The most amazing day of our lives, husband edition, part 2

Hey folks, husband here with part 2 of chronicling the event of our daughters birth. I got to hold Kenadie in my arms for a bit, but as I looked over at the wife I could feel a twinge of jealousy from her. Not in any mean sense, but she was ready to have the baby in her arms after carrying her in her belly for nine months. I handed the baby to her and watched her enjoy her mom time.

After a bit I walked to the family waiting room and announced we had a healthy baby girl, wiping away the tears I had from earlier. Yes, me, the pinnacle of masculinity cried a bit as I watched my daughter enter the world. The family took note and came with me to the room to see their new relative for the first time.

The baby was passed around more times than a case of herpes in high school. Everyone got their infant fix and happiness filled the room. After much celebration the family decided to go home and get some much needed rest. The nurses took us to the nursing station and had Kelly press a button. The hospital PA echoed with a lullaby. They do that every time a baby is born.

We were escorted to our post-partum room and they took Kenadie to the nursery. Some time passed and I went to watch my daughter's first bath. The nurse opened my child's diaper, and before me I saw the messiest diaper in the history of Pampers. The nurse used what seemed like a hundred wipes, and I was about to recommend a pressure washer.

The way the nurse handled my infant was amazing as she didn't seem to be that gentle, but I had to remind myself that baby's bones are basically rubber and they're a resilient lot. I didn't punch the lady, but it still made my nerves rattle a bit.

After the bath the nurse stated she would swing by with the wee one when feeding time commenced. I made my way back to my room to see my wife sitting on the floor with the nurses yelling her name. She came to, but then collapsed again. The nurses gave her smelling salts and I panicked a bit. The fact that she was up for over 24 hours with no food exhausted her to the point of passing right out. She was fine though as the nurses helped her into her bed and she got some much needed rest.

I sat down in my recliner, fired up the computer, and gave the online world an update on the baby. Soon the nurse brought in Kenadie for a feeding, and after Kelly was done I decided to try my hand at changing a diaper. I've done it before, but when it's your own kid you try to be as thorough as possible, which resulted in my trying to use the force and hover her over the dirty diaper as I clean her. My jedi skills were lacking though.

I got to hold Kenadie in my arms for a bit and we sat down and watched "Annie" together, which was far more fun that it sounds. It was my first time really bonding with my child over casual activity, and I imagined myself taking her to plays and such and watching her light up over musical theatre.

The nurses then came and took her again and I tried to sleep, which was futile as two hours later we were awoke again for another feeding. This went on all day, as visitors came and went, food being delivered, and many runs to get crackers and soda for the wife ensued, all ensuring slumber was elusive.

The following day the wife and I were set to go home, away from the security of trained professionals and take full responsibility for the care of our child. I packed up the car and a nurse stated that they were worried about me as they noticed me walking around the hospital looking like death. Nothing says sleep deprivation as being in a hospital.

We load the baby into my wife's car and head home. We take her into the house and set her down and take a look at our little loved one. After a nice moment wore off the wife and I looked at each other and said "now what?"

"A father is always making his baby into a little woman. And when she is a woman he turns her back again." - Enid Bagnold