees Celsius. We hung outside, taking our last preggy family photos. We have a video at 2:30pm, us saying ‘you’ll be here soon baby brother, we can’t wait to meet you.’ After that, Mum took Sol for a swim in the pool, Erik slowly got the pool ready, and I laboured quietly in the loungeroom… writing, moving, breathing.
This is what I wrote while labouring-- it's still in the notes section of my phone!
40.5
It’s 2:43pm... I’m in early labor. I woke up at 4am this morn with strong cramps. At first I thought it was part of my dream and then I went to grab my phone so it was next to me for if/when it progressed. I managed to sleep again, then woke up at 6 and it kicked off again. I sat on the toilet and Sol came in- funnily enough we filmed a video (her in the shot, not me) for her babysitter in London who she really missed. While we were filming it, my mucus plug came out- I didn’t realize til I stood up to wipe. That’s when I knew, we are ON!
It continued similarly throughout the morn- strong cramps with no particular rhythm. We decided we’d go about our day as normal but try to be home for most of it. We went to see Santa in Claremont for the 10am pic- i was cramping (mild contractions I’d call them) while standing in the line making sure everyone knew no one was skipping ahead- lol. I’d have to tell them ‘I’m in early labour. I don’t look like it, but i am’. I was wearing a giant pad so when we saw Santa I couldn’t sit down- I just knelt awkwardly as if to say ‘you might get a nice show all over the floor or mucus, amniotic fluid, blood or even a baby!’
We made it home, Mum took sol for a walk, she then napped, Erik and I watched kath and Kim and then... the cleaners came. They seemed to vacuum 15x more than usual. So I just paced up and down outside in the sun. It is 38 degrees Celsius here today. The cramps have picked up to what I’d definitely call contractions now... Mum and sol and Erik are in the pool outside so I can focus and time them. The birth pool is in the living area now- Erik put clary sage, geranium and lavender on the diffuser. Also, my orgone necklaces arrived today. I was wearing one in Sols birth and gave one after to........ contraction.i gave one to jo and Nads and also my mum. I lost mine on a train in Italy and was gutted. Especially when jo arrived to Perth and said she’d worn hers to every birth since sol’s 2.5 years ago! Amazing they arrived today. I got two extras so now everyone in the house has one on- Erik and sol, nanna and me. Jo too :)
This is the exact day 40.5 sol was born last time. If this labour ticks over til tmoro he’ll be 40.6. But who honestly knows. Last night I told Erik before bed that I thought he’d go til December 9... it’s now December 4. Maybe my ‘letting go’ helped. Honestly, who knows! Crazy how similar the experience has been to hers so far, except now there’s a toddler energy to navigate in the birth space too. I don’t know what she’ll be like but I trust she’ll just know- she gets it. I’ve told her she can get into the pool once he’s born. She said She wants to wear her goggles (cutest).... go for it, girlfriend.
The contractions aren’t super regular right now but 5-7 mins apart. Hoping he’s born today cos it’s pretty strong already. ‘Wait a minute before I change Spotify to play the next wiggles Christmas song’ kinda strong. Whereas earlier, I was able to talk to Santa AND gave a contraction at the same time. Aren’t we amazing? Yes we are. So amazing. Come on baby boy! Over and out for me now. Hopefully in a few hours I’ll have my boy in my arms and we’ll be celebrating with coconut water, maternity pads and oxytocin a’plenty. Xx
Around 3:40pm, my midwife Jo arrived, and soon after, I returned from the toilet with a sweat moustache. We knew he was ready to roll. At this point, Sol also walked inside. She intuitively knew that it was time. I told her that if I go really quiet, that means he's almost here and that she shouldn't worry if I can't answer her for that period. She said to me 'Mum! Mum! Mum!', before then saying 'Mum's ok. The baby is coming.' She then came and stood right behind me, who was on all fours. Moments earlier, right after exiting the bathroom with my 'this is transition' sweat moustache, I had laid a bluey and some towels on the ground and got on all fours. The intensity of the transition took me over, and then I felt the overwhelming urge to push. As I did, the waters broke, and out came our 10 pound big, beautiful baby boy as if on a slippery slide. On the wall I had written ‘I am a happy lubricated slippery bub slide’. Turns out both Pax and God were a step ahead. He was born just after 4:30pm.
Sol watched like a calm, wise midwife and declared ‘I’m a big sister! Let’s put his clothes on. Where’s his eyebrows?'
Today we celebrate three years of our beautiful, kind, hilarious, gentle boy. He scoots/rides/lives how he was birthed— fast! Pax has always had a spirit and essence that pierces people's hearts. I feel so, so grateful to be his mum. Motherhood is just the ultimate blessing-- Sol tells me it’s time for twins next.
We celebrated with a party yesterday with family and friends-- I've got that post-kids-party tiredness going on today. I go all out with these things. I got it from my mumma, who did the same. We played Pin the tail on the donkey, pass the parcel, tug of war, and of course the piñata. We made the mistake of putting the biggest kid first, so the piñata game lasted 4 seconds before the mad rush to the floor began.
Pax wanted a blue cake-- so I made my regular suuuuper nutrient dense chocolate cake with blue icing. The blue icing was coconut cream, ripe avocadoes, maple syrup and butterfly pea powder. The kids were apprehensive when I told them there were avos in it, but overall, the earthy flavour went down well (Except for my nephew who scraped the icing off and spat it out into the tea towel when I gave him a taste).
My mum made the 'lolly bags', which were giant lollipops. She got paper plates, put carob bears inside and some other little fun things and wrapped it like a lollypop with a reusable straw as the handle. She's a resourceful one I tell ya.
My mum, sister, sister-in-law, niece and nephew came down for the party and so today we had a quiet morning with them. Pax facetimed his Grammy and Poppy in the USA and I whipped up another cake for today (I couldn't help it). The kids are pooped, but so happy.
Happy birthday my beautiful boy. May you always know and feel how loved you are. Today you are ‘flea!’ (Like ‘three’, but cuter). xx
Happy birthday sweet boy! Can’t wait to meet you and for you to show Tarak your sweet soccer skills. ☺️