This cigar box was decorated for me by a dear friend, Susan Saunders, for my Mother's Blessing when I was pregnant with Arabella Rose in 2008. The box was filled with inspirational quotes, poems, and pretty beads that each of my friends hand selected for me. Susan strung the beads together, and I wore it as I labored at home. Both the box and the necklace are on a shelf in my room so I can be reminded daily of the strength and love that surrounds me.
Below is a montage of her water birth. I hadn't watched it in a few years and it still tears me up. A big, loving thanks to my incredible midwife, Nancy Giglio and doula, Therese Hak-Kuh. They are an incredible team, and I am grateful for the work they do to empower women during birth.
