Did Cain have a 'belly stick'?

Ahhh, the joyful experiences with a newborn in the house! Each day seems as if it just stands still at times when you are face to face with your seven pound child knowing both the great responsibility and the incredible happiness that they represent. Some moments are truly inspiring while others tend to the difficult side. Tonight provided both (though you may question my definition of inspiring after you read this).

This evening, when I arrived home from work, there was a slight bit of hub-bub and concern surrounding the already prepared dinner that awaited me. Usually this would have been a 'quickly eat and then off we go to Care Group' night, but plans quickly changed. William had a little bout of something (which we still don't know) that led to the conclusion to forego the plan and stay home for rest, a little comfort, and much observation. He seems to be doing fine, but it's good to know the internal alarm system of a mother still works, well, perfectly. But while we had an eye to his general health for the past few hours, we also engaged in some unique discussion.

Maybe it was the 'creation science' topic that we addressed at Pilgrim's Ford Academy last year with the students. Maybe it was our trip to the Creation Science Museum that brought that unit to life (pun sorta' intended). But we have recently been marveling at how Eve, the mother of all human life, did things. She had no midwife. No doctor. No 'Your Pregnancy Week by Week' book to consult. No coupons for diapers. No older women from which to receive sage wisdom. No lactation consultant from which to receive questionable wisdom(sorry, personal reflection slipped out there). And that goes for Adam too. How did he know what to do as he saw all of this unfolding? Did he instinctively know that he had better take care of the next 'small, furry but not too furry' animal skin change so as to keep his wife sane? Did he know how to care for Eve in ways that encouraged her and helped stave off post pardum depression? And then there's the obvious.

I remember just twelve days ago when I had the opportunity once again. Out came the baby and into my hands were thrust some intricate medical instrument in order to cut the cord. Life was no longer to be supplied and sustained through the miraculous lifeline to momma. But there wasn't a whole lot of decision making for me to do. Lynn, our midwife, just showed me where to cut and got it ready for me. Snip and we're done. Easy.

But no so with the first child on the planet. Sarah wants to know what they used to cut the cord. I assume that a sharp rock did the trick. How did they know when and how to do it? Sorry, dear, now I'd just be guessing. But then it hit me. Not just when and how, but WHERE? Did they go as close to Cain's body as they could? Did they measure out a certain length? Or did they just cut like fourteen inches out and hope for the best? So, yeah, I'm wondering if the first baby didn't have a belly button, but maybe something more along the line of a 'belly stick'.

Um, so that's what's on my mind. Anyway, time to go. A night of half sleep awaits me. Of course, now that I think about it...I suppose Adam got to sleep in, didn't he?