Elsie

Elsie Kendra Ferderer was born March 14, 2012 at 1:49 pm.

She was 8 pounds, 10 ounces, 22 inches long.

Life as we knew it had changed.

I am not sure what I expected when Elsie came into this world. I knew it would be a long process and we would come out on the other side with a baby, but I didn't expect to look back on the whole process with fondness. Even though I was in labor for 20 hours and in much pain for most of it, the feeling of holding my child in my arms for the first time fills me with indescribable joy. Even now, nearly three weeks and many hurdles later, I would do it all over again.

I know that these statements are terribly cliche, as if I am reciting the "Mother's Mantra," but what I have said has been heard before because it is truth. Any mother knows: labor is totally worth it!