Baby Gazing

I want to write the birth story before some kind of amnesia-inducing hormones come in and erase the abject horror of it (I may be overselling here), but there has been so little TIME.  Where do the hours go? 

In brief, we're doing well.  Yes, we're sleep-deprived, but it's tough to complain when this face is the culprit:

Felicity has used her air-raid siren cries -- truly, she could blow the doors off a small car with these lungs -- to let us know that she does not enjoy sponge baths, diaper changes, nudity of any kind (on her part, at least), having clothes put on or taken off, an insufficient swaddle, or anyone in a five-mile radius sleeping between the hours of 10pm and 5am.

She does eat pretty well, although she has this rather hilarious approach to nursing wherein she lets out a high-pitched squeal to let the neighborhood know she's ready for meal time, then does this ecstatic head-wagging/snuffling thing as she approaches the food source, then for no apparent reason shouts at top volume for about ten minutes while punching my boob and thrashing around, and finally settles in for the duration.  About half an hour later, she goes boneless in a milk stupor and sleeps it off for a few hours.

My parents are here, and thank God for that.  They've been doing everything we don't have the time or energy to do, and more.  I am getting a little panicky about how quickly our little household is going to fall to pieces when they leave on Monday.

Physically, by the way, I am feeling pretty good considering the high speed car wreck-level trauma that my body went through a mere five days ago.  I am looking forward to seeing this weird, deflated belly go down further (current size: approx. five months pregnant) and there is more recovery time needed in the undercarriage area, plus my back and hips feel like they were torn apart by wild animals and put back together all wrong -- but all things considered, I am pretty satisfied that I remain ambulatory.  Shew. 

So I'll be back soon, y'all.  Thanks for all of your heartfelt congratulations and well wishes.  I love the Internet.

(More pics on Flickr...)

Comments

[Marie Green]

I'm starting to feel like a stalker as I keep finding your posts before anyone else... but I'm not stalking, I swear. And your baby? She makes my jaws feel all juicy, she's so cute!

Also, I HATE bathing new babies. All of ours hated it (and any form of nudity/changing, like you mentioned), and bathing them was HORRIBLE for me. It's nerve wracking enough, ya know, w/o all the screaming. (I made David do the bathing. I'm awesome to be married to.)

Anyway, I'm so excited to see more photos of her and to hear things are going smoothly! How are your breasts? Any soreness? (Sorry, I have to ask... I teach a breastfeeding class, so I'm eternally curious about these things.)

[Kader]

Wow. Despite having had a baby that new just 7 months ago, I'm stunned by the tiny beauty. But where is the photo of Felicity with her Mama? (I'll go look on Flickr.)
I'm loving the updates and am amazed that you're able to do them!
Keep soaking up these early days--isn't it just surreal??

[Swistle]

Dear lord, that's a cute baby.

[-R-]

Little baby squinch face!

I think feeling 5 months pregnant is totally normal. I hope you are feeling better and getting more sleep soon!

[nonsoccermom]

EEE! She's so cute!

Glad I'm not the only one who always found newborn bath time to be stressful.

[Debbie]

Congratulations! Felicity is BEAUTIFUL!

[kirida]

I want to snuggle with that face. She is just gorgeous!

[H]

Enjoy getting to know her! Congratulations again!

[Lisa Guzik]

She is soooo cute! I want to meet her!

[Ris]

OH man the old man face just kills me. I love it. Again, heartfelt congratulations! After your parents leave, if you need anything (from Chicago, deep dish pizza? I have no children so that's pretty much all the help I can be) you just let this here internet know, mmk?

[glenna]

Hang in there Mama! You're doing great! She's adorable. thanks for the update!

[Debbie in the uk]

She is so beautiful. I love the name too, it really suits her!! Darling little girl x

[jive turkey]

Eagerly awaiting your birth story, mostly because I'm hoping your epidural-not-working tale is enough to counteract my OVERWHELMING desire to get pregnant again when I look at your delicious child.

(BTW, Sadie also did the rapid "no-no-no-AW-HAAAYYLL-NO" head shaking when she was first learning to nurse. I forgot about it until now! Hee!)

[Lawmommy]

Also eagerly awaiting the birth story!

I remember walking around the first few weeks after Gabe was born feeling like I was in a complete and utter fog, and also like horrifying things had happened to my undercarriage...

Hopefully everything is healing okay. I'm so glad your parents are there to help out!

[Christine]

Aww, before when you said she had Joe's nose I didn't see it, I thought it was all you, but egads, that last photo? Kablooey says my heart and ovaries.

I'm glad you're getting help and that you're doing pretty well. She's so sweet!

[Mama Bub]

Look at that face! She already looks like herself! I know that sounds crazy, but many, many newborns have that newborn look. Felicity has that kind of precious face that you will actually be able to recognize in a photo, years from now, even if you didn't know her as a newborn.

Congratulations!

Oh, and my parents live 30 minutes away and I SOBBED when my mom left my house the first day.

[Jennie]

Wow, you really have a way with words. You described everything perfectly - I was totally nodding my head in agreement with most of what you wrote!! Can't wait to hear more.

[Julie]

OMG .... She is just BEAUTIFUL!!!!

Thank goodness for the internet so we can peer into her little life and see the pure joy she is bringing to all of you.

[JudithinNYC]

Felicity is so beautiful. I feel like a grandma, keep coming back to your site to admire the photos. Just now I caught myself with the biggest grin and thinking "baby girl meant to be"...

[doahleigh]

What a perfect little face!

[Jen K]

CONGRATS!! Just checked your blog and...wow...baby. Beautiful, perfect. Am so, so happy for you!!!!

[Heather M.]

Sweet Sweet! Way too sweet! Hope you had a wonderful week! Oh that little peach fuzz hair!!! TDF!