If You Couldn't Tell by the Previous Post...

She's here! After 39 weeks and much, much, much, anticipation, Grace made her debut in the world on May 8th, Mother's Day, at 11:24 p.m. She weighed in at 6 lbs, 14 ounces, and was 20 inches long. The last few weeks have been a whirlwind (in a good way!). Grace has definitely kept us busy. Ken was able to take the first week off of work, but then had to go back the next. So, since then, it's just been us girls (and our many animals--all of which (with the exception of Byron who ADORES Grace) aren't exactly sure what to make of this new miniature addition to our family). We have been thoroughly enjoying our time together. In fact, I already feel like it's going by too quickly. I took Grace to the doctor on Monday and she already weighed 7 lbs and had grown half an inch. The day after we left the hospital she weighed in at 6lbs and 4 ounces-we had a little trouble keeping her weight up that first week, so 7 lbs seems like a lot considering what she was the two weeks before.

It's hard to find words that describe my daughter (by the way, it's still so weird to say the words "my daughter"!) or being a mom. But I'm going to try, so here I go: absolutely beautiful (I know that as her mother, I am biased, but I am constantly amazed looking at her. It's hard to believe that Ken and I could create someone so beautiful and perfect); overwhelming (I know this word usually has a negative connotation, but in this case, that's not how I mean it. I have never felt so overcome with love before. And in turn, fear. What if something happens to her? What if I fall asleep holding her? What if she gets sick? etc, etc, etc. I can be a bit paranoid by nature, so it's only natural to have motherhood bring that out even more in me:) ); adoration (the first 48 hours of her life I couldn't put her down, unless we had a visitor who wanted to hold her, or my husband for that matter:) In our birth class they said to get as much sleep as you can in the hospital. They suggested sending our babies to the nursery so we could catch up on sleep. I had planned to send her so that I could nap, but then once she was actually here, I couldn't. The one time I sent her to the nursery so that I could eat dinner and catch a little sleep, we brought her back in within an hour. The minute she was gone, I ached to have her back); sheer awe (I know I've already said this, but I am in complete AWE that Ken and I brought something so perfect into this world. It's amazing that we were able to do that, it's amazing that my body was able to do that (I know I'm overusing the word amazing, but really I'm unsure if there is a better word to describe this experience)).

I'm hoping I may blog a bit more now that Grace is here. No guarantees though:) My track record with updating my blog is less than impressive, so we will have to see. I'm attaching a few photo collages below. The first one is from the hospital ( I look horrendous! Seriously, I do. I retained a lot of water in the hospital--I seriously came home only 6 lbs lighter than when I went in, and apparently from the photo after she was born I must have been retaining some water before she came too --possibly it's from them pumping me full of fluids? One can hope.) Anyway, back to what I was saying. The first is from the hospital and the second one is from her first week home.




The collages show up pretty small, but if you click on them it will bring them up much bigger on a separate screen.

Grace

1. state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under divine influence.
2.. generous or helpful; goodwill.




3. mercy; clemency.
4. a pleasing or charming quality.



5. goodwill or favour.
6. elegance and beauty of movement or expression.




7. a disposition to kindness and compassion.
8. a gift from God.