Playlist for Having a Baby

School has begun, which is glorious and strange as I now have 2 of 3 kids in school. With only little Daily riding around with me in our trusty mini van I've had a bit more control over the music we listen to (although we all know I always have the control, I'm just bullied by the peanut gallery to play their favorite tunes and I graciously oblige in order to keep my sanity and lunch money). The past couple days D and I have listened through her birthing playlist while running errands and she sits calmly listening. I swear she remembers the songs because she truly calms, almost nostalgic.

I made a long long long playlist for Ever's birth, but with her 45 minute accidental home birth I never even turned the music on. So, with Daily I decided I wanted the music surrounding her birth to be specific; to be aware during my pregnancy to what God was speaking. I wanted to know His heart for Daily in her entry into the world and His heart for me as I desired to go through natural birth with Him. So, these six songs filled the slots. Six songs that played on repeat that ushered Daily into the world. They feel almost sacred, each holding something that pushed me forward and helped me rest. I think we listened through the list about three times before D was born, her 2.5 hour labor was short but intense. Here's a glimpse into how each song carried me.

1. Sink My Feet by Jillian Edwards
-My favorite line in this song goes,

"I'd leave my fear alone
I'd leave my fear alone
Not asking for anything
Just keep me by you, keep me by you."

These words were a cry out to God to remember He made my body and as long as He was with me I didn't have to be afraid. I would picture sinking my feet into wet cement or beachy wet sand and a calm would enter the moment. The words still help me take deep breaths.

2. Stay Alive by Jose Gonzalez
-Back story on this song. There was a snapshot in time before I was pregnant with Daily that I took a trip to CA without Phil or the kids. One morning I took a walk that seemed more than doable since my google maps said it was only 1.2 miles to where I needed to go, but said 1.2 miles were up a mountain. It was raining, so I was wearing large rain boots with my backpack under my rain jacket. I'm sure I looked as pathetic as I felt, but when this song came through my ear buds I felt more alive than I could remember in a LONG time. When I found out I was pregnant with our third I knew this would be our child's song. I needed to remember God's faithfulness as having three kids felt completely beyond me. My favorite chunk of this song goes,

"Sometimes there's things a man cannot know
Gears won't turn and the leaves won't grow
There's no place to run and no gasoline
Engine won't turn
And the train won't leave

Engines won't turn and the train won't leave

I will stay with you tonight
Hold you close 'til the morning light
In the morning watch a new day rise
We'll do whatever just to stay alive
We'll do whatever just to stay alive"

As I labored I knew our baby would be named Daily Lux (latin for the smallest measurement of light), so this song reminded me she was coming just as the faithfulness of God comes in each sunrise.

3. Quiet Hearts by Amy Stroup

-The chorus of this song gets me good. It goes,

"Grace falls down on quiet hearts

Just when I think it might fall apart.
Grace falls down on quiet hearts
You don't have to yell, don't have to yell."

These words practically reminded me not to yell. So much energy can be waisted by yelling during labor. So, when I would start to freak out a bit, start to get too loud, start to feel like I was out of control this song pulled me in. Grace is here, God is here, I can slow down. It really is such a gentle beautiful song.

The other three songs were/are just as moving, but I'll need to recap them later. Miss Daily has awoken from her nap and I must harken to her call. Look these songs up if you haven't heard them before!!