Postpartum Perks

I have been brewing this list since Gwen was born.  There are a few things (not involving Gwen) that feel like amazing privileges after 9 months of pregnancy.  I feel the need to call them out and be extra grateful for them, so here they are:

• hugs
• washing dishes without back strain
• trimming and painting toenails
• bladder longevity
• lack of heartburn (and therefore rediscovered obsession with red onions)
• coffee and wine
• un-microwaved lunch meat
• feet that look like my feet again
• balance
• curling up (being able to hug my knees again)
• crossing legs like a lady
• sleeping on my back
• laying on my tummy
• wearing my rings and watch again
• getting out of bed without doing the fancy push-yourself-up move

There's lots of amazing things about being a mom too.  But I am not ready to draw any reflective conclusions yet.  It would be like a kindergartener explaining long division.  I am brand new to this.  And I am busy learning and enjoying all my new emotions and experiences.  I will let you know if I discover any particular insight along the way.

Gwen : 6 Weeks

Wow!  I can't believe Gwen is already 6 weeks.  I am starting to get what people say about "it goes so fast!"  Time is a tricky thing.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. 

He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; 

yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

Smiles!

Gwen flashed me her first real responsive smile on May 11th and since then, it's been awesome to see her get more and more interactive with smiling!  My favorite is when I start to feed her and instead of eating she just smiles huge with the bottle in her mouth.  She is the sweetest.

 

Sometimes I can't believe this is real.  What a gift she is.

Cuddling with Daddy

 

I love how obviously relaxed she is with her hand flipped like that.

Gwen : 4 Weeks

This is Gwen on her dedication day.  She is wearing the same dress that I wore when I was dedicated at two months old.  The white blanket was made by my Megali Yia Yia (Great Grandma).  My mom has a picture of me sleeping under it as a baby.  Maybe I'll scan it someday and show you...

She sure is changing fast! 

I think it looks like she's doing the dance from "Thriller" in this one:

Gwen : 2.5 Weeks