Welcome to the World, Dominic!

One of my best friends gave birth to a baby boy last night. Dominic Antonio, born ten minutes later than Adelyn. Elise and I have been on the phone every single day for the past few weeks. I remember how that was, the end of those long, long nine months, when suddenly there is a new question or fear popping up every two minutes. Somehow I knew the answer to every single question, from mucus plugs and their proximity to the first contractions, to Braxton Hicks and every single ridiculous or legitimate natural induction strategy. Elise kept marveling at my ability to answer each question with a detailed explanation. I told her that, unlike herself, who gave birth on her last day of work at 39 weeks pregnant, I spent the last month and a half of my pregnancy at home, sitting on my ass, researching everything.

I can't explain the anxiety and excitement that a friend feels from across the country, knowing someone she loves is going through something so monumental and life-altering--especially when you know that you can't be there. And especially when you've been through it yourself and you remember in pain-staking detail each intense emotion.

When I went into labor, I didn't even glance at my phone until much later the next day. I texted Elise yesterday morning to congratulate her on her last day of work, and an hour later she called me and said she thought her water broke and they were headed to the hospital. The rest of my information came through Morgan, my other best friend in New York, who was texting with Elise's fiance the whole time. At 10 p.m., I got this one: "He's out! He's out!!!!"

At five a.m., my phone by my pillow in bed, I got a picture message from Elise. Her first family portrait, an exhausted looking mommy, her partner, and their new son. 7 pounds, 4 ounces, 20 inches, and the spitting image of my gorgeous best friend.

Welcome to the world, Dominic! I can't wait to meet you when I fly there next month.