oh so big

I haven't been avoiding you all, I swear. Well, maybe I have. I just have so much to share but have been working to put it all into words. As mentioned in a previous post, my little sister, Jessica gave birth to her son, Logan Matthew, on Tuesday, September 4th. I had the pleasure of being with Jess and Matt as she labored her heart out and pushed this beautiful boy into the world. The experience of being with a laboring woman was humbling. I had gone on my own birthing journey only 8 months before but it was quite a different experience being on the observing end, rather than the doing end. While giving birth, I had the benefit of hormones to cloud my world and my memories, making the event a singular shining moment: when nathaniel was laid in my arms for the first time. As an observer of my sister's labor, however, I was 100% there. Each breath that Jess made to work through a contraction, each strain that passed across her brow, each moment of patient waiting for the next rush was clearly defined. It was incredible to be in the presence of such power, such determination, such strength. It was such an honor that Jess and Matt allowed me to be part of this most intimate and incredible of acts: bringing a life into this world. It is all oh so big.

I was thinking the other day how jess was present for nathaniel's birth in January. During that time, she was also pregnant with logan. While nate wasn't in the room during logan's birth, I was acutely aware of his presence in my life from my leaking breasts to his image forever ingrained in my mind, during that moment of first meeting logan. I suppose things such as this always come full circle.

I suppose this is why I put off this post for so long. Words fail me. I am humbled. Enjoy the pictures.