Lily Blue

She's here. She's finally here.

In the middle of my baby shower, I went into labour. All those false labour pains turned out to be real. As Echo helped me to stand, my water broke and I have never been so terrified. Obi-Wan drove, Kiti held Rose, and Echo took care of me. All the fear i had about giving birth magnified a hundred times. At the hospital, we were rushed to maternity and along the way I saw two dear friends, Darth Vader and Lady Everon. They had come to support us and it was so moving. Now, I had heard about "Labour Amnesia," where you forget all the pain of childbirth, but thought it was all a bunch of hooey. Its not. I know I yelled and screamed and called people names, begged for drugs, and possibly threatened my darling husband. Then when Deliah Blue showed up to help coach me, i felt a sense of calm. Maybe it was her pheremones...but they've never affected me before...maybe Obi, out in the waiting room used the Force...I don't know. But, I am grateful. As soon as Lily took her first breath, the pain and fear was all forgotten. That first cry was the most beautiful sound in the galaxy. She was safe, she was here, and she was letting everyone know! Echo took her gently from the nurse and had the first cuddle. Only fair, as i'd had her for nine months. He was so sweet, so gentle. My big, tough guy...reduced to a quivering mass of tears and emotion by an 8 pound baby. I had my first cuddle with so many tears, my baby was a bit blurry. Then Blue got to hold her little namesake. Our family came in to see the newest member. Rose, Kiti, Obi, Ani, Vader, and Becky came in and took turns holding Lily. Seeing Kiti, Ani, and Obi hold her was so emotional. One day soon, Kiti will be in that bed, and I'll be there, taking my turn holding Bennie and Dex. They'll be great parents.

I am beyond overwhelmed by this precious little life that Echo and I have created. Mostly, I can't believe how much I love her already. I knew from the moment I learned about my pregnancy that I would love my child. When Rose appeared, from 7 years into the future, I thought, "This is my baby. The one inside me. Real, flesh and blood...Echo's eyes, my hair...but her own little person. No one has ever loved a child as much as I love Rose..." I regretted not having memories of her as a baby, but now, I realize those memories have little importance. Its the memories we make now that matter. Even though Lily is technically Rose, we don't think of her in that way. She's Lily Blue, not Rose Kitiyari. They may look alike, but personality wise they will be different. Lily has a big sister. Rose doesn't. Lily will have cousins of a similar age, Rose didn't. We will raise them to be individuals and follow their path. Rose is going to be a doctor. Maybe Lily will want to be a teacher, or a baker. My precious little angels, my flowers, my perfect representation of my love for Echo and his for me. Our 8 pound, 6 ounce, 20 inches long, red-headed, golden eyed miracle.