Ian Walter Ford

After 9 months in his mommy's tummy, Ian was ready to begin mortality outside of the womb. On Wednesday the 26th of May, Kelly and I went out to get dessert at Kneaders and we walked around upper campus of BYU by the museum and waterfall. Around 9pm contractions came on strong. After walking to the park and back in the dark, the contractions quickly changed to 4-5 minutes apart. After 2 hours of contractions we decided to make the 15 minute journey to the hospital. The contractions seemed so close together and so intense that having the baby in the car crossed my mind. It was 11:10pm and hoping to hit all the green lights was at the top of my wish list. We arrived safely, I dropped Kelly and her mother off at the door while I quickly parked. As I approached the receptionist I saw Kelly in the background laying in the hallway and the midwife holding our little boy... Just kidding, that's not what happened. In the background I saw Kelly enter the room she would spend the next 2 days in. Though Kelly was afraid it was false labor and we would have to go home the nurses were reassuring us that Ian would be with us in a few hours. "A few hours? what does that mean?" ran through my head. Contraction after contraction and groan after groan the pain was building and the intensity intensified. Kelly's mom was the assistant coach, Kelly's husband, that's me, was the birth coach and Kelly, the nurses and the midwife were already busy at work. The coach and a nurse were relieving the super athlete of some pain with counter-pressure on her knees, hips, and back. Coach reminded Kelly that she was in control and that she could push this little guy out. Though the nurses would count to 10 during hard pushes Kelly would go the extra mile and push for 3 or 4 seconds longer. She was determined and even encouraged when she could see Ian's little head start to appear in the mirror. With a few more tough pushes, Ian's head, shoulders and body were welcomed into the open air of this world. His father was overwhelmed by the miraculous occasion and could only exclaim "Hallelujah" which means "praise ye the Lord". No other words could be uttered by this man. He was captivated by the incomprehensible power contained in the mind, body, and soul of this new mother. The realization came that they really created a body for this special spirit to occupy and that Kelly did in fact nurture it for 9 months and then brought it into the world so that this new soul could experience mortality, the time designated for man to prepare to live with God for all eternity.

Kelly and I are privileged to be Ian's parents. We will lead him, guide him, walk beside him, and help him find the way. We will teach him all that he must do to live with God again someday.


May 27, 2010
1:33am
7lbs 11oz
19.5in