Eight days old already

Elise is 8 days old. Greg and I are getting more in tune with her cries and what she needs. Which, has made for a happier household (less tears). Thursday we took her to the daily Mass, which she slept through. Her first Sunday Mass is tomorrow, which should be uneventful. I was quite surprised, though; how much more emotional Mass is for me now that Elise is born. It’s much more deeper for me.

We did have a hiccup at the beginning of the week: totally normal jaundice. Luckily she didn’t need any phototherapy – just a lot of nursing. We called in the hospital’s lactation consultant, as Elise was totally freaked out by nursing with milk instead of colostrum. Best thing we’ve done so far for her. Elise has since gotten over the milk freak out and is pretty much over her jaundice (no more heel sticks, yay!). She’s a very content baby who doesn’t cry just to cry.

I”m getting back on track spiritually, with a slightly abridged version of Night Prayer my adopted uncle (who’s becoming a monk) sent me. There’s a lot of spontaneous prayer but I need structured prayer, as well. Even if it’s all I do for like, the next 6 months or so; it’s quite beneficial to me and helps to keep me grounded during a time in my life where there is absolutely no routine apart from sleep, eat, feed Elise, change her diapers, bathe her, shower, sleep. Occasionally I get dressed, most days I count myself pampered if I can get my hair brushed (which is a task, being how long it is). Greg is being the best husband and father ever – he cooks, brings me food in bed (it’s still a bit rough sitting on hard surfaces), does the majority of poopy diaper clean-up, snuggles Elise when she’s fussy, wakes up in the night when her and I wake up, sings to her, plays with her – he’s incredible. I can honestly say I would be lost without him, from labor to now and beyond.

I feel very blessed and grateful for our little family, even when things get a little rough at those early morning feedings (especially when she thinks she can drink like she’s drinking through a straw – ouch!). I’m still quite sore from the birth but would gladly do it all over again, for her or for any future siblings. She is our gift from God and now that she’s here, I can’t remember what it was like without her.