In honor of flower day

It's been a while since I've shown my girl off in blogland. But today is a big day -- she can now say that she's been alive in all the months of the year. She looks from this photo like she may have a career as a d.j. And why the flower get-up? Fastelavn.

The whole world is shrinking

And actually, it's quite alright. Everything I focus on, obsess about, is something that I've never had the opportunity to consider before. So, maybe my world is actually enlarging?

Some things in my newborn world which have recently amused me and/or made me happy: baby hiccoughs, that cool sort of Sufi-like dance which newborns do in light sleep, every tiny outfit, all the eagerness to visit the baby and all the visitors, testing early reflexes, taking advantage of a sleeping baby's limp limbs to lead them in dance moves (disco is a particular favorite), paparazzi-ing the baby, everything which goes into the baby, and even everything which comes out.

The grossest job on Earth?

It had never hit me before just how much of motherhood is concerned with bodily fluids. Not to mention bodily solids and bodily gasses. Really, when the biggest laugh of the day concerns a combination of crying and actively smelly projectile diarrhea farts, well that must mean that you've become a mother. Can any experienced parents let me know about how long this phase can be expected to last?

Thor to our daughter: You are so young, and yet you are already an expert in chemical warfare.

Afternoon off

I'm sort of on strike. Since mid-afternoon, in bed, enjoying the warmth and irregular newborn breathing of the pixie-faced, diaper-clad baby lying on my stomach. My man-servant on call, willing and able to ensure my comfort. I plan to stay here, reading, internetting, but mainly just relaxing, for as long as possible.

What about you? What have you been up to?

The joys of one-handed typing

One of the first photos, at about a couple of hours old
I seem to have lost the use of one of my hands (actually the whole arm, but it's the hand that's important for typing). Right now, it's my left hand that has become disabled, but in a few minutes, the paralysis could shift to my right side. As I am very right-handed, this would be somewhat difficult, so I'll try to make it quick. I'll assume that the last post, and the comments there make it clear what strange ailment has befallen me. Well, you can't expect me to set her down, can you? She might get cold.

Still the first day, with the proud daddy
So, a quick official report: When I said in my last post that I was "just waiting patiently for something to happen", I neglected to mention that my water had broken some 3-4 hours before, and I had been told to go to the hospital a couple of hours after. I had not started to have contractions, by the way, so there was no rush. Contractions started on the way to the hospital (starting at 2-3 minutes apart, for those who watch hospital drama shows and want to know these things), became painful shortly after arrival to the hospital, progressed unusually quickly, led to all appropriate phases of labor, and at what would ordinarily be called lunchtime, I was suddenly a mother. Vital stats can be seen in Thor's comment in the last post, so I won't repeat them here.

What a difference 4 days makes
Then, rather than being sent home after 4-6 hours because of the strike, we ended up in the maternity ward for 4 nights, although both I and my daughter came out of the labor room perfectly healthy. It was a case of slightly low birth-weight (not for me, sadly...I'm still in my maternity clothes, and will be for some time) and lack of keenness to nurse leading to worries that she might lose too much and become sickly, leading to a very long drawn-out process of supplemental feedings, daily weighings, and all sorts of complicated things, all the while stuck, well, in the hospital. So, it was fairly surreal, and about 3 nights too long.

:-D
Otherwise, though, it was exactly what I had hoped for and envisioned. Namely a quick labor - my mother had very quick labors for both me and my brother, and I had long hoped that there was something hereditary there...apparently, there is. But not so quick that I wouldn't be able to use a tub - I labored in the tub for about a half hour or so towards the end, and would recommend it to anyone (even if you aren't in labor, or if you're not pregnant, or not a woman). And the end result, magical. Everything about her is amazing. I'm in awe at the sheer potential of her, she could become anything, beyond my meagre powers to imagine.

I'd tell you more...but you're not reading this are you? You're just staring at the pictures. I don't blame you, she is quite entrancing. Although I'll be trying desperately (and possibly futilely) to keep this not a mommy blog, I'm sure she'll be making at least occasional appearances.