Dear Midwives,

Thank you so much for your support and encouragement during my pregnancy and labour and for answering many of my questions since Isaac has been born.

Isaac is a sweet and precious child and I'm so happy that his passage into the world was gentle. Thank you for helping to welcome him into our lives.

Right now he's eating (surprise, surprise) and taking a rest from his fidgeting, snorting, cooing, squirming and frantic exploration of the world. He has been smiling a lot these days and is talking more and more.

I appreciate your straight forwardness, patience, kindness and wisdom and feel fortunate to have been a woman who birthed at home with midwives.

It's funny, now looking back on the birthing experience with a detached sort of amnesia. At the time it seemed to be the hardest thing I'd gone through. Now it seems the challenges of my passage into motherhood have been greater. Unlike giving birth, which in its good time ends, suddenly becoming a mother continues day and night and day...

I'm learning a lot about myself with my angel - learning to be more flexible, to laugh more, to get caught up in *now* rather than later, to ignore messes, to really pay attention, to open my eyes as if for the first time, to love without holding back, to (try to) be patient, to play more, to forget about clocks, watches, time and to be totally amazed, in love, surprised, entertained, and in awe of it all. Take great care. Perhaps we'll meet, if we do this again. Claude still wants a girl.

Much love,

Melissa, Isaac, Claude.