Babies and Birds

Last summer we got back from a weekend away to find piles of mud on our back porch. We quickly realized that it was spill over from a robin's nest that had been freshly constructed on one of the beams. I was amazed by the nest, so beautifully woven and the whole inside carefully coated in a thin layer of mud. Truthfully it wasn't all that convenient to have a robin family move in right by the back door. I thought about relocating the nest before any eggs were laid, but by the time I finally got serious about it I found two gorgeous blue eggs perfectly placed inside. These robins were going to be our guests for the summer.

We had to stop using the porch and keep the cat away. We watched everyday from our office window, heard the tiny cheeps when the birds were born, saw their prehistoric little heads bob for food and get fluffier by the day. We were lucky enough to see each bird leave the nest, hang out on the porch for a day or so, and then finally hop down to the grass below.

I'd certainly witnessed many baby birds hatch before, but this was the first time since having my own child and it made the whole experience feel miraculous and precious.

For the last several days my mind keeps returning to those birds. My cousin has been struggling through labor with her first child. She is my dearest friend and certainly like a sister. It isn't my story to tell, so I will just say that she is perfectly healthy as is the baby and she is doing an amazing job... but as with nearly every birth story, it isn't exactly as she'd hoped or planned.  

She lives in Chicago and it's hard to be far from someone you love when they're in the throes of something so painful, beautiful, and life changing. Possibly because motherhood has been such a completely transformative experience for me, or maybe just because I love her very much and can't wait to be an aunt, I'm completely consumed and can't think about anything else.

So I'm waiting, very distracted and reflecting on my own labor as well. Today I kept watching a robin hop around on our garage roof and perch on the branches of the maple tree. Most likely it's several different birds and not just one, but in my imagination it's our robin. She's ready and searching for where to build her new nest for this summer.

*updated: she's here! 8lbs 5oz healthy baby girl and we're still waiting on the name...