girls night.

Erik was in Vancouver for school a couple weeks ago. I am not the biggest fan of being home alone so I invited Maelle and Elinor for a sleepover.

It was only Elinor's second time sleeping over and she did wonderfully. Like I've said before, my house is magical when it comes to making babies sleep. I missed my girls -- I have been so busy that I haven't had much time to spend with them.

Elinor is more determined than her sister was... She will scream at you if she wants to be picked up. At one point Elinor was walking to me and I went to help Maelle on the potty so Nori started crying. It took Maelle some time to finish on the pot so poor Elinor hollared for a bit. When I came back into the kitchen I found her right where I left her... poor girl. She was so relieved when I scooped her up and gave her a hug.

I sheepishly told her Ma that I let her scream because I couldn't hold her the whole time. If I did than there would be no food or bathroom breaks for Maelle or I. Little Miss and I employed many methods of distraction to entertain the wee one and it worked much of the time. Elinor spent much of the time sitting on the counter drooling on whatever she could get her hands on.

Maelle Mai is getting so big! My little baby is so grown up! She is thoughtful (I was rocking an unhappy Elinor and Maelle brought all of her toys and placed them around us), she is silly, and she is cuddly. I love her. I have missed her so much.

Elinor Alida Joy is determined. She is goofy, she is stubborn, she is sensitive, and she is loud. I feel like I am still getting to know her -- I haven't spent nearly as much time with her as I'd like. My Little Joy.

Have a good day!

Nori's First Sleepover and a Visit from Heidi

Elinor and Maelle came for a sleepover a few nights ago -- Elinor's first sleepover! I was expecting to pull an all-nighter, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much we all slept. I went to bed at 8:00pm right after I put Nori Joy down thinking she would wake me up by 11:00pm so I was surprised when 5:00am rolled around without a peep from her. I actually made Erik check on her at midnight when he came to bed because I was worried about her being so quiet. She didn't make a sound until 5:45am and she quickly fell asleep after eating. She slept until 9:30am. I have super powers when it comes to making babies sleep -- that or my house is enchanted.

Middle of the night cuddles... It has been a while since I've had the chance to snuggle with a wee one in the early hours of the morning. Nori is 10 months tomorrow so she isn't even wee, but she still needed me and happily cuddled her sleepy body into mine.

We baked muffins in the morning and Maelle drew a picture for Sawyer. I told her I would mail it in a few days, but when I turned around Maelle was already at the door with her boots on waiting patiently. I scrounged up a too-small envelope and we marched to the nearest mailbox in our pajamas.

A dear friend from college came to visit this past week. I haven't seen her since my wedding and it was wonderful to catch up and spend some time together. It was as though we'd never been apart -- we picked up right where we left off. We baked cupcakes, ate delicious food, walked around downtown, and stayed up much too late. I needed some girl-time so the visit was well-timed.

so this happened while i was gone.

December 2012

July 2013

the best

This was waiting for me when I woke up this morning. It makes me ache for the people back home -- especially these six and their mothers.

I would be on a plane and on my way home for some serious snuggles if it weren't for the wonderful time we are having. And if we weren't going to Thai cooking classes today.

But these are my little sweetie pies. Aren't they precious?

Nori Joy's Birth Story: Part Two

I just realized I only wrote the first portion of Nori's birth story. I suppose I could just leave it as it does include her emergence into the world, but I love stories and I love birth so the story continues.

It was very special to see Sam interacting with his newest daughter, but I was even more excited to see Milena reunited with her littlest one. When she came up from PAR she was exhaustedly beaming -- radiating joy, relief and excitement. Sam wheeled Nori Joy in and Milena took her in her arms for the second time.

Little Joy took to the breast instantly and Milena fed her baby as satisfied as could be. Sam and Milena made calls to their families sharing the news of the baby's arrival.

It's been over a month so the exact details fail me, but Sam and Milena called for Mor Mor and Maelle to come meet the baby. I was super pumped because that meant I could almost hold the little one. Sam went down to get Little Miss and to help Milena's mom carry her things up.

Maelle suddenly looked like a giant when she walked in. Doesn't that always happen though? Older siblings seem to grow up the instant the younger one comes along.

Maelle was very excited to meet and hold the baby. She already knew her name and called her Nori Joy (Nowee Jowy). She beamed as she held her little sister and gently kissed her head. Maelle cried when Nori was taken away from her, but the baby needed to be fed and changed. Milena lay in bed with a daughter on either side of her and all was right in the world.

Mor Mor had a snuggle and then it was my turn! At long last I got my hands on that little cherub and I savoured every second. She was so plump, round and perfect. Her dark tuft of hair was delightful and she looked so peaceful and serene resting in my arms. The weight of her little body was wonderful and warm and I loved it!

Erik came to the hospital shortly thereafter and was rewarded with snuggles with Elinor and rough-housing with Maelle. I love seeing Erik with new babies. He is much more experienced and comfortable with them now then he was when Sawyer made her arrival two and a half years ago. He hasn't had much of a choice in the matter.

I went home with Erik and Maelle went home with her Mor Mor leaving Sam, Milena and Nori to get to know each other a little bit better.

The midwives, doctors and nurses were never concerned with Nori's blood sugar even though she was almost 10lbs. Milena had two separate gestational diabetes tests and they both came back negative. This made for a much different hospital experience this time around and Milena wasn't encouraged (read forced) to "top up" Nori after feeds and their new routine-making-process went relatively uninterrupted.

I still cannot believe how greatly you can love someone in an instant. I am always overwhelmed with how much my heart can grow and how fiercely I can love these little babies the moment I meet them. It is truly amazing.

Elinor Alida Joy. I know she has forgotten all about me, but I am confident she will be unable to resist loving me when I come home.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday Ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

*** *** *** 

Nori Joy's Birth Story: Part One

I know there was no labour involved, but Little Nori Joy was born and the story of birth always deserves to be told.

Milena was hoping to have a VBAC and this was the goal throughout her entire pregnancy. A few weeks ago the ultrasound showed that her placenta may have been growing over the scar from her previous c-section so they booked a section just to be safe. It ended up that the placenta was not over the scar so the obstetrician said it was ok if Milena still attempted a VBAC. They kept the cesarean tentatively booked though in case anything happened. Baby was posterior so Milena did everything she could to try to spin it, but nothing was working and baby was measuring around 10lbs so, based on her history and the fact that Maelle (Nori's older sister) was posterior, over 10lbs, and unable to descend they opted for a c-section. If Milena went into labour before the section date the doctor was ok with her attempting a vaginal delivery, but he said they would quickly move to a c-section if labour was not progressing and the baby was showing signs of stress. A week before the section Milena asked her obstetrician if I could come into the operating room and take some photos during the c-section and he willingly gave his permission.

Milena did not go into labour and so the c-section went as planned. I picked up Sam and Milena in the morning so Milena's mom and Maelle could stay home. We headed to the hospital at around 8:15 and waited. Milena had some bloodwork done and then we waited some more. We had the nurse double-check with the doctor to see if it was still ok for me to come take photos during the c-section and she said that only three of us could go in. So it was Sam, Milena, and one other person -- either the midwife or I. After discussing it with the midwife, Milena decided that she wanted me there to take pictures for her. The midwife was going to wait in the recovery room so she could be with Milena post-op.

So Sam and I donned our scrubs, Milena went pee one last time, and we were off! We sat in the hall outside the OR for a few minutes and the anesthesiologist came and introduced himself (I triple ok's photos with him as I would be standing by him), the pediatrician's resident introduced herself, and the obstetrician came to say hello. We then kissed Milena as she was wheeled through the OR doors and then waited to be summoned.

It felt like we were waiting forever. At one point we were discussing my sister (who used the same midwives Milena did) and her milk-makers. I may have been demonstrating the size of said milk-makers as a doctor walked by. Sam instantly went beat red and the surgeon said, "don't worry I'm a plastic surgeon" to which the midwife called out "yeah, but these are because of milk!" It was nice to have a little comic relief while we waited.

We were eventually allowed into the operating room. Theater 6. Sam joined Milena over her right shoulder on a stool and I was over Milena's left shoulder.... standing by the anesthesiologist. I told him to let me know if I was in his way and he nodded and said that was fine.

And so I made myself comfy. I snapped a few photos. Kept my anticipatory tears at bay. Peaked over the curtain. Wiped a few stray tears away. Watched Milena's monitor. And tried to find an angle to photograph the actual birth.

I watched Sam holding his wife's hand. He rubbed her hand with his thumb and swept the hair from her face.

I peaked over the curtain again and saw the obstetrician pushing and tugging on Milena's tummy and knew the birth was imminent. I readied my camera and battled elbows and tummy's in an attempt to snap the first moments of that sweet baby girl's life.

I saw meconium in the amniotic fluid that erupted from Milena's abdomen and my heart sunk a wee little bit, but then I saw a tuft of hair as the babe's head emerged and heard a small wail even before her head was fully extra-uterine and my heart burst. A babe's first cry is one of the sweetest sounds in all the world. At 12:34pm Milena's perfectly beautiful daughter made her way into the world. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I basked in the newness of the heartily screaming baby girl.

The obstetrician held the little girl up beside the curtain for Sam and Milena to see and then the pediatrician checked her out. Milena asked Sam to wipe her tears away as her arms were secured to the operating table. She wanted to see her baby girl when the time came and her tears were blurring her vision. Sam lovingly did so and he rubbed the top of Milen'a head as they gazed off in the direction of the robust screams of their baby girl.

The anesthesiologist un-velcroed Milena's arms in preparation for her first snuggle with her baby and one of the nurses brought over the lady of the hour.

Watching Milena fall in love with her daughter before my very eyes was indescribable. She got to snuggle for fifteen minutes and she spoke sweet nothings to her baby the entire time. The babe sucked her mama's face and even worked her hand out to hold her ma's finger. The little one kept sticking her tongue out kept licking her Ma. Milena told the babe that her daddy would take care of her while Mommy was resting, but that Milena would join her soon. She told her she loved her and that she had a big sister who was excited to meet her.  The babe kept sticking out her little tongue.

The doctor asked Sam and Milena what the baby's name was. Sam looked at Milena and she nodded her confirmation before he announced the name:

Elinor Alida Joy.

Fresh tears found my eyes as I heard her name as Joy also happens to be my middle name.

Sam followed the little Nori up to the nursery and I stayed with my dear friend while the doctor finished closing her up. Milena was radiating joy and relief and excitement. She looked absolutely lovely and so very beautiful.

When Milena went to PAR to recover I headed upstairs to join Sam nd my Little Joy. I promised Milena that I wouldn't hold the baby until Little Miss and Milena's mother got to meet her so I tried to avoid Sam's attention while I furiously snapped photos of the papa snuggling his newest baby.

I felt like I was imposing as I watched Sam get to know Nori Joy. He was enamored by every part of her little being. Her wails made him smile and I saw his heart soften as her little hand gripped his finger and her eyes focused on his face. Sam cradled Nori in his arms and held her skin-to-skin. He inspected her and commented on how much she looked like her sister, Maelle. He also noted the differences between the two. He told Nori her mommy was going to come soon and that she was going to be okay.

Nori was rooting and alert and was obviously hungry so the midwife warmed some frozen breast milk for Sam to feed Nori with a syringe. She gulped it down, settled, and contentedly stared at her daddy.

It was beautiful to be a part of those first moment's of Nori's life. I felt privileged to witness such a pure and holy experience. Birth remains the single most amazing thing I have ever been a part of. I am so thankful that Sam and Milena invited me into this moment of their lives.

Elinor Alida Joy

Elinor Alida Joy

Born December 6, 2012 @ 1234.

Weight: 9lb 15oz.

Height: 20 inches.

Nori Joy

I am pleased to announce the arrival of Maelle's baby sister, Elinor Alida Joy. She was born via cesarean section this afternoon at 12:34pm. Little Nori Joy weighed in at 9lb 15oz and both mama and babe are doing well.