Happy Birthday, Eli!

18 January, 2010

My baby is 2.

Two years ago this evening, I was sitting in a blow up pool in my candlelit garage with Nick by my side. Nate was sleeping over at his cousin's place and Maya was sound asleep in bed. It was my third day of labour, just like my other two, and set to be a nighttime birth, just like my other two. Eli made his appearance at 10:15pm, 1:45 shy of his January 19th "due date". He was born peacefully into warm water to his eagerly awaiting parents. We wrapped him up and held him close and he drank milk and slept, and that was his introduction to the world. No harsh lights, no strangers, no drugs, no separation. We appraised him and decided, yep, that's about right, and estimated his birth weight to be 8 pounds and 7 ounces like his brother and sister had been, because he looked and felt the same size. His birth story has been published in Simply Give Birth by Heather Cushman-Dowdee.

Eli is a lucky little boy in the sibling stakes. They both adore him. His sister, 2 1/2 years his senior, is incredibly understanding and nurturing. His brother is old enough now to be able to appreciate Eli's babyness and is more patient with him than he was able to be with Maya when she was the baby 2 years and 8 months his junior. We just love him.

For Eli's birthday, we had lunch at a place we had been given a lunch special flyer for ($5 burgers and $2.50 middies of Byron Bay beer) as we were walking down the street. It is an out of the way but still close to the action place called Buddha Bar, a lunchery by day and happening music venue by night. It was a beautiful place, really nice to be in.

We bought a simple cake as we couldn't find anything wholesome or organic other than by the slice at cafes. Oh well. It was enjoyed.



Thank you to everyone who sent birthday wishes! It's nice to know that Eli was in your thoughts. He's a special little kid.