ANNA GRACE!!!

I was thinking about labeling this blog something like "Laughter and tears" or "rollercoaster" because that pretty much sums this week up, but mainly it's going to be a documentary of Anna's first week in the real world!

The hospital experience was basically the worst experience of my life... After being awake all day, I was in labor for over a full day and well...ended up with a cesarean. Thankfully though, the doctors and many or our nurses were awesome, but it was rather traumatic, and do they really have to take your vitals/babies vitals every hour at the hospital and serve primarily jello? :)

However, hearing Anna cry out, even though I couldn't see her from behind the sterile sheet was AWESOME! We cried and cried! They took her directly to peds to check her out, but quickly came and got Daryl (WHO IS AN AWESOME FATHER AND HUSBAND!) to go see her. She was perfect on the charts! Praise God! They swaddled her up and while the sewed me back together set her on my chest. Beautiful. If you aren't convinced she's our child...here she is...(her eyes are looking less slanty by the day though!)

Thankfully my family (my poor brother and his wife drove in at 10am on Saturday and waited around all day for Anna to arrive) kept us pretty entertained until things got rather scary at the end. This is a great shot of Anna resting with Grandpap for the first time...
Anna got to meet lots of our WONDERFUL friends! Thanks everyone who stopped by, and everyone who sent flowers! Our room smelt AWESOME! :) And everyone who has dropped by food! You have brightened our days!

She got her first bath at home this week.
Needless to say, that wasn't entirely her favorite. Daddy didn't so much like her crying, but we got to do what we got to do, right?


Anna took her first walk this week in the jogging stroller with mommy and daddy - that was a blast! Thanks to God for a speedy recovery by the way and a great husband and great parents who were so helpful while I wasn't supposed to take stairs, lift things besides Anna, etc.

She also got to go to Wal-Mart and to a doctor's appointment with mommy. She has squirted poop across the nursery (I'm serious), enjoyed her new bouncer, and loved life in the car seat. She has been stuck with needles, and held all night!

We absolutely love her. I must confess, however, that the first week of her life was certainly also one of the most difficult of my life. I guess you can chalk it up to many things - lots of missed sleep, crazy hormones, and my own selfishness (will Daryl and I ever get more than a couple of hours together where we aren't wondering if she will cry and will I ever sleep through the night again?), and fear (is she eating enough, is she eating too much, is she sick, why is she crying, am I doing the right thing?).

But each day gets better and while I still sometimes cry over whether or not I'm doing the right thing or being so tired or missing Daryl time, I have also spent many moments crying over how pretty and amazing she is and what an awesome gift she is!

More, please!

We have a little ritual in our house that is a little silly, but loads of fun. When Daryl and I greet each other after being at work, out, etc, one person usually ends up saying, "More, please!" when the other pulls away. We picked up the routine from our niece Georgia who used to follow Daryl around the house and ask for "more, please," (only she wanted his diet coke). I personally feel that asking for more hugs and kisses is way better than diet coke, but she's four so I'll cut her some slack :)

As I have previously mentioned, I haven't been necessarily over-joyed with this last month of pregnancy. I'm ready to meet Anna, ready to quit wearing maternity clothes, and ready to have to stop wondering if I'll really get to go here or there, do this or that, have to vacuum the guest room again, etc...

To put it bluntly - I have been grumpy (noooooo, me?). I have allowed carrying this baby to become more like a burden than a gift as I focus on myself and the "inconveniences" I feel I'm facing. I have missed out on a lot of the pleasure of these final days with Daryl and I just as a couple and especially on the pleasure I first had when we found out we were pregnant, were having a girl, etc...

So the past two days I have come to God and said, "MORE, PLEASE!" More grace! It's times like these that I am reminded that I am constantly growing in debt to Him and in need of grace, and thankfully, His grace is vastly more abundant than my sinfulness. That is something to get happy about!

2 Corinthians 12:9a says, "My grace is sufficient for you..." Indeed, it is! MORE PLEASE!

Invasion...

Yes, it's true. Something has taken over my body and at current, my datebook! :) Daryl often says I have a parasite inside of me, which isn't very nice - sorry, Anna - but often makes me laugh.

For a while I thought pregnancy was cute and great - somewhere in between the vomit stage and the "I feel like a human bowling ball" stage! Now I think I'm pretty much over it. I can't wait to buy fun clothes again or be able to be on my feet all day without having leg cramps at night.

For those of you who know me well, you know that I am somewhat of a planning freak. Our calendar is up to date with my activities in one color, Daryl's in another, and ours as a couple in yet another. On the left side I have a list of what we'll be eating for the week and I do my grocery shopping only once a week. I have a hard time not spazzing out when the kind person serving me and loading items in bags for me rearranges the order - this means the produce is no longer tidy in one bag, the frozen goods are separated, etc - don't they know I arrange things on the belt in categories for a reason?!!!!

While some of my planning tactics are great and beneficial to the productivity and comfort of our home, some of it is just me not resting in and being content in God's Sovereignty.

For instance, it has caused me much distress that I now have four invitations pinned to our bulletin board that I don't know how to respond to because Anna hasn't told us when she plans to come out. I have dinners scheduled, parties we've RSVPed too and menus planned and I don't know if we'll even show up. Doesn't Anna know Daddy's work schedule could use some prior notice too? :)

But these problems won't stop once she's arrived. I still won't know exactly what size bathing suit I'll need for the summer (or if I'll even be willing to wear one for that matter) or exactly when Daryl and I can leave her to go camping, etc. I'll have to continue to wait. God, are you trying to teach me something?!!! I think so!

I love the verse in Proverbs 31 that says, "She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come." She trusts God, but is also as prepared as she can be - dependence and obedience :) When things don't go as planned, she can laugh because she trusts her Father.

I have a feeling we may be laughing a lot around here soon!

We are so excited to meet Anna and can't believed God has blessed us with such a great pregnancy and gift!