Best friends and baby fever

Two weeks ago my best friend, Rylie, gave birth to my newest niece MaggieMae Johanna Borstelman. She is beautiful and perfect in every way, and I was able to experience every moment of Rylie's labor and birth with her. MaggieMae was born April 8th, 2016 at 5:09 P.M after 24 hours of labor she was 21 inches long and 8lbs 1 oz.

Rylie and I have been best friends since kindergarten. I went to Jefferson Elementary the first half of kindergarten until my family moved into the Lewis and Clark neighborhood. I transferred to Lewis and Clark, I remember being so scared because I didn't have any friends. As the class sat down to story time two girls were sitting on the other side of the group staring at me. They started to scoot closer to me and I had no idea what to think. They sat by me and welcomed me into their group, and that was that. From that day forward Rylie was my best friend. We did everything together, people even now mistake us for twins or sisters! In 5th grade we went school shopping together in Idaho Falls and got a few of the same outfits and would call each other and coordinate our outfits. We were so silly. In junior high we ended up at different schools and kind of lost touch. In high school we didn't talk much, but after graduation we reconnected and it was like nothing ever changed. To this day she is my best friend.

So in August she text me and said she was back in town, she had been a traveling gypsy for the last year and a half, so I was so excited to see her! When we got to Sumisu I asked her why she was back in town and so calm, she told me she was pregnant. I was so over the moon about it! From that day I was in love with that little peanut. Rylie had a gender reveal party, I'm pretty sure I was the only one that didn't know Maggie was a girl haha! And I made all of her cloth diaper, and let me tell you it was such a pain but SO worth it!

So fast forward a very fast 9 months. Rylie's due date was April 7th. So for the two weeks prior I was texting her everyday asking how she was feeling and if baby was gonna come today. Finally on her due date she text me and Victoria and said that her contractions were 40 minutes apart but not strong. The night around 10 Victoria and I headed up to her mom's to hang out while she labored. Rylie labored through the night like a freakin' champ! 8A.M rolled around and her contractions started getting more intense so we headed to the hospital. After getting settled into the room we waited. Things were moving along, we were walking up and down the hall to get her to dilate. Amilia, the doula, suggested she get in the bath. This was probably around 2. This helped things move along, it hurt to hear her move through the contractions because I'm sure they didn't feel good. But I knew she was going to do this, keep in mind she did this all natural. She wanted a natural birth and thats what she got! I walked into the bathroom and she was in the tub and said something didn't feel right. So they got her out she laid on the bed and it was time for MaggieMae to make her appearance.

It went so fast! 4 big pushes and one lioness roar later and Rylie gave birth to Maggie! It was such a wonderful and touching experience. I bawled! She was perfect in every way! I was so glad to have been there.

So many emotions rushed over me, when I got home that night I was exhausted. Physically and most of all, emotionally. I was happy, excited, over the moon, and sad. The sadness confused me because it was such a joyous day a new, beautiful, perfect baby was brought into this world and I was able to witness and support Rylie through it all. I was sad because I may never be able to have that chance and I felt guilty because of that. However, the happiness I felt overpowered the sadness.

I tell Rylie weekly how grateful I am that she allowed me to share that moment with her. Because it was truly a beautiful experience. Words will never explain how grateful I am. I have an overwhelming love for both Rylie and MaggieMae.

XOXO