Here we go!
I’ve been waiting on Sylas Duncan Mutrux, not even knowing who he would be, for a very long time. And now, the time is here to try something completely different… Parenting seems to be the ultimate endurance sport; one in which your child knows all the rules of the game, doesn’t tell you what they are, and changes them on a daily basis.
The day before…
June 17, 2026
Harry and I woke up early on June 17, the last day we’d spend in the house without a baby. We set about our usual routine, making coffee, taking a walk by the pond, and generally enjoying the day, knowing that tomorrow, everything would change.
Induction Day
June 18, 2026
UVM recommends induction for IVF pregnancies with women with my risk factors, so we had the induction scheduled for 39 weeks and 2 days. On June 18, the labor and delivery unit called at 6 AM to ask us to come in. We arrived at 11 AM.
Although I had a best case scenario on my wish list, I had to be open to any path that labor would take, and keeping Baby Mutrux safe at all stages. So, after about 60 hours of labor, we opted for an unplanned C-Section.
The Birthday
June 20, 2026
There is a traditional Waldorf story that tells of a little soul who lives in the heavens and dreams of the perfect family on Earth. Guided by an angel, the baby crosses the "Rainbow Bridge" to be born. This tale honors the child’s unique journey and arrival into the world.
Mom was with me in the operating room, and was the first to see Baby Mutrux, and exclaim, “it’s a boy!” She stayed with him after he was born, watching the team measure and inspect him, and then accompany him back to my delivery room with dad and Micah while I finished surgery.
Baby Mutrux was born at 10:36 PM in Burlington, VT, weighing 7 lbs 9.3 oz, and 21 inches long. Thank you to the team of nurses, midwives, doulas, fetal medicine docs, and anesthesiologists who helped usher this little guy across the rainbow bridge to me. Thank you, little boy, for choosing me.
Early days
June 21, 2026
After a C-Section, patients at UVM get to stay on the Mama & Baby unit for four days, which is amazing because it is staffed round the clock with a rotation of experienced, knowledgable RNs, LNAs, lactation consultants, and residents who all know how to keep your newborn alive. While I worked on learning how to breastfeed and hold this new little bundle (who was very slippery and floppy!) they took care of me and him to make sure we were both recovering.
Life changed immediately; I’ve never seen 4 AM so many times in a row. We had a great view of the Long Trail over Mount Mansfield from our window, and I’d watch the sun come up over the mountain while I thought about what to name this little guy.
Sylas Duncan Mutrux goes home
June 24, 2026
I finally filled out the paperwork for the birth certificate on the last day in the hospital. Landing on the name Sylas Duncan Mutrux, and the proper spelling, we made it official.
I had dug back in our family tree to look for inspiration for names from the Mutrux and Coe sides, since I wanted him to have a little bit of both in his name. Contenders for naming had been Mae, Duncan, and Minnie from the Mutrux side, and Susan, Sophie, and Sylvanus from the Coe side. Sylvanus seemed more like a joke than a real option, until I learned that it means “Of the Forest,” which I thought was fitting for this little guy. So I explored derivatives of this name, and tried them on for size when I met him.
Sylas Duncan Mutrux, seemed to fit well.
Life on Cold Spring Lane
Since we’ve been home, time has flown by. Sylas is already a month old. We’re all settling in, getting to know each other, and learning how this parenting thing works. I’ve been saying it is the ultimate endurance sport, testing all my capacities. My parents have been amazing; taking care of me and helping with Sylas.
June - July 2026
