“And…rest.” Dr. Ruby looks up briefly to smile at my wife. “You’re doing great. His head’s already almost out. Give me another one just like that…” She waits for the monitor to start climbing, signaling another contraction. “Now!”

“Come on, baby, you got this,” I say, encouraging her through another ten-count while sneaking occasional glances at the mirror set up down there for our viewing pleasure. I can’t look for very long because every time I do, I end up feeling woozy. “Pushhhhhh!” I shout while she squeezes the life out of my hand.

“Head’s out! You can relax for a minute.”

This time Sammi remains in her upright position, ready to go when given the order.

“There he is,” I say, pointing toward the bloody mess in the mirror and trying not to pass out. It looks like a scene from a horror movie down there, with the doctor unwrapping the cord from around his neck and suctioning all kinds of goop out of his mouth.

“He’s so beautiful.” Big fat tears spill from my Li’l Bit’s eyes. This must be what they’re referencing with that phrase “a face only a mother could love.” Because my wife is smitten.

“That’s exactly what I was just thinking,” I lie, praying the situation gets better once he’s cleaned up.

“One more big push,” the doctor says, nodding at my wife. “In three, two, one…”

Sammi bears down, digging deep for every ounce of strength she can muster.

“He’s out!”

The second Dr. Ruby makes the announcement, Sammi’s body falls back and she is racked with sobs.

It’s the sound of his first cry that has me biting back tears. Hearing his little voice for the very first time. “You did it, Sam!”

My chest swells to near bursting with immeasurable pride. “You’re amazing.” I grip her face in my hands and smash my lips to her sweaty forehead while she attempts to catch her breath. “I love you so much.”

“I love you.” Her fingers tighten around mine. “So much.”

“Mr. Livingston,” Dr. Ruby calls, “would you like to cut the cord?”

I look to my wife, who smiles up at me and nods, giving me a little nudge. “Go meet your son.”

The overwhelming feeling of warmth that consumes me as I look at our little miracle is the purest form of love I’ve ever experienced. “He’s perfect,” I rasp, as tears run unchecked down my cheeks.

“Right between these clamps,” Dr. Ruby says, handing me the scissors.

Once I make the cut, the doctor hands him off to the second nurse, who until now had just been hanging out near the baby warmer.

“What’s happening?” There’s an edge of panic in my wife’s voice. “I thought…shouldn’t we be doing skin to skin?”