The Most Beautiful Thing in the World

As it turns out, giving birth isn’t like they show us in the movie. It’s not quite as loud… and there’s a lot more sitting around.

I’ve laid out the following entry in lesson form – that is, the lessons I’ve already learned as a parent.

Lesson #1: Parenting is unpredictable

The whole saga started on Tuesday, at our bi-weekly appointment. Dr. Behan checked Mel’s blood pressure, checked Mel’s other stats and posed the following question, ‘You wanna start tonight, or Wednesday?’

Wow. For some reason, both of us thought the ‘weekend’ choice should have been in there, but boy, were we wrong.

We went in on Tuesday and started all the preliminary stuff overnight, then went to her L&D room on Wednesday morning, wherein they started the pitocin. Contractions started gently, then started rising in waves.

Lesson #2: Parenting takes time.

Then we waited. That’s pretty much what the bulk of the labor was.

Lesson #3: Sometimes, parenting takes it out of you.

This is one of those lessons I learned by watching. Watching my wife push was one of the most exhausting things I’ve ever seen… and if I was exhausted just by looking at her push, I cannot imagine how tired she must have been.

Lesson $4: Sometimes, parenting is beautiful.

Niagara Falls, sunrises on the flat plains, and Dallas from a DC-10 at night – you have nothing on my little girl.

Lesson #5: There is sometimes pain.

This is another lesson I learned by osmosis. You can’t see them because I didn’t think it apropos to include them in this picture – Melanie is being sutured and stitched, fixed and repaired. This is the first time she ever held Molly.

Finally, I’m just gonna stop typing and post pictures. Many people have been waiting for them, and my commentary doesn’t add anything to this awesome event.

Ok, maybe a bit of explanation commentary. This is what happens to a baby’s head after they use suction and forceps. Poor little thing.

Holy Molly!

She’ll be comin’ ’round the mountain to-mor-row!

She’ll be comin’ ’round the mountain to-mor-row!

She’ll be comin’ ’round the mountain, she’ll be comin’ ’round the mountain, she’ll be comin’ ’round the mountain to-mor-row!

—

We’re inducing starting tonight! Keep us in your prayers!

DP

This Easter weekend saw many a great thing happen:

A prominent Muslim was brought into the Church.

 

My brother-in-law was brought into the Church, as well (no link yet).

My sister and brother-in-law had their marriage blessed by the Church (no link here, either).

Those last two I’m especially sorry I missed. I heard it they were glorious. However, we missed those two occasions for the following reasons: 1) 8 months of pregnancy does not lend to easy travel and 2) We became the Godparents to a wonderful newborn child. Woot!

The festivities started at about 4:45 on Saturday when we arrived at the Pereda’s house. It was here that I got my first picture of the God-son with the new camera:

Isn’t he cute? Seriously. If you think he’s cute now, hold him in your arms as he sleeps – I love that little tyke.

We then headed off to the Cafetorium at St. Maria Goretti Church – where we waited until Mass got started. It’s also where I got this blurry picture that I’ll call an action shot. If I call it that, it makes it seem like I meant to do it.

 

Here we are waiting outside. I love the look on Megan’s face — so motherly.

Now, there’s a huge gap in time right here because I felt awkward taking pictures in the church. I know, I know, the awkwardness lasts a moment, but the memories a life-time. Perhaps if I weren’t the Godfather of the child I would have snapped away – but I am, and I thought it might look funny for a guy to be up in the Sanctuary with a camera, holding a candle and a white cloth, and snapping away. Others got photos. That’s what matters.We did, however, get a photo with the happy family. It’s weird to think that just 15 months ago Mel and I were taking a similar photo with Kevin and Megan – but they were in wedding garb and Mel and I were in wedding-assistant gear and Mel was quite unpregnant. A lot can happen in 15 months.

Then it was time to celebrate! After a brief stop at Taco Bueno to cure our rumbling stomachs – we headed back to the Pereda’s for desserts and good times. The good times were doubly magnified by our compatriots:

Holly 

Chris

Photos from the post-Baptism celebration:

Look, it’s a half-Megan!

 

Look, it’s the other half of a half-Megan! With a Chris thrown in for good measure!

Molly also got some attention-center time:

And some… creepy… attention-center time. This picture is weird.

This weekend was a delightful ditty in the world of the Behnkes and we’re so proud to be God-parents to DP.

Happy Easter!

Notable Quotes from the weekend:

‘Ta-da!’ – Fr. Jim Gigliotti

‘But I can’t do three backflips. Two yes. Three no.’ – Mel 

Beautiful Things

I’ve decided to periodically post ‘beautiful things.’ Things that make me happy. Things that bring me joy. Things that are blessings from God. So, for my first installment of beautiful things:

#1:

(Props to the great KB for this picture)

Though she’ll hate me for posting this picture. I can’t resist sharing such a beautiful thing.

#2

As a friend put it, this looks like one of those ‘Magic Eye’ posters that, when you look at it, you see a sailboat – but, I see no sailboat. I see MoRo (pronounced: mow-row). My baby girl. Holy moly, I’ve got a baby girl. Beautiful.

#3

Yeah, I know. This is a bit of a departure but, I really love to watch fire. I really think fire is beautiful. It borders on a living thing. It breathes, it moves… it uses carbon. Watch it sometime, I think you’ll be impressed.