Something extraordinary happened last week. Something quite wonderful. My son, Elliot Nixon Ward, was born.
Weighing 9lbs and 55cm in length from top to toe, Elliot is the most precious, miraculous thing to ever happen to my wife and I. We are smitten by him and I am in awe of them both. In awe of what they went through to get to this point and bursting with pride and love for my growing family.
I sit in Elliot’s nursery feeding him. One tiny, miniature hand clutches at my shirt while the other reaches for the bottle, minuscule fingers gently touching its plastic side, almost guiding the bottle to his sucking mouth. Two plump white legs kick out. Perfectly-formed feet start to twitch, the newborn skin slightly chapped on their soles. Teeny, tiny toes curl one by one revealing small nail beds on each toe that have now turned from white to a rosy pink.
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| Elliot Nixon Ward, born 19 November 2012 |
He has a soft blond fuzz covering the tops of his chubby arms and along his fleshy shoulders. A light dusting of fair hair coats the back and sides of his fragile head and his skin smells of brand new baby – I want to inhale his newborn fragrance over and over.
As he finishes feeding from the bottle, he smacks his lips together in satisfaction and leans back, arms stretching out above his head. In a state of milk drunkenness, he closes his eyes, a dead weight in my arms. His eyes briefly open and he looks straight into my own as if to say “I’m done. Thanks, Dad.”
This is Elliot, our son. Elliot, who arrived in this world at 6.33am on the 19th of November. Elliot, our miracle boy. For Elliot is an IVF baby and a truly wondrous miracle of the modern world.
Unable to conceive for reasons unknown, we watched him grow from a minute embryo to a robust and thriving baby boy. We waited nervously and impatiently, hoping and praying he would make it beyond those early weeks to become the wee man we cradle in our arms today.
Our love for him is all the stronger because we wanted him so very much. For two people who advocate travelling and exploring the world, these passions suddenly caught up with us. Our frequent moves delayed our decision to start a family and age overcame us so we went down the IVF route. Looking upon Elliot’s face as he sleeps, I’m filled with unbridled joy. Regardless of the means and the method, we did it. We are finally parents. Elliot’s parents.
His arrival on Monday was, in itself, something of a miracle.
With an umbilical cord wrapped tightly twice around his neck and a heart rate plunging with every contraction, the call was made to get him out fast. After labouring for many hours with an epidural to boot, Sarah was exhausted and distressed, but we knew what had to follow to ensure the health and safety of mother and child. It was a no-brainer.
After a tense emergency c-section, Elliot was delivered safely into his mother’s arms. There was an immense sense of relief in the operating room – everyone was okay and the right course of action had been taken. We will be forever grateful to the English midwife that queried a chart that at first looked quite ordinary and the Australian obstetrician that made the immediate decision to operate. I have no doubt in my mind that the actions of these two people saved Elliot’s life.
A few days later, I came home from visiting mum and bub in the hospital and sat on the floor with Milo, my other ‘furry’ son. As if sensing my unease, he lay his head down on my legs and let me stroke the soft fur under his neck and gently play with his ears. The events and worry of the past two days smashed into me like a tidal wave and I broke down where I sat, overcome by what I’d seen my brave wife go through yet ecstatic at the birth of my son.
This morning, I had a cuddle with Elliot in his nursery. I scrutinised his features and saw myself, a mini-Russell, staring right back at me. Pursed lips, ears with a tiny crease at the top, fair hair and a pair of long, lanky legs. Then he smiled and it changed. I saw my wife – her pale and unblemished skin, piercing blue eyes, strawberry red cheeks and, thankfully, her nose, not mine.
On the wall of the nursery hangs a picture that reads “Let your little light shine”. This is your time now, Elliot. Time for your miraculous little light to shine.
Welcome to the world, little Elliot. World, meet Elliot Nixon Ward. Our own sweet miracle.
That new baby smell is something isnt it Russell I’ll never forget it!!
Congratulations you two!!! Elliot you’re a lucky boy!!
Huge congrats Russell! He is beautiful and I’m so glad that both Momma and baby are happy and healthy 🙂
xxx
Jenna
What wonderful news – congratulations to you both and a big Aussie Gidday to young Elliot.
ps…great post too (i may just have welled up reading it), thanks for sharing
Wow. Just wow. Congratulations.
That’s fantastic news. Welcome to the world young Elliot and well done to Sarah for doing all the hard work!
Beautifully said, Russell. Thanks for sharing Elliot’s story with us. He’s a lucky little boy to have such loving parents. And a gorgeous fur brother, of course.
Congratulations!! Hooray!!
What an incredibly beautiful, deeply personal way to welcome Elliot and share him with us, Russell. So special (baby and your writing). So thankful the three of you made it through such a long, involved and ultimately harrowing ordeal, coming out on the other side to the joy that is parenthood. I’d like to pretend I’m like Kym and tell you I just welled up a bit, but the truth is I had tears streaming down my face… Welcome Elliot!
Congratulations on your new arrival. Hope all are doing well.
How wonderful, Russell. He is just beautiful 🙂 Congratulations to you and your wife. Thank you for sharing your birth story with us; it was beautifully told. Birth is a wild adventure, is it not?
Thanks heaps. All are going great here 🙂
Thanks, Jacki – big hooray!
Thanks, Lauren 🙂
I can’t get enough of it, Lesley. Especially on the top of his head when he nuzzles up under my neck. Thanks for the congrats!
Thanks, Jenna. Really appreciate it. They’re both doing really well right now.
Thanks, Kym. Big Aussie Gidday received loud and clear by baby Elliot! Glad you liked the post too 🙂
Elliot says “thanks, Uncle Jack” and Russell says “what about my hard work?!” She’s a little battler for sure.
It’s having the gorgeous fur brother that will make all the difference over the coming months and years!
Thanks, Maria. It was story I wanted to share and a record of his own journey (and ours) that I wanted to get down. I’m pleased you liked it.
Thank you so much, Sara. He is a little cutie and already changing in front of our eyes every day.
Birth is such a wild adventure and I hadn’t really given too much thought to it with hindsight – it was all about the journey getting there and then the parenthood part that comes after. Our experience reminded me of the risk and uncontrollable elements of it all. Women are heroes in my mind for what they have to go through, even when it’s less eventful than our experience.
I have to say I’m extremely relieved to be out the other side, as I’m pretty certain Sarah is (and Elliot can speak for himself in due course!). Apologies for causing the tears but I hope it was all in the name of a good cause. Thanks for your very kind words, Linda. Always appreciated 🙂
Well, our bodies were made for it 🙂 Really, there is no way to prepare for it. There is only doing it, and then you know what that birth was like. Next time, will most likely be entirely different!
You’re right. I think the ‘not knowing’ led to the most anxiety. Next time? I’ll let my wife know that she needs to get ready for it 😉
Congratulations! What a beautiful boy and a wonderful story.
Thank you very much – he certainly is!
Your life will definitely be less ordinary now, and pretty busy too. Happy for you! I’m connecting via Aly’s Blog of the Year award. https://www.facebook.com/#!/restlessjo
so completely and utterly happy for you and sarah! congratulations and welcome to the world lil eliot! 🙂
What a completely, lovely piece of writing from a father about his son. Congratulations again to all of you! x
If you’re competing for best birth announcement ever, you may well have won. Hope you’re not too tired to enjoy the many moments of amazement.
Congratulations Russell & Sarah x
Thanks Andrea!
Lol, thanks Christine. That’s very sweet of you to say so. Fighting the tiredness but enjoying our little boy most of all )
Thanks Michelle. Maybe one day he’ll read this and hopefully he’ll like it too. Cheers!
Thanks M. He’s enjoying every moment in this world so far. I think he’s gonna like it here 😉
I’m already getting a pretty good taste of the less ordinary and the insanely busy but it’s all good! Thanks for connecting thru the award. It’s proving to be a great way to meet other bloggers 🙂
My most heartfelt and profound congratulations to you and your wife. What a miracle indeed, and I can’t wait to read about what adventures await you and your little traveling family.
Congratulations! What wonderful news and so pleased to hear you’re all OK after what you’ve been through. Love the picture, Elliot is gorgeous 🙂
Thanks Carrie. He’s a cute looking kid, isn’t he? (says the biased dad!)
Cheers Erica. Really appreciate it. I’m sure there’ll be plenty of adventures to follow, as you would certainly know! 😉
As we approach Elliot’s 1st Birthday, I have read this lovely post again & appreciate you capturing those special moments. The soft blonde fuzz on Elliot’s skin, his intoxicating newborn baby smell. So precious x We are so lucky. Thank you. Sx
Absolutely 🙂 x