The journey began Thursday night, May 3, 2007, around 11 p.m. I was feeling "crampy" and decided to get into the bath. James and Kyle had just got home from buying me a Matt Redmond CD. They bought it for when I was in labor.

After putting the CD on I got in the tub and tried to just relax. James walked in and sat beside the tub and began reading from the book of psalms. The cramping was rhythmic, every 10 minutes or so. I decided to get out and go lie on my left side to see if they would go away. I fell asleep so I figured it was false labor.

At 3 a.m. I woke and thought I was having severe gas pains. After trying to go to the bathroom many times I went to lie back down hoping to get more sleep. After dozing on and off for hours I decided to get up. It was 7 a.m. and I was sure this was the beginning of labor.

I woke James up and while he was busy getting Kyle ready for school I got into the shower and labored nicely. By now the contractions were five minutes apart and steady. I sang songs in the shower and thought about how I would soon be a mother again in a few hours.

I had an OB appointment at 11 a.m. and decided to keep it. By 10:30 a.m. my mother was over with James and me. She was trying to talk me into going to the hospital but I knew how I wanted to labor and I wasn't going to cave because this was to be my last baby.

By 11 a.m. I was contracting every three minutes. I was handling them very well, though, talking and laughing between them and concentrating during them. My sister, Nichole, had driven an hour to be with me and was going to be my labor coach.

We got into the doctor's office and after checking me, the doctor told me I was already 6 centimeters dilated! Everyone was excited and expected me to head right to labor and delivery, but I told my OB I wanted to go back home. He told me OK but to come in if my water broke because I was having another VBAC.

When I got home my house was filled with close friends and family. It was awesome. My sister had stopped at the cafeteria in the hospital to get me some mashed potatoes. (I love hospital food!) so when I got home we all sat around eating and hanging out. By then it was me, James, my mother, my sister Nichole, my sister Danielle, sister in-law Joe'l, friend Stephanie, best friend Maureen and stepson Dreyden. Maureen was videotaping the whole thing.

I had read a book recently, Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, where a woman in the book had decided her labor day was going to be an enjoyable day, that it wouldn't be all tense and serious. After reading that I knew I wanted mine to be the same way, and it was!

I stood most of the time while Nichole rubbed my lower back. I had so much love and support from everyone there, it was so special to me.

Around 1:15 p.m. my contractions were about a minute apart and I knew it was time to go. We all piled into the cars and headed to the hospital. On the way I listened to soft jazz and prayed quietly to the Lord. I knew everything was in his hands.

Arriving at the hospital I was met with my nurse. I told her right away that I didn't want to be offered medication and she said no problem. Then I told her I planned on eating and drinking. Again she said no problem. I also didn't want an IV and wanted to wear my own clothes. She gave me no problems with anything. She said it was totally up to me.

After she checked me I wasn't surprised when she said I was 8 or 9 centimeters. I just smiled and said thank you. She laughed and said she couldn't believe how calm I was. I smiled and told her it was the power of prayer and meditation. But it was also the intense support I received from everyone during my labor that helped me. (Thank you, Nichole, for reminding me to breathe!)

After rocking in the chairs, walking around and chit chatting with everyone I decided to get into the shower. They were hurting and I knew hot water would help. I stripped my clothes off, got into the hot shower and turned the lights off. While I sat in the shower I kept telling myself that I was opening up and that Matthew was coming down.

I had read that if you sing during the contractions it keeps everything loose and open, so I began to sing softly the most beautiful song I knew, a worship song that sings of God's greatness. As I sang I also listened to my husband singing along with me. This was probably the most special moment of my labor, something I will never forget.

James and I had had some turbulence recently in our marriage that we were working on. Our connection to each other through the labor and birth of our son was amazing. He was so incredible.

After 45 minutes I got out so the nurse could again check me. I didn't mind. I was getting really hot. Anyway, she checked me and I was the same but his head was way down. She said if I allowed the doctor to break my water he would come the rest of the way because the cushion would be gone. After thinking a few moments I decided OK. So far I had had a pretty natural birth aside from the cervical exams, but I was ready to meet Matty, so I said yes.

After the doctor came in I began to panic slightly. I remembered when my water was broken last time and the intensity of it all. My sister was trying to get me to concentrate again by having me look into her eyes while she calmly spoke but I lost my concentration and began to cry. Joe'l came and prayed with me.

My first contraction after my water was broken brought me right to 10 centimeters and ready to push (this was a matter of maybe 60 seconds). Matthew was coming whether I was ready or not.

The doctor told me to bare down and he would be here and as I did I began to scream. Looking back now I think it actually helped and made it feel better, but the nurse was trying to tell me to hold it in. Needless to say, I didn't. Five minutes after my water was broken Matthew's head was out. His cord was left attached like I wanted and I received him right away.

He was swollen, bloody, slimy and all mine! He was beautiful, all 8 pounds and 20 inches of him. I couldn't believe it; he was here and I was done! All those months and he was here.

Matthew nursed for one and a half hours straight. He nurses like a champ! The Lord was with me through this and my labor was incredibly memorable. Matthew entered this world surrounded by love and family. He truly is what his name means, a gift from God.