I have been lucky. All over the world I have travelled to amazing places far and wide, meeting beautiful people and seeing grand sights. Sometimes I am inspired to write about a happening, a moment or a special time. This is one of those occasions as I have been honoured this year to share in some of the great lead up and preparation before your birth into the world. And, on the day you - Morgan Rowan Burns - were born I was there with Aunty Anna, Midwife Evelyn and Midwife Ramona supporting your Mum and Dad. What a brilliant time!

Grand preparation & the pregnancy

Your Mum and Dad have wanted you in their lives for a long, long time. You were even claimed to be one of the most wanted babies in the world. I know so. Let me tell you all about it.

When Mum was a couple of weeks pregnant, at the end of the year 2000, she started to get sick as her body got used to you being inside. This did take some getting used to and lots of energy but the joy of knowing you were going to be in her life soon enough was so fantastic, that being ill wasn't too awful. Your Dad was very good and did a lot of cleaning up. There were certain foods and drinks that made Mum especially sick, like lasagna, but there were others that she just loved like Somerset brie cheese, grapes, melon and strawberry juice, ice cream (all kinds) and chocolate animal biscuits.

I came to stay with your Mum and Dad 3 weeks before you were born. (I slept in your room all bright and colorful with your African animal toys!) By this time your Mum was feeling much better and comfortable with you inside. She had a rather large tummy at this stage but from the back you would hardly guess she was pregnant at all. Some people liked to say she was very neat. You had been growing bigger and bigger! Dad was working very hard and travelling backwards and forwards between Edinburgh and London. Sometimes he would have to be away from home for a couple of days and nights too. Mum missed him a lot.

My job then was to do fun things with Mum and also help to get the house ready for your arrival. Mum and I had lazy mornings and lovely days shopping, going to Edinburgh festival events, gardening and sorting through boxes of papers. Polly and Kiedis both caught colds and we had to take them to the vet 3 times. In between all this we even took the empty bottles to the bottle bank. Mum had a massage and went to the floatarium. She also went swimming (with Kate, Aunty Anna and I) and took lots of naps. Mum needed to nap because you kicked a lot and wriggled around inside her tum when she was trying to rest. She had to go to the loo a great deal also, .even in the middle of the night. And, sometimes Mum would get hungry at 4am and have to get out of bed for a snack.

By the time of your expected arrival into the world (22nd August) we had set up the birth pool and prepared the sitting room, sawed down the dead rose bush around the front door and cleaned the kitchen floor. Little did we all know for sure that you wouldn't be born for another 11 days, although, Mum often talked about you arriving on the 2nd of September. Maybe that was a Mum instinct! You will learn more about Mum Instincts in years to come.

Your due date... and beyond

On your due date Mum, Dad, Aunty Anna, Uncle Fuzz, Amanda, Jamie, Melissa, Euan and I all went out to The Guru for a curry. You see, a hot curry is supposed to kick start labour. You were not ready to appear yet and it was at least a hot chilly meal, a fish supper with a bottle of Bud and another curry later before we would meet you.

Another thing Mum and Dad did in the 11 days between the 22nd of August and your birth day was drive around the Borders looking at big, grand family homes with large gardens. I joined them one day. We went to Selkirk and had lunch in Melrose by the river. It was a fun day except we got a parking ticket.

Because you had yet to turn your body around to the out position in Mum's tummy she needed to crawl around on her hands and knees to assist you. So, we bought jigsaw puzzles (Coronation St and Cats) and Mum had two sessions of acupuncture. She loved eating baked potatoes and lots of salad (huge meals). Playing the Settlers game and chatting online were other past times. We threw a pool party with Aunty Anna (and cracked open a wee bottle champagne). Amanda, Jamie, Melissa and Euan visited whilst we were all sitting in the pool. Oh, and we watched 3 movies. Mum liked Four Weddings and a Funeral the best because she knew all the words (every one!). I ironed Dad's shirts whilst we watched. We made 3 CDs for your birth

1. Loud and Rockin'
2. Positive/Inspirational
3. Calming

So much happened whilst Mum was pregnant with you. Did you know you visited the United States of America and Ireland too? You also went to a Brian McNeill concert and Dick Gaughan played. I wonder if you like their music now.

Fireworks...

The day before your birth (Saturday 1st of September) was quite normal. It was cloudy and grey. Mum was a bit nauseous in the morn. I went out for lunch, Mum and Dad shopped at Sainsburys, we ate hot chicken curry for tea, Aunty Anna called by and we all went to the end of festival fireworks together. The fireworks were beautiful from Craiglockhart Hill, but the rain did put a slight damp edge on it all. We all walked down the hill about 11.30pm - still no sign of you except for Mum's bump. Mum was feeling fine.

Sunday, 2nd Sept

I don't know why we went to bed. Mum and Dad quietly left the house at 2.30am. I was wide awake and couldn't sleep another wink - did this mean you were on the way or had they just gone out for a breath of fresh air? I stared at your Kenyan People Mobile for a long time. At 4am Mum and Dad came home. They checked their email. I had to get up and ask them what was going on, even though I knew they would come and tell me soon enough. An update was posted to your website. Mum's waters had broken and now the wait for the contractions to begin had started.

By 6am, full steam ahead, Mum had gone into labour. I went back to bed for awhile, Mum and Dad sat in the office. I guess no one could believe this was all happening∑finally after nine and 1/3 months of preparation. Everyone was excited.

Mum's contractions were painful and often. She felt best sitting in her office chair. This was good for Dad too because he could be encouraging, hold her hand and do some computer work also. Mum didn't even want a cup of tea. She just wanted to sit with a cat on her knee. At 10am two midwives arrived - Evelyn and Ramona. They were wonderful, caring and efficient. I made lots of ups of tea and coffee and cleaned the kitchen - spotless! Dad ate some oatcakes with cheese and Mum wasn't hungry, she only wanted white grape juice.

Your birth pool was filling and the Grand Prix started. The perfect temperature for your pool was 37 degrees celcius. It took us a little while to get it right but soon enough Mum had stepped into the water. She only wanted your Dad around. He was so supportive and his presence was all she needed. The contractions were getting stronger and Mum was getting louder. She had to fight from pushing you out too soon. No one had seen Polly. She was being a scardie cat and hiding from the action. Kiedis on the other hand was playing in her new cardboard box in the hallway. She was being smug.

Aunty Anna arrived at about 2pm. We sat in the kitchen together talking about what giving birth must be like, patchwork and Spain. She bought you Sweetpeas - flowers from Pat and Phil's garden and they smelt beautiful. Mum was getting really vocal. She was saying No because it still wasn't time to push you out and you were pushing hard. I think you were only half listening. Dad wiped her forehead with an ice cold cloth and Ramona encouraged Mum and told her she was doing brilliantly. She was! We were all praying for Mum and you. Mum was very focused and fighting the forces. We were so proud and willing her our love and more energy.

You!

At 4.45pm both Aunty Anna and I heard a wee noise, a baby noise. Ramona ran through the house saying Come through, Come through. One leap and we were at the sitting room door tingling with excitement. There was Mum and Dad sitting in the pool, Dad with tears in his eyes and Mum looking more radiant than I had ever seen her. You had floated up into Mum's arms and none of us could believe our eyes. You were quiet and looked knowingly at everything. I loved your tiny feet just below the water surface. Mum said, Meet Morgan, Morgan Rowan Burns. Aunty Anna kissed Mum and Dad and hugged me. We started to cry.

You were still attached to Mum by your umbilical cord. Dad sat behind Mum in the pool and oh, I could never even begin to describe how proud he looked. The Burns Family! Your birth was like a miracle and this moment was awesome and overwhelming to say the least.

You had your eyes open and closed. The light was soft. Your hair was long and wispy, soft and dark. As your hair dried the color became lighter with a glimpse of red. Your hands moved everywhere and sometimes you wanted to cover your eyes. On your long slender fingers, perfectly formed nails were grown. Your legs were long and slowly stretching out. It must have felt so good to uncurl yourself. Mum could see why you had kicked her so much when she saw your long, strong legs. You must have been very cramped inside. Your lips were rosy and your nose - perfect. You had a few milk spots on your nose; they will disappear soon. I thought they gave you character. Dad loved your ears. We all wanted to touch you.

When Mum stepped out of the pool you were still attached to her. Aunty Anna, with the help of the midwives, cut your cord and Mum held you close. Her Boy. Mum still had to deliver the placenta and so you both lay down on the sofa bed together, covered in some towels. Photos were being snapped all around, quietly without flashes. Dad was crying with joy. After he changed into a fresh t-shirt, but still in his red swimming trunks, you were put into his arms. How handsome and complete you both looked. Martin and Morgan, Dad and Son. You felt safe and warm and you never cried. Mum's adrenalin had been raised by the excitement. She didn't look one bit tired, just beautiful. Aunty Anna and I couldn't look at each other too much because we were so taken by what we were seeing we thought we would cry! Wonderful moments like this are never ever forgotten.

Dad wrapped you in a favorite t-shirt of his and we celebrated with champagne (Veurve Cliquet) . Dad kept the cork - already in a special place in the kitchen. To Morgan, we toasted. Aunty Anna gave you a cuddle as I cooked pizza for everyone. (Aunty Anna had a tomato sandwich!) Dad then took you on a grand tour around 30 Shandon Place, your first home. Mum had more contraction type things and delivered the placenta. She was up and walking around in no time. We all just sat back admiring her.

A perfect day

On Sunday evening, Mum and Dad never took their eyes off you. We were in awe of your beauty, your tiny hands and feet, your eyes, your nose, your mouth and ears. We loved how you stretched and wriggled. Your were dressed in a small white growsuit with short sleeves and a giraffe on the front. You wore white socks. Your Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and friends of Mum and Dad's were all delighted with the news of your safe and happy arrival into the world. Mum and Dad sent emails around the globe and before you had even had your first nappy changed, people worldwide knew about you.

Dad changed your first nappy by the way. It was a good messy one - perfect training for many to come. Mum changed your second nappy and you did a pee on her! Your aim will get better - promise.

And that was how the day went. By midnight we were all sleeping, well I was sleeping and I think your Mum and Dad were still gazing at you (sleeping between them). The next morning Mum called me into see you sleeping soundly away in her big bed. You were snug and looked perfect. Later, Dad nursed you and ate his toast. You were beautiful, crumbs and all. Your face had relaxed to complete contentment.