On October 4 at 11:53 a.m., Regan Emma Laine Shaver arrived, weighing 7 pounds, 5 ounces and measuring 18 1/4 inches long.
(Photos by Alisha Rudd Photography)
The moment I first saw her face I was overcome with love. It immediately took me back to meeting her sister six years earlier — they look so much alike that I couldn’t help but think they’re twinning. That first sight was instant and unforgettable.
Her name has a special meaning for our family. Robert and I have developed a fondness for Shakespeare over the years, so we chose Regan from King Lear. As a former English teacher, Shakespeare has always been close to my heart — he created strong female characters and left an imprint on literature that speaks to me. We were married on April 23, Shakespeare’s birthday, and our daughter Olivia’s name traces back to Twelfth Night. When we were deciding on names for this second little girl, Regan stood out immediately.
Her middle names, Emma and Laine, honor family tradition: Emma comes from my great-grandmother’s middle name, and Laine (a variation of Elaine) connects to my mother and me. Her initials — R.E.L.S. — coincidentally match Robert’s initials, and that felt like a sweet, unexpected tie.
Labor was very different this time compared to my experience with Olivia. Around midnight into the early morning on Wednesday, my water broke and I honestly thought I had wet the bed — a slightly embarrassing but clear sign that things were starting. I had had no real signs of labor beforehand.
With Olivia, my labor at home lasted 16 hours with intense back labor contractions and very slow progress, and the water never broke until much later. This second labor, by contrast, moved quickly once it started.
After confirming my water had broken, Robert and I went to the hospital and were admitted around 5:30 a.m. At that point, contractions were mild and I remember laughing through them. They started an induction with pitocin shortly after we were settled, and the situation changed fast. I told my nurse I’m a total wimp when it comes to pain and that I wanted an epidural as soon as it became uncomfortable.
Within three hours I went from 2 cm to 9 1/2 cm without medication. I remember praying through each contraction and leaning heavily on the encouragement of Robert and my mom — their presence and support were invaluable. The anesthesiologist was delayed, so although I asked for the epidural early, the timing didn’t work out. When he finally arrived, the epidural only took effect on one side, and I still felt most of the contractions.
The moment there was no turning back I felt an intense surge of adrenaline and determination. I had never felt so empowered. With the encouragement around me and the focus to keep going, just five pushes later our healthy baby girl was born. In an instant the pain vanished in the presence of that tiny, warm, perfect baby on my chest, crying loudly — to me, the most beautiful sound in the world.
The room was a blur of nurses and doctors doing their work, but all that mattered to me was holding her. That experience taught me a lot about my own resilience. I wanted to be angry and to scream during the hardest moments, and yes, I did — but by the end I felt proud and stronger than I ever imagined. It’s amazing how childbirth brings out both vulnerability and courage.
That lesson has carried over into how I view life: we face trials that test us, but overcoming them shows us our strength and changes us for the better. The challenge of labor became a reminder that victory often follows the hardest moments.
When Olivia first met Regan in the hospital, it took her a little while to understand that this tiny new person was her baby sister. Now that we’re home, Olivia has become the sweetest helper — fetching blankets and burp cloths, helping with baths, and singing to her. Watching them together melts my heart and reminds me daily how grateful we are for our growing family.
We feel incredibly blessed and thankful for our healthy baby girl, for the support of family, and for the lessons this experience has given us.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above.” James 1:17
