And my first words were something like “Holy crap, I just had a baby!” June 3, 2009
Posted by erinfrances in Being a mama, The baby.Tags: first birthday
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The scariest moment was when she didn’t wail, didn’t gasp, didn’t cry. I was expecting to hear the sound that would — unbeknownst to me then — fill my waking hours for the next five months. That shrill, throw-me-out-a-window sound wasn’t as horrid as the silence. Of course they don’t tell the mom, all hunched over and gross, that the baby was born with the cord around her neck. So the fear was amplified later, in my memory. Holy crap, I remember thinking the next day. If I were a pioneer woman, we’d both be dead. Science is cool.
The only semblance of love on that June 3 was feeling her elbows and her legs curled up under the hospital blanket. I already knew what they’d feel like before I rubbed my hand over them, because they’d been cramping my style for the last few months.
She felt like a stranger. A beautiful stranger, one I’d kill to protect … but a stranger nonetheless. I didn’t have that Parents magazine-like feeling of gushing love and emotion. My heart beated just the same, Dave looked just the same. We just happened to have a baby in our arms. I think they call it “shock.”
The love came later, after the touch-and-go period of colic ended. Honest. I loved her like a mama, but I wasn’t incredibly in love with her for a little while. Early parenthood sucks.
Obviously, as I’m the happiest I’ve been in coherent memory, that’s not the case now. I’d do it again. I guess.
Happy birthday, Allie Bear.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALICE!!!!!!!!
Tell Alice Aunt Becky says “Happy Birthday!” I’d email her but I hear she takes forever to check her inbox.
Happy Birthday to Alice.
She is just precious!
A year? Already. CRIPES.
Happy Birthday, Alice.
And Happy One Year of doing this parent thing, Erin and Dave.
Best wishes to all three of you in the next year, and in all the years that follow.
Happy birthday, Alice. It’s amazing that it’s already been a year. I feel like it was yesterday that your mom emailed me to ask about labor and was it super gross, etc., etc. I assured it was and that it was all worth it in the end.
So here’s to a year, seven months of which have been heaven for the two grown-ups who love you more than anything in the world — and for all of us in the internets who think you’re the best thing since sliced bread.
Wow. Amazing. Happy Birthday Alice!
Happy 1st Birthday, Alice!
Keep posting pictures so we can continue to see how much she is changing. What a beautiful girl!!!!
Take Care,
BTW…..
Loved the dog video!
SHE’S SO PRECIOUS. Happy belated birthday, little A. AND SHE’S WALKING? Gah… love her. Too sweet.