It wasn't all that different that morning two years ago, but it was raining. Cindy woke me up around 5am, said "I think I'm having a baby," and not nearly as panicked as we were with Aidan, we got dressed, jumped in the Jeep and headed off to the hospital. Hell, I was so calm about it all, we stopped off to grab an egg mcmuffin at McDonalds, the smell of which, as Cindy now tells Aidan, made her want to vomit.
At the hospital, despite a desire for natural childbirth, our little baby was "too big" and a c-section was called for. A swift medical procedure later and Reese Kaelan Lawrence was in our lives before lunch. Not that I had lunch. I sat with Reese in the "preemie intensive care room" for 2 hours waiting for them to wrap up with Cindy. Quite the place to sit with your big healthy newborn, who easily had 7 to 8 lbs on the little babies under the glass in that room, the parents coming in with looks a mix of sadness and concern, looking at me like "Why the hell is he here?"
For her part, which really was the largest part of the day, Cindy was a champ and I was, as always, so proud of her and in love with her. Guests arrived, including little Aidan to meet her sister, never knowing all the adventures that lay ahead for the two of them in the years to come. The hospital stay was uneventful, but restful, even with those twilight hours where exhaustion and hospital television and a crying newborn mix into a surreal haze.
Two years later, little "sistah" is a joy and a delight. Naturally comedic, she can read a room and deliver her little pratfuls and jokes with impeccable timing. You can see her face take on this glow of "I'm performing now" and she'll launch her routine of funny faces. She loves her sister and hugs her often; she gets mad at sister and hits her, bites her, smashes her in the head with a jewelry box. She's tough and adventurous, but sweet and tender too. She's our little girl, and she's two years old today! Happy Birthday, Reese!
