week. 39. part. 01. girl.

“You must unlearn what you have learned.”  -Master Yoda’s wisest words.

My Story:

It begins Saturday morning when Kate walks out from the bedroom
and asks, “does my makeup look good”. As I’m getting ready to leave
for my wedding, I look up and notice that she has put on much more
make up than normal.

“You look great,” I said, slightly confused.

“I wanted to look good in case I go into labor while you are gone, and
the nurses have to take pictures of me,” she told me half jokingly.

So off I go on my merry way to shoot my wedding.  It went great up
until about 6:30 when I went down stairs to call Kate and tell her
that I had made it to the wedding and everything was going great!

I had forgotten to call her when I got there at 2:00.  So when she
answered the phone crying, I immediately thought that she had assumed
that I was in some fiery wreck on the side of the road.  It wouldn’t be
the first time she had assumed the worst.

“Hun, I’m fine, everyth…”

“I’m sorry,” she sobbed.  “I think my water broke.”

White.  My whole thought process was demolished by a bright white
explosion.  Stunned, I stammered and went to my go to phrase “Its ok
hun.”

She proceeded to tell me, through tears, that she had soaked through
three pairs of pants very quickly.  Her sister had luckily been close
by with a car and was there with her, about to  take her to the
hospital.  She had to get off the phone.  Her sister took the phone and
told me she would call me back.

“text me” I told her.

There I stood… 4 hours left to shoot and Kate was in labor.  I was
in shock.  We didn’t even have a plan for if she went into labor today, since
she was scheduled for  a version/C section if failed on Tuesday.  Thank
god her sister was around by chance.

I went back upstairs and wandered around in a dream world, keeping it together
and capturing their special day.

Who was I going to tell?  I told my brother who was assisting me.  His jaw slacked.
I went to my go to phrase again, “it’s ok, I’m good” with a smile on
my face that I didn’t quite believe.

The wedding kept going smoothly as I tried to figure out a plan. I
was scheduled to leave at 10:30 which would put me home around 12:00
if I made good time.  At 9:30 I got word from Kate that she was headed
to the OR to get a spinal so I decided to let the bride and groom
know.

“Yay!!!!  Congrats,” they yelled with enthusiasm. “Wait she is in labor?” as it
started to set in.

“Yes, babyjedi will be born any moment,” truly excited about the words I spoke.
“Your anniversary and babyjedi’s birthday will be the same date!” I beamed.

I nervously waited for their reaction…

“GO! GO!” they demanded.  “Go be a dad!”

So thankful I packed up and got on the road, nervous, excited, anxious, shocked.

More news came that Kate was ready to go, and the doctors got to work
prepping her for surgery.  She started to get a high spinal affect that made
her feel like she couldn’t breath.  Her oxygen levels were fine but
she was scared.  The doctors then said ok we’ve got to do this now and
within 10,15 minutes babyjedi was born at 10:02, screaming.  Kate’s
sister all along taking pictures for me.  Kate looking great with her
makeup.

Meanwhile I am traveling down the highway.  Glistening from a fresh rain.
You would think that I would have been driving like a crazy person.  But I tried
to keep it to 15 over.  My child would need a father after all.

Then it happens.  The cellphone rings.

“Hello?”

“Do you want me to tell you?”  Kate sobs.

“What?” was all I could say even though I had heard her and understood
completely what she meant.

“Do you want me to tell you if it is a boy or a girl?”

“…”

“…”

The thought had not yet crossed my mind.  In a panic I asked, “do you
want to tell me?”

“Yes.”

“……………………………………………..”  there was a infinitely long/short
moment in time that I spent wondering for the last time what babyjedi was.
I enjoyed it.  Lived in it.  Then let it go and stepped of the edge.

“Ok, tell me.”

“It is a girl!”

The second atomic explosion of white went off and my brain momentarily shut
down all processing.  Consumed by white once again.

A girl.

The next hour or so was the longest hour of my life.  I arrived at the hospital
about an hour after Addison was born.  My first priority was to kiss Kate on the
forehead and make sure she was ok.  She was very ok.  Crying, but ok.  My next
priority was to hold my newborn child.  So I did.  At that moment nothing that
lead up to that moment mattered.  All was right in the world.  By the world I mean
the hospital room I stood in.  The contents of this room were all that mattered to me
in that second.

Beautiful.  That is what she was.  She was incredibly beautiful.  Even now I cannot
get over how gorgeous she is.  I mean look at those pictures again.  I am so in
love.   I also feel like I have known her forever.

It took us a day to decide on her name.  And I am positive we made the right
choice.  Addison Marie Sprague.  We love it.  We love her.  We are home and it is time
to feed her, so I have to run and help Kate!

So much love, and all the best,

daniel. kate. babyjedi (Addison not Addy/Addie).

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