Today I have the very special treat of introducing my first guest blogger.

Virginia is going to tell you a little about the birth of Joy!

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Hello, Friends and Family!!!

At 8:12 Pm on 6/10/08, Joy Alison Paris was born in Chicago, IL. At 8:13, she took her first breath.

Stats:
8lb 6oz
20.5 inches
14 inch head circumference
full head of dark brown hair*
dark blue eyes w/ brown center *
Gemini Sun/ Virgo Moon/ Capricorn Rising
Very healthy
Adorable

*subject to change, as newborn hair color/type and eye color often change in the first months of life

Joy Alison Paris

Joy is the first reaction Brian and I both had upon discovering I was pregnant, so when I was looking through baby names, Joy popped out at me. Plus, I love the idea of bringing Joy into the world. It feels so beautiful. When I was nearing full-term, I enjoyed saying, “I am full of Joy.” Also, she is born into the world with many great songs written for her. “Ode to Joy” is a great example.

Alison is a friend of mine and Brian’s. She is a friend we both love very much, and has played a big role in both of our lives. Brian and I would not likely know each other had it not been for Alison. Joy would not be born if Brian and I had not become friends while working on Prairie Fire, the PBS show that Alison produced. While I was working at WILL in Urbana, Alison took me under her wing. In just over two years, I went from a fairly inexperienced Production Assistant to a reasonably skilled videographer, producer and editor. She is an amazing woman, a brilliant producer, and a sensational mother. Her kids are bright, happy, healthy and radiant. I hope I can be as good of a mother as her.

Paris… Many people do not know this, but I will be changing my name to Paris in the coming months. No, Brian and I are not getting married. But, I have felt for some time that I needed a new name. Taking on a new last name marks a fresh legacy in my life, a legacy I choose. Virginia Paris has an excellent ring. Brian and I are “Team Paris,” as we begin out Joy’s life.

Labor Summary

At 6:15 AM, on 6/10/08, my water partly broke. At apx. 6:35, contractions started. Between 8 and 9, the contractions got really intense. Between 10-11, Brian brought me to the hospital, 100% effaced and 3cm dilated. Jen, one of my doulas, met me there and helped to get me settled. Shortly, we were joined by Eusebia, my other doula, and Maureen, my midwife. Although I did spend some time laboring in the tub as I had always wanted to do, I also moved around the room quite a bit and tried lots of positions. The birth was 100% natural, no drugs. I was successfully able to use the meditation/trance skills I have to cope with the pain.

I am very proud of myself that I never got mean. I felt irritable sometimes, but I did not lash out at anyone. My team was amazing. Often, they just gave me the space I wanted to do my own thing, but whenever I needed anything, they moved as a well-oiled machine. I felt well taken care of. Brian was awesome, and worked in synch with everything else that was going on. His presence was very calming for me. And, they all tell me I did very well. I took direction from Maureen when she gave it, and I worked really hard. Often when Maureen would suggest a position change, it would hurt more than the previous position, but would be more effective. The closest I got to meanness is when I said to her (at about 8cm) that, “If I didn’t think you were amazing, I would call you a sadist.” She thought it was funny how I could occasionally go from a pure non-verbal trance state to being very lucid and clear. Apparently, that’s unusual during transition.

I pushed for 2 hours. There ended up being maconium, which was scary. The baby came out dark purple and gunky. The nurses took her away to suction her mouth (before she tried to breath in) and clean her up. Within a minute, she was breathing. Within 5-10 minutes, she was making noises and wiggling like crazy. This was a very scary time for me, but the nurses were amazing. They were very loving to Joy as they took care of her, and 20 minutes after she was born, she had fully recovered and was ready to come into my arms.

Joy, the person

Joy is a very bright baby. While she was being cleaned up, I talked to her from across the room. Her head swiveled my direction. She is very strong. While they were finishing up cleaning her, she was wiggling so much they joked that she might manage to escape their little table. She seems to be overall a very happy baby. When she is awake, she seems very curious, and her big eyes roam everywhere. She does fuss some, but is not too difficult to calm. She likes eating a lot, and is a pretty good sleeper. She loves being held, and gets upset after a little while when she is not being held. This works for me, because of my parenting philosophies, so I hold her as much as I possibly can.

So far, the transition into parenthood is going pretty smoothly. I have been able to sleep an adequate amount so far, and so I’m not too worn out. Brian and I both are doing well with Joy, and are learning very quickly about how she likes things. Brian, in fact, is amazing, and is great at calming her and being goofy with her in a super-loving way. He patented the “yes” style of soothing. Instead of making “shh-shh” noises at her when she cries, he says, “yes, yes, yes” to her. I modified it, and repeat, “yeah.” I love this, because it’s soothing, and at the same time affirming. I feel like we are affirming her right to express her feelings however she wants to, even as we attempt to calm her. I love it. I am enjoying this whole process a lot!!!

Pretty Baby

Joy is the prettiest baby of all time. And, I’m not just saying it because I’m her mom!! It’s actually true. Newborns are supposed to be squishy and funny-looking, but she’s not. She is so beautiful, I can’t stop staring at her!