Sunday July 18 2021, I became a Grandma!
Well, really I was already a grandma, to George's grandchildren, whom I love, but this new one is a little more special to me!
Back in December of 2020, we finally got all our kids and grandkids together to take a family picture. We flew Mallory up from Arizona, Jessica and Ross were here from England, Brennan and Liberty came down from the Ogden area. Mike, Kaylee and Christian came from Lindon, Angela and Trev from Payson, and Richard, Marianne and her 5 kids from Lindon also (they were married on Dec 18!). On the 5th of Dec, we gathered at a spot in North Provo, and a friend of George's took our big family photo. After pictures, my kids asked me to meet them at the car to give me my Christmas present! They bought me a big Minky Couture blanket - I've been wanting one - so I was excited about that! Then Brennan and Liberty said they had one other thing, and gave me a small box to unwrap! It was a small box, a Vans shoe box, and had a pair of white infant shoes in it! They were announcing to us that Liberty was pregnant and they were expecting a baby! I don't think they had a due date at the time, but sometime in the summer! Yippee! As I said, I am certainly happy to be Grandma Amy to the Hickman kids, but knowing that I had a biological grandbaby coming, it put me over the moon!
Fast Forward.. Liberty's due date was July 24! She'd been having lots of contractions for the last month or so, and she wasn't expecting she'd go all the way to her due date! On July 8, her mom and sisters had a Birthing Way or Blessing Way event for her at Mandy's house in Huntsville. This is a Native American tradition that celebrates the maiden becoming a mother! We had a nice dinner prepared by her sisters, and then all the women gathered in a circle to share wisdom, quotes or advice with Liberty. Of course I just cried when I shared - I had been thinking alot that my sweet Mark may have been holding this sweet little baby before sending him down to this family. We were all "linked" together with a string around our wrists, and tied those strings on , to be taken off after the baby was born, to keep Lib in our thoughts. It was a great evening, I had also taken a few bags of baby clothes and blankets and stuff that I had gathered for them. It was almost a two hour drive for me to get there, but I am so glad I went! ( I had been scheduled to go to the temple with George at 4 pm, but I had someone else go in my place.)
Mallory flew to Utah on July 14 with her friend Alyssa. They came just to get away, and we went to Lagoon on the 15th. We met up with Liberty and Brennan for dinner at the end of the day. Liberty was progressing a bit, having more contractions, and we joked (and hoped) that maybe the baby would be born before they flew home on Saturday evening the 17th. I took Mallory and Alyssa to the airport for a late afternoon flight, and then went home. George had to prepare a talk for church the next day, so he stayed up later, and I went to bed before midnight. I looked at the clock around 2 am when he finally came to bed, I'd had a little bit of sleep.
At 2:42 am, my phone buzzing woke me up! Brennan was calling - he told me I should come, that things were progressing and Baby Brown Bear was coming! I asked if I had time for a shower... said I'd be on the road soon. I showered quickly and threw some things in a bag, and got on the road by 3:15 am. Listened to a podcast on the way to keep me company, it's a 104 mile drive to their place, about 90 minutes! At 3:54, Brennan called again, asking how far away I was, which was not quite halfway, and he told me that the baby had already arrived! He didn't wait for me! I was a little sad for that, but glad that all had gone well and he was here! I continued on my drive north - there wasn't much traffic at 4 am on a Sunday morning.
The door was cracked open when I arrived, I dropped my bag at the bottom of the stairs, and someone, I think Lib's sister Em, told me he was upstairs. I went upstairs and found them - Liberty was holding the baby and nursing him, Brennan gave me a hug. Lib's mom Marie is a Doula, and the midwife Chris was also there. Mandy was also there helping out, videotaping, and giving advice. Baby Graham was weighed after I got there, they asked Liberty what her guess was - 7 lbs 2 ounces, and she was correct. Then Marie measured him , 19.5 inches long, and his head, chest and tummy were all around 13 inches. Mandy guided Brennan in putting his first diaper on, so as not to have the tabs rubbing his legs. I don't remember when I first got to hold him, but it was wonderful - so sweet to have this brand new baby boy in my arms - straight from heaven! I like to think that Mark was snuggling on him and giving him advice before sending him down... Mark would be so overjoyed to have been here to love this baby! I know he would be so proud of our kids and the grown ups they are becoming! I sure miss him!
Someone asked Liberty if she was hungry - I had brought some homemade bread that I'd baked on Saturday - she said a piece of bread with butter and honey sounded great. I went downstairs and sliced it, warmed it up in the microwave a moment, and buttered and put some honey on it. She said it just hit the spot!
Everyone eventually left, and it was time to get some sleep - maybe around 6 am?? There was a twin bed in the spare room, so I laid down there and tried to rest - the AC was on and I was a little cool, but got some sleep. Brennan came in later and said he was going to make breakfast so we all went downstairs - he handed me Graham - I held him as long as possible before handing him over to Liberty. It was so wonderful to see his eyes, look at his fingers and toes - they are all there! He has a fair amount of brown hair - he is just perfect. Lib thinks he has Brennan's nose. Brennan made some wheat waffles - I asked him for the recipe...
Later, Liberty's sister Eden and her husband came by to see him and hold him. I went up for a nap before they left. George finished his church meetings and said he'd ride his motorcycle up to come and meet him. When I woke from my nap, Mandy and Jarrod and their kids were all there - taking turns holding Graham. George arrived just before they were leaving, maybe around 3 pm. I had to leave to go back to Payson for a 6 pm meeting by 4:30, so George got a little time holding Graham also.
Graham Anders Brown, born 7/18/2021, 3:20 am. 7 lbs 2 ounces, 19.5 inches long. This little guy came quick, Liberty started having some pains around midnight, after they'd been up to Mandy's for dinner. She got in the tub to see if contractions would stop, but soon realized things were going. Marie was there about 45 min before he was born, so she help Lib through the birth. Brennan got in the tub with her to support her (a blow up tub for birthing) and after only a couple of pushes, Graham arrived. The umbilical cord was around his neck, Marie quickly removed it, and there were no problems. Liberty had planned to have him at home - Marie's daughters have all had home births, and she has been there for all of them.
