“You’re almost there.”
“You’re so strong. So incredible, Sam.”
“We can see the head!”
“Come on, Sam! Push!”
“You can do it. You’re doing it. You’re doing it, Sam! He’s here! He’s here!”
I felt relief flood my body as my last contraction pushed my child out. The midwife cradled him in her arms and prepared to cut the cord.
Then Logan turned me around in the water, and I saw my baby for the first time.
Our beautiful baby boy.
His cries filled the room and tears filled my eyes. Logan couldn't stop kissing me. Couldn't stop running his hands over my body. The midwife wrapped my beautiful baby boy in a blanket and handed him to me, then moved so all the guys could surround me.
He had a thick head of dark brown hair and blueish green eyes.
Impossible for us to tell who the father was. And that was how I wanted it.
“My baby boy,” I said as tears flooded my cheeks. “Hello there, Leo.”
Leo Sean Anderson. The latest addition to the Anderson family. The doula took him from me so she could clean him up, and Logan helped me from the bath. The midwife checked my body to make sure I wasn’t in need of a hospital, then she proceeded to help me clean up. I ached. Deep within the marrow of my bones. I was tired beyond all reason, and I wanted to get into bed. The midwife and the doula cleaned up the bathroom as the boys passed Leo around. And during all of it, Levi helped me into bed.
“I texted Lauren a picture. She’ll be here tonight.”
“Perfect,” I said. “I want her to meet her new nephew.”
The guys climbed into Liam’s California king-size bed with me. All of our rooms had them. So no matter where we all fell, we’d all be able to fit. I cradled Leo against my breast, and the doula coached me through how to breastfeed him.
And after a couple of hours of supervision, the midwife and doula left.
“Are you hungry?” Liam asked. “I could run downstairs and get you something.”
“I’m actually really thirsty,” I said.
“Water?” he asked.
“Do we have any tea?”
“Of course, we do,” he said as he kissed my forehead. “Be right back.”
“Are your feet cold?” Luke asked. “I can get a pair of your fuzzy socks.
“I’m good for now. These blankets are pretty warm,” I said.
“Oh, should we get Leo one of his hats?” Levi asked. “To keep his head warm? The air just kicked on.”
“That’s probably a good thing to have, yeah,” I said.
“I’ll go get it,” Levi said.
“Is there anything else you need?” Logan asked. “Anything at all?”
I looked over at him with my tired eyes before I switched Leo to my other breast.