“Ready,” she says with confidence this time.
The doctor and nurse coach her on when to push, how long to bear down, and when to hold back. All I can do is watch in amazement and tell her repeatedly how awesome she is and how much I love her. When the head appears, I think I may pass out.
“Dad, we need you to breathe so we can focus on Mom,” the nurse chuckles.
“What?” I ask. “Oh, yeah. Breathing. I know how to do that.”
Grabbing my hand, Andi laces her fingers with mine and I pull my strength from the look of needing me in her eyes. “I’m here for you, baby. I’m not going anywhere,” I assure her.
One final push, a loud grunt from Andi, and then all of a sudden, my baby is born right before my eyes. The doctor smiles as he announces. “You have a beautiful baby girl, Mom and Dad. Congratulations.”
Andi leans back to rest, tears streaming down her face. “A girl? Luke, we have a girl,” she cries.
Holding Andi’s face in my hands, I repeatedly kiss her beautiful face. “You’ve given me everything I’ll ever need, Andi. I love you. I’m crazy for you, baby.”
The nurse finishes checking our daughter over, cleans her, wraps her in a pink blanket, and places her in my arms. “Here you go, Dad. Meet your daughter.”
There’s no way I can hold back the tears that fall freely from my eyes. This precious bundle in my arms is the best part of me, and she looks just like her mom already. Kissing her gently on her little pink cheeks, I murmur softly how very loved she is. As I lean into Andi with our baby in my arms, the nurse snaps a picture of us with my phone.
Placing my daughter in my wife’s arms has to be the best feeling in the world. Nothing can top this. To think I almost lost this shows me what an idiot I am. Never again. I’ll never even come close to giving up the best things in my life—my wife and my daughter.
As Andi takes our baby, she smiles brightly through her tears. “Hi there, my sweet girl,” she coos softly at her. Andi strokes her nose and lips across the baby’s cheek, soaking in her scent and the feel of her baby skin. “I love you so much. You’re so precious.”
“What’s her name? Have you decided on one yet?” the nurse asks as she snaps another picture.
“Her name is Mackenna Grace Woods,” Andi replies.
My heart is overflowing with love for the two beautiful ladies who have stolen my heart. I’ll never want it back because it’d never be right without them anyway. They own me, without a doubt.
My life is complete.
