Enlarge Courtesy of Emily Grace Whebbe

Courtesy of Emily Grace Whebbe

Revira is now 3 weeks old, and we find ourselves on Madeline Island, Wis., more than 200 miles from home: her first journey, and our first vacation with a baby.

So far she hardly seems to notice we're away from home — unlike me. Before having Revira, I was a light packer and an easy traveler. I didn't realize how much you have to think about while traveling with a baby! One example: I've been eyeing those fold-down changing tables in public restrooms for years, wondering if I'd ever have to use them. Now that I have a baby who needs changing (often), I can't imagine putting her pristine little head on them, much less contaminating one of our burp cloths between her head and the table. I'm sure they're clean and fine to use, but my grandmother taught me early on that things in public bathrooms are dirty, no matter how clean they appear.

Yes, I have turned into that mom (in some cases). And thus on our first road trip, when we stop at a gas station, Revie and I sprawl across the back seat of our wagon as I change her diaper. She slips around on the leather a bit, but it feels oddly more refined.

In recounting our birth story, I finally fully understand the definition of a word I have used so many times: perfection.

Although I write this after a generous dose of oxytocin from breastfeeding, I will try not to embellish beyond belief. Perfection is a word and concept I rarely use or believed in, unsure of it's even existence. However, after going through the experience of childbirth and now being able to be a part of this incredible baby's life, I realize that what happened more than a week ago was as close to perfection as I could experience. Let's start at 3:00 a.m., Thursday, August 4th.

Enlarge Courtesy of Emily Grace Whebbe

Baby Revira was born on August 4th, at 7 pounds, 2 ounces, to proud parents Emily Grace Whebbe and Kai Curry.

Courtesy of Emily Grace Whebbe

Baby Revira was born on August 4th, at 7 pounds, 2 ounces, to proud parents Emily Grace Whebbe and Kai Curry.

Kai had been working late for the last few weeks, trying to get a project done before the baby arrived, and came to bed around 2:00 a.m. I had been sleeping for only a few hours when I woke up for my 3:00 a.m. bathroom trip and noticed that some fluid was dripping out of me...a lot of it. I hurried to the bathroom convinced I was finally having the incontinence issue during pregnancy that I hadn't yet had. I was wrong.

This morning, we got an email from Emily Grace Whebbe announcing the birth of her baby girl.

Our yet-to-be-named little girl arrived Thursday, Aug. 4, at 2:51 p.m. after just 12 short laboring hours!

My water broke at 3 a.m. and contractions hit every 10 minutes, increasing in frequency and intensity quickly. We arrived at the birth center at 9:30 a.m., and after a little more labor and four hours of pushing, she was out.

We are all doing great, and the birth went exactly as planned, with no drugs and no complications. The birth center staff was absolutely amazing, and Kai was the most supportive and loving partner and father we could have asked for.

We're home now with our little 19 3/4", 7 pound, 2 ounce lady, and she loves to nurse!

Emily says she'll send a more detailed birth story when she can. Congratulations!

Enlarge istockphoto.com

istockphoto.com

We're mostly moved! In one week, we've gotten a lot more done than anyone would have guessed, and I'm finally feeling nested and ready to birth this baby. Of course there is always something else to do to the house, but if the baby arrives tonight, we'll be just fine.

My mom has been absolutely wonderful in helping us move, watching the pup while we pack and unpack, and even cooking meals while we didn't have a functioning kitchen. I'm glad she'll be around after the baby is born.

I went to the birth center last week for my checkup, and baby is still doing well. I asked if I should feel unbearably miserable or uncomfortable beyond contentment (because I don't), and the midwife and apprentice midwife laughed, saying not all pregnancies are what the stereotype suggests.

Courtesy of Emily Grace Whebbe

Emily Grace Whebbe and her partner, Kai Curry, finally found a house to rent, and will be moving in shortly before their baby girl is born.

Just a short update, as Kai and I have been busy moving! We finally found a place that we agree will make a peaceful home for both of us, the baby and Lula the dog. We'll be living in a tiny cottage in Minneapolis, surrounded by a yard of wonderful gardens, and near a creek and a lake. We're moving this week during a 110-degree heat index, which either makes me crazy or ambitious — I haven't decided which yet. Either way, we're excited to make a home for us before the birth of our little girl.

As far as a baby update, I saw the midwife recently and everything seems to be doing very well. She felt the baby and said she's really strong, so I think we may have a little spitfire on our hands, which is perfect for us!

Enlarge Courtesy of Emily Grace Whebbe

Emily Grace Whebbe spent hours researching what crib to buy before settling on this model by Babyletto.

Courtesy of Emily Grace Whebbe

Emily Grace Whebbe spent hours researching what crib to buy before settling on this model by Babyletto.

Wow, this week flew by! I'm full term now and it was just my birthday, so there is a lot to celebrate. Let the waiting begin! I usually have a hard time believing that I'm another year older, but this year I simply don't. I feel I need all the years of wisdom I can before this baby is born, and although 27 is just a number, I'm telling myself it means I have 27 years of helpful insight behind me. All I want for my birthday is to be more patient and to have a healthy baby. At this point, I'm almost ready to be done being pregnant and ready to hold her.

A lot of people have been asking about what crib I chose. My hours of research (literally over 10 hours), were exhausting and didn't really turn up any perfect solution. I read reviews, blogs, manufacturers' documentation, etc., and had a really hard time deciding.

Enlarge Courtesy of Emily Grace Whebbe

Sailboat onesies made by Emily Grace Whebbe. She is still searching for a name for her soon-to-be-born daughter.

Courtesy of Emily Grace Whebbe

Sailboat onesies made by Emily Grace Whebbe. She is still searching for a name for her soon-to-be-born daughter.

I had my last ultrasound last week, something I'm so very glad is over. Initially in pregnancy, I had a lot of pain near one ovary and was worried the pregnancy was ectopic. I had an ultrasound at 10 weeks that found a cyst on my ovary. So, even though I had only planned on having one ultrasound around the routine 20-week mark, I've had to have a few more than I would have liked, to monitor the cyst.

Now in the final weeks of my pregnancy, the radiologist cannot find it because the baby and all my other organs are in the way. I should be more concerned about the cyst, but as long as the baby is healthy and it hasn't caused any real complications, I'm relieved to be in the home stretch!

Enlarge Courtesy of Emily Grace Whebbe

Emily Grace Whebbe and her partner, Kai Curry, over the July 4 weekend. The pair is looking for places to live together before the baby is born.

Courtesy of Emily Grace Whebbe

Emily Grace Whebbe and her partner, Kai Curry, over the July 4 weekend. The pair is looking for places to live together before the baby is born.

In my prenatal water aerobics class last night, our instructor reminded us to do our Kegel exercises while "bicycling" on our foam "noodle." Another woman and I noted to each other that we simply can't do Kegels while in this position. Of course, my mind gave this problem the run-through: Can other women do this? Can other pregnant women do this? Is it a big deal that I can't? Will it make my labor long and terrible and inefficient?

I even asked my Bradley Method instructor about it in class the following night. She explained it seemed like a tall order to be able to do that in such a position. Whew! All I needed was to hear this from her, or anyone else, even though I had already concluded the same. I've never been able to pat my head and rub my belly without REALLY thinking about it anyway. My instructor compared that talent to Kegel-ing while bicycling. I knew I liked her!

During my first appointment with one of my midwives, I told her, "I'm going to have a lot of questions, and I'm going to have a few freakouts. All I need you to do is to say, 'It's OK, everything is fine.' If it is, in fact, fine." She agreed and told me she would be completely honest when something was worth worrying about, and try her best to calm my nerves about any "normal" pregnancy concerns.

Enlarge iStockphoto.com

iStockphoto.com

Upon finding out I was pregnant last November, I wrote in my journal: "One pregnancy test shows positive. I've researched for an hour now on the false positive rate of home pregnancy tests: It's seemingly impossible for the test to read positive if I'm, in fact, not pregnant. There are other brands. I'll buy one of each tomorrow."

Days later, I went to my family practice doctor and took an "official" test. At first he gave me the "We'll give you a clear answer in no time" attitude. I informed the doctor I had taken five tests over multiple days, and they had all been positive. (I had actually lost count, and was sure it was more than five.)

He suddenly lost his reassuring demeanor and calmly told me to go in the restroom and give him a urine sample. We both knew I was pregnant. I returned to the exam room and waited. He returned in just a few minutes and started typing something on the computer, calmly saying, "So, have you thought about your options? Do you want to go forward with this pregnancy?"

My excitement thankfully overpowered my outrage at his seeming insensitivity toward my "options," and I simply said "yes." I couldn't help but wonder if he would ask a married woman that same question. He proceeded to give me a prescription for prenatal vitamins, and I asked if I could have a detailed breakdown of the vitamin's ingredients. He told me he didn't have that information, and implied that I should simply trust that it included what was best for my baby.

About Emily

Emily Grace Whebbe, 26, from St. Paul, Minn., is a first-time mom who gave birth to her daughter, Revira, on Aug. 4. She delivered naturally with a midwife at a birth center, accompanied by her partner, Kai.

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Suddenly I was on my way home, in a place I had never been emotionally, and upset with how the doctor had handled informing me that there was a person growing inside of me. My brain was so foggy, all I could do was listen to the song I always listen to when I feel a little lost — "Casimir Pulaski Day" by Sufjan Stevens.

Did he even say I was pregnant? I wanted an outright statement of fact: "You are pregnant." How would he be able to answer all the questions I would have if he couldn't even give me a description of what was in the vitamins he gave me? Didn't he want to make sure I knew how to take care of myself and my growing baby? Let the list of questions begin.

Enlarge Courtesy of Emily Grace Whebbe

Courtesy of Emily Grace Whebbe

During this pregnancy, I've spent countless hours researching everything my ravenous mind can think of. My partner, Kai, and I are being as environmentally friendly, nontoxic and sustainable in raising this baby as possible. Cloth diapers, breastfeeding, organic bedding, the vaccine debate and a multitude of other topics have filled my head for the past few months.

Even before conception, I have always imagined having the most natural birth possible. It didn't take me long to decide I didn't want to be in a hospital, and through my research, I found the most wonderful midwives and a local birth center that accommodate my wishes perfectly. I am planning on having a water birth with no pain medications or interventions. The midwives continually calm all of my fears and have made this pregnancy quite enjoyable.

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Emily Grace Whebbe at 30 weeks pregnant after a sailboat race.

Courtesy of Emily Grace Whebbe

Emily Grace Whebbe at 30 weeks pregnant after a sailboat race.

My current area of work includes freelance website development; helping small businesses redesign, update and manage their websites. However, my real desire is to be in a drastically different realm, working more closely with the natural world and farther away from my computer.

I imagine growing organic produce and feeding my surrounding community with whatever is in season, either on my own land or on the land of another. In the past, I have felt the happiest while farming. Thankfully, web development does not completely fill my days and grants me a flexible schedule. I garden, bike, research, make books, sew, play the piano, guitar and violin, and prefer being on any body of water or being outside in any capacity during my free time.

Together, Kai and I have gone on countless bike and camping trips, owned a used bookstore together, and sailed Lake Superior among other adventures. It seems we've gone through many challenges together, but the baby is something we are finding to be completely different, especially since even after endless planning and research, babies contain countless uncertainties. We're trying our best to prepare in every way we can, but still we have moments where we question how exactly we will do this.

We currently live in St. Paul, Minn., although Kai lives on a houseboat on the Mississippi River, and I live blocks away in the home I grew up in. Neither place is ideal for us to raise a child or live together. As a result, we are constantly dreaming up ideas of where we would like to be: ideally a place that satisfies our hearts, bodies, baby and our families. Our ideas include the traditional route of buying a home, to trading the houseboat for a live-aboard sailboat that we could sail around the world, and every option in between.

We are close to our families both in proximity and emotionally, and we are very lucky to have a wealth of support from them. Thus, we would like to stay in the area, but being 27 years old, we each have the desire to travel and live in different worlds from our current one. Hopefully we can figure this out in due time, because the baby is due July 31!