Olivia: Day Two
We went to visit the new fam this evening. They had some gorgeous pics of the kiddo and asked me to share them with you.
Neal also asked that I give him a chance to say a few words. I think it’s probably fitting considering that he let me tell the entire world the intimate details of his child’s birth.
So without further ado, Neal:
Ang and I would like to thank everyone in the blogosphere for their warm wishes and expressions of care over these past two days. It meant everything to us and made an already amazing experience even more memorable.
Olivia is so very lucky to enter a world already surrounded by love, family, and friends. And of course, Angela and I are so very lucky to already live in this world with all of you.
Mother and baby are doing well, and are beautiful.
And Dad is in awe of both of them.
They seem to be taking their new roles - and lack of sleep - in stride. (Ang is going on three hours of sleep over the last three days, and Neal’s not doing much better. That naughty O is a night owl.)
I know they’re looking forward to going home tomorrow and settling into the “new normal” routine that their lives will become. It’s crazy how your priorities in life can change so quickly.
I had to laugh just a teeny bit to myself because Ang is already lamenting the fact that she hasn’t been able to respond to all of the well-wishers who’ve called and emailed.
I felt the same way when we had Liam. It made me sick to look at my list of all of the really nice people I couldn’t call/email back because my eyes were crossed from sleep deprivation and I couldn’t focus on the phone or the keyboard.
Once I got home I was on top of it, though. I got everyone called/emailed back (between crying jags) by the time Liam was three months old - around the same time I finally sent out his birth announcements.
It was a little different with E: I was medicated…with a two-year old. I didn’t even try.
However, I did manage to at least send an announcement (on a more prompt timeline) to everyone who contacted me - at least I think I did. I’m sure there were people who slipped between the cracks when Liam grabbed my list and ran around ripping it to shreds while screaming at the top of his lungs, “DO YOU WANT TO GED OFF DA PHONE, MAMA? DO YOU?” (Sorry if you happened to be affected by this.)
But really, I don’t think there was anything wrong with sending an all-in-one, festive, pirate themed Elena/Xmas/Birthday thank you in late February. Aug.-Feb. is only six months. And as far as I’m concerned, if one has a year to get out wedding thank yous, I’m WAY ahead of the game.
Besides, I think it’s kind of nice, actually. Because it’s highly likely that when that amount of time has passed the gift giver has removed you from his or her People To Buy Gifts For list, and thinks you’ve totally shafted them.
Little do they know that you’ve been staring at their name wincing and thinking about what they got you every. single. day. - just because they’re still on the torn, dog-eared list of Thank Yous Left To Write that you’re “going to work on this weekend.”
And really isn’t that all people want? To be thought of often and fondly? To be remembered as The Couple Who Gave Elena the Baby Fondue Fork Set?
I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t think about these things on a daily basis for six months if I’d gotten my thank yous written promptly.
So I figure surely the amount of time I spent thinking about it when I should have been focused on other things (like bathing or getting Elena dressed or paying bills) is enough to get me back in their good graces.
In short, my advice to new moms everywhere is to blow off whatever you’re too tired to do. Phone calls, schmone calls. Thank yous, shmank yous. Just focus on enjoying the moment. Let that baby sleep on your chest. Nurse her to sleep if that’s what it takes.
Because next thing you know she’ll be almost three. And one day she’ll tell you, “Noooooo, I do not want to give any kisses right now.”
It’s unfortunate, but that’s when you just have to tackle them and make them giggle until they give in.
Then be sure to take everything they have to give. Stock up. Put some in storage.
Because two minutes later they’ll do something infuriating and for five seconds you’ll seriously consider sending them to an orphanage. And it really helps if at the end of the five seconds you have a sweet memory waiting in the wings to talk you down.
Seriously. You REALLY don’t want to have to follow through on the orphanage thing. It’s a total time-suck. And who has time for that?
