Coming Up for Air (but only for a quick second)

Edited to Add: I actually wrote this post yesterday and just now got the chance to post it.  So, yep- welcome to parenthood.

Whew! First… Hey (:

For those of you who don’t know, our little angel arrived on Friday morning kicking and screaming (although you wouldn’t know it from this serene face, would you?). I’ll tell ya all about that later, but wanted to update the site.

Esther Irene Andrews
1-27-2012
10:45 am
6lbs 6oz
20.5 inches

By the way- no castor oil needed. She started giving me contractions on her own at around 9 pm on Thursday eve.

I was feeling a bit disconnected from the AWESOME community that was here to support us at each step of this long  and often times- terrifying journey. It’s a love and support that I’ve never felt and I am confident that it was because of your prayers that we made it almost to the end of a 40 week pregnancy.

(So if that’s so true, Tanisha, how come you are being a huge meanie and hogging her all to yourself?)

I also wanted to come here to explain why we kept people away at the hospital and wanted to wait until we were settled at home for visitors. About a week before pregnancy I started to really process what giving birth would feel like and how I (and Jim) would feel upon first meeting our daughter. I knew that I wanted our little family to have, at the very least, a few hours to just get to know her- uninterrupted. Secondly, I knew breast feeding would probably take us some time to get down and I don’t know about you, but I’m not comfortable whipping my breasts out in front of even my closest of friends. Breast feeding is not like bottle feeding. You literally have to be engaged in it around the clock. I don’t even know why I even bother to wear a shirt. Seriously, ask Jim, for the past 3 days I look like I could be a double for one of the mommas you might see in National Geographic. I’m thankful that I fought for this privacy because we’ve needed it. Breast-feeding has indeed been a challenge for Esther and I. I know we’ll get it, but it hasn’t been an easy road (again, I’ll talk more about it later).  This difficulty has contributed to Esther developing a pretty bad case of jaundice. They almost didn’t let us come home today. She just barely made the cut off.  They delivered a “billibed” to our home and we were told she MUST stay on the bed whenever she’s not being nursed or changed. It breaks my heart, literally, as I could hold her all day long. Adittionaly, if you’ve had a baby recently you’ll know this. They jam pack all they can into the short hospital stay these days. Tests, shots, doctor visits, photos, nurses checks and questions.

Of course we want you all to meet our daughter. She’s the best! I’m not just saying that because I’m her momma. We’re just gonna need more time to get our groove down. Trust me, it will be more fun to visit her anyway when you can actually hold her and really give her a good once over. You couldn’t do that now-

We do thank you for all of the offers of visits and food and just overall a showering of love and support. WE DO APPRECIATED. And maybe I’m only speaking for myself, but I feel like a huge meanie and I wanted you to know why we’re cocooning for a bit. We promise to let you know when you can crowd our door and enjoy this little lady as much as we are. Right now, I’m being an aggresive momma bear and making she medically in a good spot.

We’re seeing the pediatrician tomorrow to make sure he jaundice is getting better, as well as a lactation consulatant. I’m still committed to breast feeding and I’m determined (now more than ever) to make it work. I’m currently taking a quick, relaxing tea break willing my milk to come in (: TMI? See?? told ya!

A special shout out to the ReyesLewis family for watching Sparky (and keeping him a bonus day) so we could deliver this girl and get settled a bit before Jim has to figure out how to juggle being a parent of 2 and a new MBA student.

Love,

Jim, Tanisha and Esther.