Dear Baby Girl,
Today, at exactly 2:51 PM, you turned two weeks old...in the grand scheme of your life, this is just a blip of time. To us, your parents, it is a time of celebration. It is eight years of waiting. You have already filled our lives so full that is seems like you have always been with us. I suppose, in a way, you have. With every negative test, failed cycle, and loss, the Lord had you waiting for us. Waiting for YOUR time, the RIGHT time. While we will never forget our 5 little angels, you have filled our hurt a bit and our hearts are overwhelmed with joy and love.
In the past two weeks, you have taught us much about ourselves...you have taught us that just like that mean ol' Grinch, a heart really can grow many sizes in a short period of time. You have taught us that we are, ahem, older, and that helps us and hurts us. Bending over that changing table to change you only to have you pee on your sleeper mid-change, then explosively poop on mommy before she can get that diaper on, lets us feel every creak in our middle-aged bones. But having the life experience of 40 years behind us? Well, that has filled us with patience beyond compare. We know exactly how blessed we are and how lucky we are to have you. You have taught us that teamwork counts and that big brothers are slow to fall in love sometimes. You have taught us that our friends and family are amazing people who love you almost as much as we do, recognizing the precious gift you are to us. You have taught us that even after so much pain, joy is possible, boundless joy.
In the past two weeks, you have already shown your personality. You are a good baby who actually sleeps. I had heard these types of babies existed, but I always thought they were the stuff that stories were made of. But no, you sleep. You are rarely fussy, but when you are, there's always a reason. Sometimes, you get yourself so worked up that when you cry, you sound like a little lamb bleating. And while this should upset us, it's so stinking cute, we just smile and hold you tighter. You love your hands and constantly have them at your face. You actually came out of mommy arm first before your shoulders. Sometimes, the way you hold those hands around your face, you look angelic. Other times, with a slight gassy grin, you seem to be plotting your first evil plan. (Perhaps to pull the cat's tail?) You love to snuggle up on someone. but at night, it's mommy. You love sticking your butt in the air and nuzzling on mommy's chest nice and tight. (Mommy loves this, too!) You are a good eater and took to nursing right away. Unfortunately, you also have a tendency to spit everything up, but no worries-you're gaining weight (13 oz in 10 days!) and mommy and daddy comfort you when this upsets you. You make a ton of noises, whether eating or sleeping or just hanging out with us. You have the brightest eyes we've ever seen that seem to see deep within us and you follow the sounds of our voices with those beautiful eyes. When we change you, your legs never stop moving. Your right leg often sticks straight out and hangs out mid-air, until we're ready to put that diaper on you, and then BOOM, it curls back up again. Sometimes, it looks like you're bicycling as fast as you can. You like a little "me time" in your pack and play sometimes. It soothes you.
Baby girl, in just two weeks you have stolen our hearts and the hearts of many. You have fulfilled our dreams and we spend many an hour gazing on your sweetness, in awe of this gift we have been given. We love you. Happy two week birthday!
"...even after so much pain, joy is possible, boundless joy." I love this! These are the sweet, sleepless, early days that are gone so quickly but are so special to remember. So happy you have this miracle girl to fill up your heart! Love & hugs your way.
Posted by: Stacey | April 23, 2013 at 07:51 PM
You brought me right back to when Isla was first born...such precious, sacred days. There was so much healing there, and I'm thrilled you're experiencing it, too. I'm DYING to see pictures of her!
Posted by: Heidi | April 24, 2013 at 12:22 AM
OH.MY.GOODNESS!!!! Have been offline for a while and saw this post in my news feed - so sos sossososossososo exceptionally happy for you and your family! Happy days and wonderful times ahead i am thinking of you always!!
Posted by: Marcia | April 24, 2013 at 03:40 PM