Baby details

Full name: Olive Helen Hanna

How did you come up with that name? We just stumbled on Olive and it seemed to match the spunky personality she was exhibiting in the womb. Once we started referring to her as Olive, there was no turning back.

And Helen? Its Patty's beloved grandmother's name.

Statistics: 8 lbs, 5 oz.; 20.5 inches long; born 6:28 pm September 26, 2010, Elmer, NJ.

Elmer?! It was a philosophic choice with the added benefit that its very close to Patty's support network. Now I know Virtua is where you're "supposed" to have a baby because its the local apex of neonatal medicine. But we didn't want the latest and the greatest. We wanted access to medical expertise in case something happened, but we wanted to do it the old fashioned way. We believe there are benefits to that. And just as Virtua is where you go if you want the latest in medical science and technology, Elmer is where you go if you want a natural, non-induced, no-epidural birth with a mid-wife that will prevent mom from tearing without cutting her and waits until the chord stops pulsing to let dad cut it.

How was it there? Everything we expected and then some. Everyone there embraces and is tuned into the natural child birth philosophy. I'd easily recommend Elmer to anyone looking for a natural child birth.

Did Patty do it all natural? Yes. We were going to get induced on Sunday night, but Olive started moving on her own Saturday morning. There came a point where Patty took something to help her fall asleep - but that was because we had been awake for 36 hours, active labor was still hours away, and contractions were preventing her from getting much needed rest. That said, the birth itself was non-induced and drug free.

Did Hypno-Birthing Work? Yes! And it was the most amazing thing I've seen. Honestly, I walked away from this whole affair with so much admiration for Patty. To watch her take control of her birth by letting her body take over was awe inspiring. Was it pain and discomfort free the way the book promised? I can't lie and say yes. But, after seeing what I saw, I think its completely feasible.

But I don't want to credit the method because it was all Patty. Honestly. Words can't describe how impressive she was. At first, she had a hard time dealing with the contractions. But there came a point, in the tub, where she would take control of her breathing and see each contraction through. It was like watching a pro athlete or a musical virtuoso - but even more impressive because it wasn't something Patty had to train for years for. It was something she was born to do.

She did a water birth? No. On the bed, with me providing some big assistance.

Did you get queesy? Yes, at one point. But I pulled it together, and once I started seeing Olive's head, I was so excited I could have gotten through anything. Plus, Patty was so brave and strong through that last phase I'd have no excuse to not see it through. Of course, once you see that little face and then the legs come out, and then all the crying (parents and baby) and the excitement of having your new baby its all worth it.

Best parts of the night: Seeing her face. Embracing Olive with Patty for the first time. Love at first sight. Letting it sink in how deep that love already is. Seeing my mom hold her first grand child. Knowing that my daughter got to meet one of her grandfathers - something I never got to do. Seeing purportedly anti-baby uncle jeff take to her like a natural.

So what's it like being a dad? My feelings on it have changed with each day. Going into it, I thought about how our baby is the embodiment of me and Patty's love for each other, and that through her Patty and I will live on beyond our own years - inseparable. What struck me after she was born was how much I felt like I was now the head of my family - which is a strange mix of pride, love, and the desire to keep everyone together and safe. And then today I started feeling like as long as I have my daughter and she's o.k., nothing else really matters. So its pretty cool being a dad.