If there is one big theme for this decade of my life—filled to the max with a repeating cycle of pregnancy, birth, and baby (5 times!)—it’s that God has been good to me.
The morning of Nelson Aaron’s birth started out like most days this pregnancy, with a hot cup of tea and a sunrise walk. I’d spent many early mornings out walking and praying for this baby: his heart and mind, his hands and feet, his future and his faith. But on this particular day, December 19th, I felt like being quiet, like I had prayed through every detail already, and now it was time to wait and see how things would unfold. All I prayed was, “Please, please, please God, show your favor on us.”
I had contractions on and off through the morning and early afternoon while I ran errands and fed the kids lunch, but couldn’t figure out if I was really in labor or not. I wasn’t due for three more days and our other babies all held out till 41 weeks. The last thing I expected was an early baby. But by 3pm, I was pretty sure my contractions were real. Adam was practically begging me to call the midwives (with Autumn I waited too long and the midwives almost missed the birth), so I did, and his parents came to pick up the kids. Once the house was quiet, Adam went to work getting out the birth kit while I walked around the house. I slowly straightened each child’s bed and remembered each birth story, pictured each little face. I thought about the midwives, driving down from Gainesville, and Adam’s sister Aron (also a midwife), driving to our house from across town. Soon the house would be filled with people to help me have this baby. But no one could do it for me. I took a very deep breath. I walked over to the baby’s bed and looked at his tiny newborn diapers. I closed my eyes and thought about that moment—please God let it be soon!—when I would first hold this baby in my arms.
A little after 4pm, the midwives arrived and told me I was 7-8cm. At 5:30 or so, my contractions really picked up. Through each one I stood and leaned against Adam. I knew we were getting close. All of a sudden my water broke and I got down on my knees next to the bed (the easiest position for birth, in my opinion) and in one long push, at 6:02pm, our baby was out and in my arms! He cried right away, and so did I. Every little anxiety, every worry that had crossed my mind sometime during the past nine months dissolved the instant I pressed him up against my neck. Total bliss. We named him Nelson Aaron, Nelson after my oldest brother, and Aaron after Adam’s older sister, two of our very favorite people.
Later that night, after the midwives had gone home and we’d called our parents and texted our friends, after we’d shared a fancy bottle of wine with Aron and her husband Ryan, after we’d studied little Nelson’s every feature and taken a ridiculous amount of pictures, Adam and I climbed into bed. He and Nellie were both sound asleep immediately, but I lay there awake for a long time, floating on the natural birth high, willing myself to remember every little detail of the day.
It’s been a few weeks since our Nellie was born, weeks full of newborn cuddles and kisses, but also sleep deprivation, my usual breastfeeding struggles, a few hospital trips to check for jaundice (including one on Christmas Eve), and meltdowns from the other kids as they adjust to our new normal as a family of seven. Regular life isn’t easy. We pray for things and so often God seems quiet. Sometimes He flat out says no. We open the Bible and it tells us to expect suffering and embrace our trials. But then there are other times, times when we ask God for something—maybe even a big something!—and out of His extravagant goodness, He gives it to us. And this is where I want to live: camped out on my answered prayers, filled with gratitude, always remembering what God has done for me.
On the day of little Nelson’s birth God said yes and yes and yes to us, and I’m going to treasure it forever.
“How amazing are the deeds of the Lord! All who delight in him should ponder them. Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty. His righteousness never fails. He causes us to remember his wonderful works. How gracious and merciful is our Lord!” – Psalm 111:1-4
I am praising God with you that you had such a peaceful and gentle beginning to Nelson’s arrival! It was such an honor that you would want me to take part in it, and I am moved beyond words over your decision to give my name to one of your sons. Makes me teary even now. It was such a beautiful evening! A gift from God!
Love you each so much. Kiss those sweet cheeks for me and tell that little man his auntie loves him!
I’m SO glad you made it this time. Don’t you love how he waited until the day you flew in? And it was extra special to tell you his name in person.
Love you Aron!
Beautiful story. Gorgeous boy!! Rejoicing with you!
Nicely written, Linni. And nicely done on little Nelson’s D-day! You are a pro.
We are blessed beyond measure.
Wow! What a story! After Elis was born I have understood more and more about giving birth and every one is so special. It sounds peaceful to be home with midwives but that hadnt been my choice here in Sweden. Love the hospital and since what happens on the 10th day after his birth I’m happy I was in the hospital for birth from start so they knew what had happened.
Love across the sea to our little ew cousin!!
Malin
Thanks Malin. I’m so happy you have your little Elis now. Hopefully we can meet him sometime soon!
Fantastic blog, Linni! Nice to read the timeline on the day of the birth…
Great seeing you and little Nellie too! Bless you guys. Please tell Adam and the kids hello for me.
Love,
Nel
I love your talent for showing up at just the right time. It was really great having you meet your little namesake while he so tiny! Thanks for coming all this way and putting up with our chaos for a few days, ha ha.
Linnea God blessed you with a sweet and quick delivery. Wow. That’s amazing!!! I love how you walked around your quiet house straightening up their beds and thinking of them.
Thanks Mendy! Hopefully we can get together soon.
Loved reading his birth story. Hope to meet him soon. I agree with your mom, you are a pro. Love your sweet family.
Ha! I am no pro, that’s for sure. I miss seeing you, Kim! Maybe next time you’re in Ocala you can swing by our house…
Thanks so much for sharing! Wish we lived closer… I would love for our kids to play while we enjoyed a cup of coffee while we chat about how we manage all these kids! This story is so beautiful… You’re right, showing God’s extravagant strength and goodness and love in your life! We rejoice with you today! I love his name and I love how much he looks like nelson too! LOL
Awww Dan, that would be so great! Maybe you guys should take a vacation down here sometime soon.
THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL! Nelson Aaron IS Beautiful, as is all his brothers & sisters. Thank you for sharing that special day with us. I love the way you describe our God at the end. I have to agree with you on that. I have experienced God’s grace, mercy and favor to the point that I can see him even in what to most would seem to be small, unnoticeable little things, but where I know, that I know, that I KNOW, it was ALL GOD favoring us. In which only continues to make it SO EASY to want to live and delight ONLY in God’s will for us….in the Good or in the bad, because He is Good ALL the time and ALL the time he is Good.
AND HOW ABOUT THAT PICTURE OF THE FIVE OF YOUR KIDDOS?!!!! O•M•GOSH!!! How awesome to catch them ALL smiling/laughing with their mouths open AT THE SAME TIME!! Too cool & too Sweet wrapped up in one. May the Lord’s blessing and favor continue to overflow in each and every one of you.
Thanks for your sweet words about our family! Sometime I’ll have to bring all the kids by the office to meet you.
Such a beautiful accounting, Linni, of this most precious time in yours and Adam’s lives.
Yes, God has truly blessed you both, your children, and it has definitely spilled over onto the rest of this family. I feel so VERY privileged to be witness to it all, and the prophecy God gave me for you. I marvel at that day, with the birth of every one of these precious babies! I stand in AWE of our God of creativeness, life, and His love -beyond-human-comprehension.
I love that God has given you the gift of ‘expression in words’ – like your mom. It is a treasure – just as YOU are. thank you for sharing it!
I can’t stop thanking God for such a beautiful ending to such a traumatic year in my life.
‘Nels’ is so beautiful to look at, delight to hold, and I can hardly wait to watch his little personality start to develop. God has some AWESOME plans for him.!
I’m quite sure that the new ‘family routine’ will be a challenge to settle into, but know this, “whatever God calls you to do, He prepares you for, provides for, promotes and protects”…your prayers are most definitely heard, answered accordingly, and HE IS ALWAYS PRESENT!
This great-grammy loves each one of you so VERY<VERY much…..and as I've said before – "it is a JOY to be a part of your lives, watch you and Adam with the children, and – yes, God has given you great favor"!
Love you, be blessed,
GG
GG, your comment brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for always encouraging us and loving our little family.