22 Feb Liddi’s First Days
Liddi was born in water. (I promise the story is coming. Patience, Iago.) This little girl has taken several herbal baths since her birth (and at least 100 prior to her birth!), and it surely is her favorite place to be. She feels the water on her toes and instantly soothes. Yesterday, she was so alert in the tub and we just stared and stared at each other. Mother to daughter. Soul to soul. It was a moment. She only flinched when my tears hit her face. Moment over. And then she peacefully sank into rest.
Liddi is looking more and more like a Steele. The puffiness in her face is almost gone, along with the bruising. Where at first we had no idea who she looked like, now we see glimmers of all of us in her. She’s absolutely beautiful.
{{clearer, smoother, three-day-old Liddi}}
Little hands, perfect nails, usually wrapped tightly around something. Corban loves studying her fingers. “They’re so tiny!” he observes.
We used to swaddle our kids arms down. But then I read about babies soothing themselves in the womb with their fingers and how taking the one familiar thing–their fingers and hands–away from them doesn’t help them sleep better. So we’ve been swaddling her, arms up, hands easily accessible should she want them.
Being born is exhausting (said every mother and child everywhere), and sometimes you just have to hide your face from the world you live in. It’s understandable; I’d do it, too.
James has been insistent on her starting tummy time from the beginning. And she’s doing really great! Practicing lifting her head. She really enjoys this time with her dad and his silly animals.
Gah, look at those eyes, the face, that hair! I’m in love, I’m in love, and I don’t care who knows it!
{{Itty Bitty Liddi}}
I’ll admit it.
I find myself spiking her hair at all hours.
I can’t help myself!
Babies cuddled up against my chest, frog legs squished up, face smushed, arms curled. She puts the sleep on me when she lays this way! I could stay here all day. Which maybe is what’s causing our nighttime sleeplessness. But I just can’t restrain myself!
Beginning Superman pose.
Just a little more technique
and she’ll have it nailed.
THE PRECIOUSNESS OF IT ALL.
I DIE.
{{man flexing-my-muscles-but-I’m-totally-chill pose}}
When she finds her thumb, this girl can suck!
{{first car ride}}
{{teeny tiny, itty bitty}}
And there are her first days! We’re really getting into a good routine (hopefully the sleep routine will follow soon). She’s nursing well, peeing and pooping well (hey, that’s what you get for reading a mom blog), having *some* good awake time, and just practicing living for the first time. Oh. And her lungs work just fine.
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