Alaise

I hope all parents feel this way - we've realized how FUN Alaise has grown to be.  In such a short period of time, she has learned so many things...  Most of all, to smile and laugh as a form of response.  Today for the first time, she laughed when Kris started talking to her.  She's laughed plenty before, but only when we were playing with her.  This morning, when Kris smiled at her and started talking, she laughed and buried her face in my chest.  It was the most endearing thing I've ever seen!!  It is absolutely amazing to see her respond to us, and I especially love watching her "flirt" with Daddy, as she plays coy and shy, with a huge smile on her face.  Her joy is so apparent with her laughters and smiles, and it brightens my day. 

Alaise is 4 months old today.  I have a difficult time fathoming how long 4 months actually is.  Watching her grow, as her eyes sparkle in recognition and interest, 4 months seem so long and so short at the same time.  She's starting to grasp at objects, loves to bat at whatever is in her way, have a strong hold on fingers, interested in watching her hands as she moves them.  She loves to smile, and the laughters are amazing.  She fusses the most when she's tired, and she often wakes up from her naps or in the middle of the night talking to herself.  The cooing in the middle of the night is frustrating, but I can't help but laugh, listening to it.  Her hair is getting long, and everyone always comments on how much of it she has.  She has a crest - her hair waves in a funny way, so it puffs up when it dries.

It feels so good to feel normal.  I've felt pretty darn good for the last week, no pain, no need to take any pain pills.  :)  For some weird reason, I've had lots and lots of muscle pain and tenderness even a couple weeks ago...  I don't know if it was related to the birth or not, but it sure feels good to have all that gone!  It's such a blessing, it's hard to appreciate not being in pain until you've been in pain for a period of time.

On the side note, I've come to realize that I can't imagine not having Alaise as my child.  All those months of trying to get pregnant...  I told myself that maybe God wants THAT CHILD for us, so it's taking longer.  Out of millions of children that we could have, we were waiting for that one special child that God wanted us to have.  I really truly believe this was true for us!  I can't imagine not having Alaise as our baby girl...  I'm sure other children would have been awesome as well, but I'm so glad God let us have this one.  She's so wonderfully precious and perfect.

Anyway.  Just my thoughts for the day.

I was telling Kris the other day - it is amazing that I can love a person so thoroughly so immediately.  Considering the time it took me to get to know & grow to love Kris, it's just really weird to love another human being almost immediately, without condition.

Kris listened to me and said, "You grew to love me.  You grew her, to love her."

Well said.

Alaise is 1 month old today.  It's incredible.  It's unbelievable.  Did 1 month really go by since I gave birth?  It's really difficult to comprehend.  I'm afraid that I'm going to blink and next thing I know, her 18th birthday will be here.  She is absolutely precious, I love her, I kiss her everywhere, I hug her, rock her, comfort her, whisper in her ears, and just adore her.

I was reading someone else's blog and came across this and it warms and breaks my heart at the same time...

*But for now I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep.
*But children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
*So quiet down, cobwebs.  Dust, go to sleep.
*I'm rocking my baby.  Babies don't keep.

So last night was a doozy!  I think we've hit Lacey's first "growth spurt" because she kept Ju and I up and feeding her almost ever 1 1/2 - 2 hours last night.

Alaise is 1 week old.  It's pretty unreal.  As I watch her sleep next to me (although, it took 2 hours of trying to figure out whether she wanted more food or what it was she wanted!), I can't believe she's been mine for a whole week.  My husband, who has been absolutely wonderful through this whole experience, asked me today, "How's motherhood?

I think motherhood hasn't really hit me yet.  I feed her and take care of her, but to be 100% honest, I haven't had the "How did I live without you?" or "I've been waiting for you my whole life!" kind of emotion that others say they feel.  I expected to be a changed/different person, but I'm still me, and I don't feel any different, except for the love for this little person.  Maybe things just haven't hit me yet?  I dunno.

Thursday October 22, 2009, Kris, my parents and I all woke up bright and early at 4:30am.  Holy Crap, we're having a baby today!!  The hospital bags were packed, but I hadn't gotten much sleep due to my cough that I have had for a week and a half.  But I didn't really have a choice - I got out of bed, doubled checked the hospital bag yet again, ate two bowls of cereal - Honey Nut Cheerios and Frosted Mini Wheats.  Got dressed in the only pants that fit me - my yoga pants, and a long sleeved t-shirt that could barely contain my belly any more.  But I figured I just had to make it to the hospital, and we're good to go!

So, Ju's asleep, Alaise is fed, and I'm doing some work for a customer, and I look down, and Alaise is just SOOO cute, I had to try capturing my view of her from where I'm sitting now.  I hope you all like the photo.  :-)

On that note, it's worth pointing out that she plays sooo well after she's got a full tummy.  She just lies there and flails her arms and makes cute faces.  She is truly a wonder and I must admit to being hopelessly in love.  I'm a new daddy and loving it immensely.  I hope you all can enjoy it with me, just a little. :-)

October 22, 2009 my first born, a daughter, entered this world.  Alaise Noelle Vanderwater was greeted by her parents and grand parents (on both sides).  She's a big baby, 20 inches, with a 14+ inch head, 8 lbs 13 ounces.  Ju's labor went pretty well.  The epidural did wonders for her.  The delivery, on the other hand, was quite difficult, and the size of the baby required the doctor to make a bit of room for her to come down the canal via an episiotomy.

From dad's perspective, I'm actually doing pretty good at this point.  I knew all of this was likely... did I mention the vacuum to get her out? no? well there was that too.  But all seemed to go pretty well.  Baby was healthy, I cut the cord, the doctors began the work of sewing Ju back up.  I flitted back and forth from Alaise to Ju and back again, checking on both of my girls.  Once she was sewn all back up, mom and daughter were introduced, grandparents came to join the fray and meet their new grand daughter.  After a while of this we shooed everyone away, so that mom and baby could get some feeding in.  It was at this point that my world started to shift yet again.

When you go to witness a child being born, you walk in expecting to see a miracle, what you don't expect is to find yourself in a situation asking for more miracles in that same night...