Thursday, January 10, 2008

so.

I had a baby. What have you been doing?

I now know that the smell of milk and baby is heartwrenchingly lovely. That living in the present is the only way to get through this; right now, I can type and reach my juice. Yesterday, I shaved my legs. This afternoon, I ate some gingerbread. These are the small good things that mark my hours, since I am not going to be my old self, bounding around the house unencumbered, ever again, and nor am I yet the sling-wearing mama I hope to someday be.

But progress is being made...Sunday night, I could not sit up. Monday, I could not walk to the bathroom without help. Tuesday, I took a bath. Wednesday, I gained some breast-feeding confidence after a visit from the midwife. And today? Today I walked around the house for a whole ten minutes while Annaliese slept on her own. We're doing good.

Amazing how accurate the term "labor" is, and that's all we'll say about that.

Funny thing:

I am sweating up a STORM. Apparently, it's one of the ways your body gets rid of all the fluid you retain during pregnancy; consequently, my legs, feet, arms, face, etc-- so much thinner than they've been. I hadn't realized.

http://picasaweb.google.com/alexe.pvb/AnnalieseUpdated

for a few pics and video.

4 comments:

The Girl You Used to Know said...

she is such a beautiful little girl. Congratulations!

what have I been doing? Not having a baby, I can tell you that! But I did finish my revisions and get them to my editor EARLY! :D

hugs!

Anonymous said...

on a dark
January night
a light
came to be
the beautiful
the bright
sweet Annaliese Lee

Angela Atkins said...

Ace would like to point out that Annaliese was born two days before Elvis's birthday, and Billy was born one day before Elvis's death day.

They are obviously meant to be.

I'm sorry you had such a hard time of it. It is indeed world-rocking in ways you can't explain to those who haven't been there. Living moment to moment and deciding what works right then is the only way to go. Plans don't work with babies--and right now, with your body. Hard for those of us who like to be in control.

Look what you have to show for it--she's lovely, and from the video, she's obviously very, very smart.

Anonymous said...

Hah!! If you don't want Great Aunts swooping down on you, do not publish any more adorable videos!! my pulse is racing...

Auntie M