To: My Amazing Wife, Who Is Smarter Than I Am. From: Your Amazed Husband Who Is Grateful For Your Intelligence.

When you told me several months ago that you wanted to have our baby at home, I knew you had lost your mind. At Home? Seriously? We don't have any monitors, nurses, or fancy beds that come apart. A home isn't where you have a baby! A home is where you bring a baby to AFTER you have him at the hospital! They check to make sure I have, in my infinite wisdom, installed the car seat correctly before they let us leave. Isn't that smart? Who will check that at home? The neighbor? He's not a certified car seat inspector! I distinctly remember that you didn't care about most of my arguments. In fact your mind was made up. I could have boycotted, but that wouldn't have gotten me anywhere. So finally I went. I met the midwives, they were nice. They SEEMED knowledgeable, and they answered all of the questions that I had, MAYBE a little too well. Like they had practiced those lines over and over.... that must be it, I told myself. Yep, I was still convinced, I was right, you were crazy. Hospitals are for Baby's, homes are for ..... not for baby's. I mean, well you know what I mean right? does that make sense? Doesn't matter, your crazy.
Somewhere in the midst of then and last night, I got more on board. MAYBE you weren't completely crazy. Just a little. Nevertheless I supported you because, well, I have to live with you. Then, something very strange happened. Yesterday morning when you told me that you were having contractions every 5 minutes and I should stay home from church, I felt... calm. I knew that was the day. I knew that those " too knowledgeable for their own good" midwives would be on their way at some point. No matter, I was calm. I sensed that you were in good hands. As the day progressed, and you did too, I noticed that I wasn't antsy. Things seemed right. We didn't have to hurry to the hospital, we didn't have to be admitted, we were just here. The midwives came to us. As soon as they got here they set up shop. They checked you. They let you do what you needed to to get through it. They included me. I started to realize that things weren't the worse case scenario that I had in my head. I know you were in pain, but YOU WERE AWESOME! I am amazed at your strength (you really clawed my arm to pieces a few times). I kid! Your strength of character is phenomenal. I don't believe that I could every truly express the depth of love I felt for you as I saw you do everything you could to help Austin come into this world, healthy and happy. I said it before, you are amazing. I noticed, through it all, that we could focus on one another. Those beeps and buzzes of the delivery room that I thought I needed, were comforting in their absence. I wasn't looking at monitors or stressing over heart rates, I was looking at you. You were looking at the ceiling, bed post, the pillows, basically whatever would get your mind of the pain! I saw how much you went through to bless our family. That is the kind of love that only a mother can give. Thank you, for showing me that. The midwives were great. You did awesome. All is well. Turns out, you aren't crazy. At least on this point. The only thing I wish would have been different is if I would have come up with it myself. Thank you for proving me wrong. You are a testament to womanhood. And don't worry, I talked to the neighbors... they heard the screaming, thought we were fighting, and were relived to know, for my sake, that you were having a baby! We're all proud of you! Great Job!

Love,

Your not so worried anymore husband.