Smith family // meeting baby Jonah

It's not every day you get to experience watching a mother give birth. As a father of one boy I'd been through this only once before. It is something truly extraordinary, magical, and down right intense. The emotions flowing are a combination of happiness, pain, fear, and pure bliss for both parents.  As a father, I like to adopt the coaching role during the birth. I am passionate about encouraging my wife, Laura, throughout her entire pregnancy. I am pleased to wait on her hand and foot even though throughout the process a request for water can go something like this "Babe, can you please get me a glass of water and transition into WATER, Now!”. I don’t have an idea as to the physical pain she is going through at that time, but I can tell you that God designed women to be strong in this area of life! I would have been balled up on the floor trying to find a way out.

Thoughts were racing through my head time after time.  Our son Elijah is now two years old and full of joy.  He loves trucks, playing outside, and eating lots of good food.  I start thinking to myself "Will Elijah like his little brother?" "Will Elijah think we no longer care for him as much now that we have another baby?" And so on.  We knew the time was coming that Elijah, our only son, was going to meet our new Baby Jonah.

After a long night in the delivery room, I decided to go home and spend my last night alone with my son Elijah. During this time, I began to prep him to meet his new baby brother, Jonah.  I was overwhelmed and anxious to see his response.  Elijah and I got ready and put on his ‘Big Brother’ shirt that mom had picked out and off we went to meet the baby!  We arrived at the hospital and as I was rushed to go show Elijah the new baby. He insisted that we stop at the water fountain prior to going, and in this moment God spoke to me and said "Why rush?”. I knew in this moment that preparing him to meet Baby Jonah had already been done, so why speed up the process?  We rode the elevator to the top floor of the hospital to see the new baby.  As we walked through the double doors, I was overjoyed and tears began to run down my face knowing this special moment was here and we were going to capture it!  The smiles were not expected, but reminded me that if you prepare someone for what they are about to experience in the right mind you will find joy.  Elijah was so excited to see baby Jonah and he ran to give him a hug and kiss.  At that moment, Laura began to shed a few happy tears and all we could do is look at each other smiling. We are blessed beyond belief and are overjoyed that Elijah truly loves his new baby brother. After all, love is what makes this life beautiful.

-Caleb Smith