I absolutely LOVE this post! Sometimes, people don't realise the reality of labour and birth until it is spelt out to them! Of course, every individual has a different story, but the more stories you can hear/read about, the easier it is to understand and have ideas of what to expect. You can read and read books, but unless you hear someone's very own story, it doesn't feel as realistic!
Reading each step of your journey, it feels like I am re-living mine, as we seem to have had identical births (however yours was through the night and mine through the morning). It is so heart warming to hear other people's labour stories, especially when they are so perfect like yours. Congratulations and well done you! You ought to be proud of yourself! :)