Ellie shot me another look.
I sat down in the chair and just stared at the doctor.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. You just look really young. Please forgive me. ”
He let out a laugh and looked at the monitor.
“Ellie, can you feel the contractions at all?”
“I can feel pressure. ”
“Okay. Well I’m going to take a look to see how you’re coming along, okay?”
Ellie nodded her head.
After a few minutes he stood back up and smiled.
“Ellie, are you ready to get this show on the road?”
Ellie smiled. “Yes. ”
“Then, let’s get little bear out and into the big world, so he can meet his mommy and daddy. ”
I jumped up. “What? Now? We’re going now?”
Dr. Johnson looked at me as he took a few steps toward me. “Dude, it’s going to be alright. Take deep breaths and just be there for your wife. I’ve got the baby part down. I wouldn’t want you to pass out again. ” He winked at me before he turned to the nurse and started talking to her.
Damn it, Gramps. What? Is he just walking around telling everyone?
***
For the next three hours, I stood next to Ellie while she exhausted herself from pushing. Finally, at two minutes after four, I heard the first cries from our baby.
“Well, your little bear is a girl. Congratulations, y’all. ” Dr. Johnson said as he held up our baby for us to see.
When I looked at Ellie, she was crying. I felt the tears rolling down my face as I looked over at little bear. She was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen in my life.
Dr. Johnson asked, “Mr. Mathews, would you like to cut the umbilical cord?”
Speechless, I just nodded my head with a smile.
***
A nurse took the baby over to a table to clean her up. While the doctor was fixing up Ellie, she kept looking around him to watch the nurse was doing.
After the doctor was done with Ellie, he helped her to sit up.
The nurse came over, holding my sweet baby girl.
“Dad, your daughter would like to meet you face to face. ”
I held out my arms as the nurse placed my little bear gently in them. She looked up at me and yawned. My heart was pounding hard in my chest. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. Her beautiful blue eyes embraced me heart and soul. She was just staring up at me. In that moment, I knew that she would always trust me to take care of her and to love her unconditionally. I’d die before I’d ever let anyone or anything hurt her.
Ellie was now sitting up all the way, and I looked over at her. She had tears running down her face. I turned and slowly put our baby girl in her arms.
They just stared at each other, like they knew what the other was thinking. I was in awe of the exchange. The baby didn’t even cry. She just stared up Ellie.
“Hello, Alexandra Eryn Mathews. I’ve waited a long to time meet you, baby girl,” Ellie said.