In the wee hours of the morning of March 25th, our newest little angel emerged into the world, into her mother’s waiting hands. It was exhilarating. It was exciting. It was frenzied. It was euphoric. I still sum it up in one word: AMAZING! I will never forget the feeling, of reaching down, only to my amazement to find her little tiny head…I had not even realized her whole head had emerged. Once more I bared down making almost inhuman, animalistic sounds, the vibrations of my voice echoing downward helping to birth her body, and into my waiting arms she came…all this in the comfort of my own home, in a very swift labour lasting approx. 3 hours from start to finish. The water felt wonderful and kept the contractions bearable. I never knew birth could be this wonderful – feel this wonderful. Sophie’s birth was swift with no drugs in the hospital but I felt traumatized trying to push her out on my back. This was how it was intended…complete and total connection from start to finish, without intervention.

Ava Rose Celeste Deveau
6lbs. 4oz.
3:39am
March 25th, 2009.

I feel so lucky to have a picture of the very moment I caught her and lifted her out of the water…that is pure and utter joy…

I recovered very quickly from this birth. Within hours I felt like I did not even have a baby!

Besides the moment I caught her, the highlight of the birth was Sophie meeting her sister for the very first time. Tender moments we will always hold dear…

Sophie slept through the whole thing in the next room. When Ava was born, Rick went to our bedroom to check on Sophie, & she was sitting on the edge of our bed, smiling, just waiting for someone to come get her. Her awareness is absolutely amazing to me. I do believe my mother kept her company through it all…

Ava grabbed Sophie’s finger right away…instant connection…

The proud family! It didn’t even feel like we were up all night…the four of us retreated to our bed at around 6am and slept for several hours until we got hungry again.