First Breath

Meet Edison Kale Huntington.

Birth Day: August 31, 2012 @ 7:53am.  Weight: 9 lbs. 7 oz.  Length: 21.5".

 Some of his first pictures.  A word of CAUTION:  If you get queasy at the sight of blood, you may not want to see the remainder of this post.  Don't say I didn't warn you.

Mamita Eloisita and her latest grandson.

His first breaths of air.   This first photo just melts my heart.  In his strong Daddy's arms.

The three most beautiful and patient women who attended my birth.  Trinette was my midwife on the right and the other two gals, Taya and Rachel, were the student midwives assisting her.  She's had 6 children, 5 of which were also home births.  I love these women and what they do.

Sorry if these things make anyone queasy.  But it's my blog.  So I can do what I please.  Having a home birth allows me the opportunity to see my placenta and keep it.  Rather than have someone dump it or make strange cosmetics out of it, I can choose what happens to it.

In the past, I've always enjoyed investigating this fascinating organ that my body creates.  It's somewhat sad to part with when I realize that this was how my baby and I were connected in so many ways.    Many midwives and people who do home births call it the "Tree of Life."  In the past, I never really thought of it that way.  But when you can actually see the many vessels, so carefully woven together, that bring oxygen to and from this precious life you carry, it's no wonder they call it that.  Call me crazy, but this time i decided to make what's known as a placenta print.

And I love how the print does indeed look like a beautiful, fiery, Autumn tree.  Perfect for a baby born in August.  

And this is what Utah's trees look like at this time of year.   See the resemblance?  Many cultures in the past and present bury the placenta and grow fruit trees over it.  They do this because of how they nourish the soil with the nutrient-rich blood and allow for life to continue to grow.  This, to me, is amazing.  God's plan of life eternal is so carefully crafted that there's no doubt in my mind he is an artist.

 The tradition of our family that every baby is privileged to have his/her hair washed first by Daddy.  So as tradition would have it, Edison gets his hair washed.

And this was a first and most exciting thing for me to have these precious oils to use at Edison's birth.  I was able to anoint my son's head with Frankincense . . .

and apply Myrrh to his umbilical wound.

Hinckley is thrilled to be a big brother.  He loves and kisses all over this baby.

Orion is just as thrilled.

 Grandma was finally able to attend one of her grandchildren's births.  Proud Grandma.

Proud Grandpa too.

Some of the many Edison Expressions to come.

And I love this new Baby Pod swaddling blanket.

Happy Birthday Edison Kale!  We love you so very much already.  I'm still working on the birth story. So that will be coming soon.  :)