Hushed voices mixed anxiously with urgent, rubbed-padded footsteps. NCIS played low on the ancient Zenith television in the corner. The lights were dimmed, the mood was mellow with excited anticipation hanging heavy in the air. True to his playful disposition, he tried to keep the spirit light by comparing his scraped up knee to her impending contractions, playing with the stethoscope, cracking jokes almost as constant as he cracked his sunflower seeds. Nurses and doctors came and went, brought news, configured new drips and checked the readouts. Phones hummed with incoming text messages of support and encouragement. Outside, the sky changed from sunny and blue to charcoal and starry. And through it all, she breathed. She concentrated. She rested. She slowly munched on ice. She resituated. She smiled. She yelled. She pushed. He held her hand and spoke softly in her ear. And together, through a grueling 16-hour labor, they welcomed life.

Baby Jax…how proud and honored I feel to have been able to witness your arrival. I cannot wait to watch you grow and experience life and everything in it. Your triumphs, your failures and all that lays in between. Before you were born, I knew I’d love you. Now that you’re here…I love you even more, dear nephew. Welcome, little one.

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