Shit! I forgot the single most emotional moment of my life: the birth of my daughter.
The whole thing was pretty amazing. She had gone 2 weeks overdue, and went to the doctor for a checkup. During the pelvic exam, the doctor apparently jumpstarted the labor. My wife was driving, home, had several contractions while on the freeway, and drove straight to my work. I come back to my desk and get a message on my voicemail: “I’m at the goddamn security desk, in labor. Come up here now!!” So we went home, I was pretty choked up, she’s telling me to get a hold on myself dammit, and finally she couldn’t take anymore, and took off for the hospital.
When we got there, she’s only 1 cm dilated (the birth can’t start till 10 cm), so we wait. And wait. And wait. All the while, she’s having contractions, gripping my hand so hard that she actually cracked my knuckles. That was really tough to see her in so much pain, and I lost it a couple times.
Then the actual labor begins, with the pushing and screaming (more crying on my part), and finally, my daughter’s head pops out. Bluer than a Smurf. No one told me that was normal, so I bawled cause I thought something was wrong. They suctioned her lungs out, my wife pushed once more, and out pops this ::sniff:: beautiful little wrinkled baby, with a lopsided head, and all the accompanying goo. ::sniff:: Right at that moment, I was filled with so much pride and joy, for my wife, and for this tiny girl, I sobbed uncontrollably for an hour (even while I gave her her first bath), with a big grin on my face all the while. I still get a little choked up just typing this.
And, yesterday, I got home from work, and Maia (she’s 7 months now) actually stood up with no support! Then fell right on her butt. Guess what? I lost it again.
But I’d take these tears over plain old smiles any day.