In which my sister becomes a mother

Two weeks ago today, as I was pushing the kids out the door in order to make my 9.15 Friday spin class, I got THE call. Well, actually, I had already missed two calls within a five minutes span from my Mom. So after shuffling everyone outside and off the porch, I immediately called her back and heard those amazing, panicky, overly exciting words:  I THINK LIBBA IS IN LABOR.

And believe it that I literally stopped mid-stride and got all hushed and said, How do you know? Like, Don’t toy with me, Mom. This is SERIOUS STUFF.

Because for the past eight months I have talked to my sister at least five days out of the week, and about 72-percent of all our conversations have revolved around her becoming a MOTHER. It is the absolute most earth-shattering thing that can ever happen to you. And the thought of my sister experiencing that insanely overwhelming moment of finally meeting her baby made me so happy I’d just randomly burst into a smiles over it. Libba! A Mom! A brand new baby! Awesome!

So getting this phone call of course made my heart leap into my throat. Mom then followed those powerful words with:  But I think she’s mad at me. And I was all, WHAT’S GOING ON? And Mom informed me that Lib had just talked to her on the phone and she thought that she might have broken her water and that she was going to the hospital to get everything checked out. And then in Mom’s excitement, she messaged my Dad and her sister Jane who each then sent a text to Libba. And because my sister was right in the thick of thinking I AM ABOUT TO PUSH A BABY OUT OF ME! she snapped back at my Mom saying MOM! I am not even sure I’m in labor now! Don’t tell anyone!

And I totally remember from my first pregnancy that fear that I’d get all worked up only to have them turn you away at Labor and Delivery with false labor. And I knew Libba was scared this wasn’t IT. But if her water was really breaking, then it was IT. And what Mom described about Lib to me was the same situation I had going into labor with Luke. SO THIS IS IT! At least in my mind I convinced myself it was.

But after hearing how she snapped at my Mom, I was too scared to actually call her at that moment. You don’t want to upset a pregnant lady, especially one who’s having contractions. So while sitting in our driveway I frantically sent her a text, knowing her phone was in her hand, and this was the exchange:

Me:  Just heard from Mom and very anxious to talk to you but don’t want to bother you. Sounds like same thing I had with Luke.

Her:  We’re going to L&D to get checked and will let everybody know then.

Yeah. She was FREAKING OUT. And about two minutes after sending that she called me en route and just explained what was going on. She sounded very excited, but trying hard to feign indifference just in case this was a false alarm. And I got that. So I just reminded her how much I loved her and how amazing she was and how that if this was IT that she was totally gonna rock it.

But of course from that moment on, I just knew that IT was happening. My sister was in LABOR! The baby was coming. And I had this overpowering feeling that I needed to go see them. So when Dirk finally messaged me a few hours later to confirm that, Yes, Lib’s water had broken and that Baby South was coming soon, I immediately called Chris at work and let him know what was going on. And when he responded with, Well, YOU should be there! I cried out, YES! I REALLY WANT TO BE THERE! And he answered back, I’ll be home in an hour. Start packing.

And, OH MY GOODNESS!, you better believe I worked magic in those next sixty minutes. I finished my grocery shopping, made the kids lunch, threw clothes in a bag and even managed to shower, and then I kissed everyone goodbye and thanked Chris about a billion times. I had never planned on being able to be there with my sister for this life-changing moment. And the fact that I was going to be meeting my niece in just hours made my heart leap into my throat.

So I may have sped just a tad on the five and a half hour journey. I was smart. But I was FAST. And I didn’t have anybody in the car with me, so the stops were limited. I kept getting text updates from Dirk on Lib’s progress, that I had to read and respond to with SIRI – See! I am a smart driver! – but I was able to keep conversations with both Mom in Iowa and Lib’s bestie, Mary Claire, whom kept me in the loop.

As I crossed into Georgia, Lib got her epidural. She was dilated to seven centimeters as I sat in Atlanta rush hour traffic. By the time I got to the Alabama border, she was ready to start pushing and they both turned their phones off. And then the next hour and a half were the longest ever. I got into Birmingham only to get stuck in another time zone’s after-work traffic, and while stuck on 459, I finally got the call from my Mom that Parker Grace Blackwell South had been born. And that she was perfect.

As planned, I detoured to my Aunt Jane’s house, which was minutes from the hospital, and had a celebratory glass of wine with her and my cousins, Sarah and Matt. I was vibrating with excitement and anticipation in seeing my sister and meeting my niece. So when I finally got a message from Dirk saying they were ready for company, I almost jumped out of my skin.

And I when I walked into their room and saw my sister holding a two-hour old precious little baby, I burst into tears. And just thinking about that moment right now, where I met Parker Grace and seeing my little sister become a mother still brings tears to my eyes. Libba had never looked more beautiful, and both her and Dirk were so happy that their smiles were radiating throughout the room.

Oh Parker! She is so precious. And so tiny. A mere six pounds, nine ounces, little Sweet P was officially the tiniest newborn I had ever held. But she already had me wrapped around her teeny little finger.

It was an amazing weekend. And I felt so blessed to be able to be there and experience it with my sister and Dirk. Their lives are forever changed in the most wonderful, tremendous way possible, and I am lucky in that I get to say that I was there for it. And I will always be grateful that I was able to share in that moment. Thank you, South Family! I love you to the moon and back!