Thought I would make an update. Life has been crazy lately. Spent the past week in the hospital with my wife, as she was (at the time) nearing 10 days overdue with our daughter. We had to wait nearly 3 days for her to dilate to the point where we could have the midwife break her water. Then we waited another half a day for her to complete the dilation stage to start the hard labor, which she did exceptionally well with. I was really quite proud of her for giving life-a very spiritual time, feeling that there where others in the room giving praise...good vibes.

Seeing my daughter for the first time brought a tear to my eye. I didn't know how I would feel seeing her in the flesh...my own blood right here in my arms.

My baby girl is the most beautiful person I've ever met in my life...it's crazy. As much as a good thing as this is, I feel that my wife doesn't have the same feelings right now. I've been looking up postpartum depression, trying to understand what she's going through. I've had my share of depression, sure...try to hide it most of the time. I'm able to let a lot of it go by helping people at work. (EMS)

This is different though. I'm seeing a lot of the feelings that I have inside personified in my wife, who is normally a rather happy-go-lucky individual. A regular spitfire, and half the reason I fell in love with her in the first place. All that, though-isn't in place at the present. I've been supportive, letting her sleep as much as she can-I know her body's been through its limit with the pregnancy and birth. Been doing most of what I can while I'm here...laundry, taking care of her/the baby, trying to help her out as much as I know how...suppose I'll just have to bear it and help her get through it.

Over the past couple of days, I've seen her in a spiral though. I don't enjoy seeing her like this, and it's starting to rub off on me now. Every time Gabrielle cries I can tell she falls apart. She keeps crying, saying she feels guilty, that she isn't doing something right, this and that. I keep trying to reassure her that she's doing just fine, but she won't believe it.

Hopefully all this will pass soon. I know her hormones and body has to readjust, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they will sooner than later.

In light of everything, I feel the most perfect love when I hold my baby girl. She has the most amazing eyes. The eyes of a child...really are windows to the soul. Maybe my own.