Tuesday, March 19, 2013

seasons, blessings, baby, family, love...

..




December 2, 2012
The day she was born.




December10, 2012




December 22, 2012
And then she just grew, so so fast.




January 2, 2013




January 12, 2012
Little Elsie truly is happier than she looks. She adores, ADORES ADORES ADORES, her middle sister. You should have heard the giggles Chessa was getting out of her today! 




January 31, 2013
There was once a little girl named Elsa Willow, and she liked to play in the meadow, and she had so many little ladybug friends... So we tell her...




 February 15, 2013
And the little Elsa kept on growing...




 February 18, 2013
And I will tell you an interesting thing about this little baby... She goes to sleep in other peoples arms. Namely big sister Chloe's arms. (She doesn't really know any other people besides sisters, mommy, and daddy.) I have never known a baby to do this. For example, big sister Chloe, when she was a baby, never went to sleep anywhere other than in my arms. So this is new to me, and quite convenient I must say. This photo here (makes me laugh every time I see it!) shows you what it looks like when Elsa falls asleep in Chloe's arms, and Chloe then lays her down, but she is still holding on.





February 22, 2013
She's a really happy baby!




March 4, 2013
Such sweetness, such a blessing. How very grateful we are that she came to be with us.



When we imagined what this child might look like, we said maybe dark eyes like Chloe, skin more pale like Chessa, somewhere just between them. I felt those dark eyes, and that fair face. Of course we also imagined that the baby was going to be a boy. This was the first time either Jason or I had feelings of having a boy, both other times we just felt sure of girlness. I guess this time we should have know too, cause three girls, yes it just seems so right. But we just went with boy, there was even a probable name chosen. We said if it was girl we would be surprised, and that we would laugh. When she was born we actually didn't even look to see if she was a boy or girl for about 10 minutes or so. And then we really did laugh. And goodness we were happy. And then it took us almost two weeks to name her.


Thank you so much for all kind sharing of comments, well wishes, love, and for the welcome back to this space.


It is one year ago now that I became pregnant. We knew, we felt, for so long that this child was coming to us. We also knew that the first months could be difficult, since I had been so sick before with both girls for the first trimester. We sure did not expect though that I would be so so sick for so so long. Through almost every moment of every day for almost the entire pregnancy I was not well (and that is an understatement, cause really I was puking 3 to 5 times a day...)

There was concern for my health, concern over whether or not it would be safe to have a home birth. Every day we put great effort into making me stronger. And all the prayers and well wishes from dear friends surely must have helped a lot. We always kept faith that baby was healthy and strong. Midwife said not to worry cause babies are so good at taking just what they need from mother.

My midwife also suggested that when people commented on my belly saying, "oh, you're so little", that I tell them to go suck an egg. That is perhaps the only piece of advice I did not take her up on, though I'm not saying it wasn't kinda good advice. My belly was measuring up just right the whole time anyway.

At the end, instead of being born in the second half of November as we had expected, or perhaps a little earlier since both girls before arrived early, this little one waited all the way until December to be born. Which gave mommy more time to get iron up to safe levels for home birth, and baby time to do some extra growing. Such a good thing to have time for the extra growing, cause just 5 pounds 6 ounces, I would not have wanted her to be any smaller. (Chessa was actually a bit smaller though. We just have small babies. I had kinda had high hopes for growing this one bigger, but then there was all the puking...)

And, 5 pounds 6 ounces, perfectly healthy wonderful little baby. Perfectly healthy safe happy home birth.

And why am I bring all this up again? Because like I said, it was one year ago that I became pregnant. I was sick all spring, looking forward to the summer, which when it came I was feeling not better at all. I missed so many seasons! And now they are here again. And I feel well again. So so well. What an incredible blessing to have good health! And to have this wonderful family of mine with these three sweet girls to journey through this beautiful year with.

The feeling of promise that this coming season offers is so inspiring to me. My family has so many dreams, each day we will bring ourselves closer to those dreams, we will embrace the work and joy of it all.

I wish to you as well a beautiful good-bye to the winter (your summer?) and a blessed journey into the new season!


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17 comments:

Tonya Gunn said...

Happy spring to you Renee! So much to be grateful for and what a blessing to be enjoying this new season with your three beautiful daughters and having your energy back.
Love,
Tonya

Mama Ash Grove said...

Dear Renee,
You had to go and make me cry again!
My heart is sooo full for you all! She is such a blessing! And so serene and beautiful! And I love that she will sleep in Chloe's arms!
I see those pants! Yay!
HUGS,
Love you, Mel

Megan said...

ahhh, go suck an egg. well i would say it :-)

Jane said...

Golly - I am so happy for you! She really looks precious and reminds me so much of my little one 4 years ago! Your 3 sisters look very happy indeed!
Blessings,
Jane

Sarah-Our Island Home said...

Oh! Thank you for sharing this! Such beauty! Such sweetness! What a blessing indeed! Glad to know that you are both so happy and healthy!

Twisted Cinderella said...

She is so completely precious. So sweet!

Sara said...

Renee, what an amazing journey you've been through the past year. She really is a gorgeous baby, and it's so wonderful to see the pictures of her with her big sisters. What a joy a baby brings to a household. I hope you enjoy your well-deserved spring! xo

* said...

Dear Renee,

so so beautiful pictures and so wonderful that you feel well again.
I think it is so important for little ones to have a quiet beginning here on earth... and a mom that cares for and is present.

Here more and more little babies spend more and more hours in daycare. I am worried about this development.

Much greeting to you and your family with cute little Elsie.

Heike

isabelle said...

Hello,
your post is a real gift for me.
Blessings

Anonymous said...

Happy spring, Renee! Your sweet little one is so lovely, like the rest of your girls. :) I'm so glad to see you again in this space. I'm looking forward to seeing little E grow. xo

Tahara said...

Oh Renee, she is beautiful!...Born on my husband's birthday :-)...She has grown so much since then...

Unknown said...

Renee my friend I am so glad you left me a message, I have been so busy with my little babes. Little Elsa is so sweet and born so tiny just like Chloe. They almost look the same in the first photo. How big she is already - she's certainly happy and enjoying mama's milk. I must sit down and write a long letter,, i shall soon. We are in Morro Bay, CA. Fabien looked at a property today so will make an offer, it is cute. The twins are 9 months already - adorable. Climbing all over mama at the moment...still nursing. I wish I could hold tender little Elsa in my arms.. I know some day we shall see one another again. The girls are beautiful as always. Sending much love... OH I love the knits,, do you have a pattern? I am making Elizabeth Zimmermans baby surprise jacket.. another one,, my 4th. Sending much love to you and your beautiful family.xxxx Congratulations MAMA xxx

Heather said...

Happy Spring sweet friend. Congratulations on the birth of your daughter, and may she bring you so much peace and joy.

Melody said...

She is such a darling, tiny little love bug! Of course you are over-the-moon happy! How could you not be with that sweet face smiling up at you?

Here is to a season full of health and joy.

Mama Forestdweller said...

She's so lovely, Renee!! Oh, look at that dear little face. I am so so happy for you all. I can relate about missing the seasons. I'm so glad you made it through and had such a happy healthy babe! Welcome, Elsie and Welcome to this beautiful Spring. xoxo

Unknown said...

Our baby (now a toddler I suppose) also loves his sisters. He will follow the eldest anywhere and goes to her for cuddles if he falls.It is so sweet to see the little mother in her and the care she shows him and for her to see how little it takes to light up his tiny face. May these sisters grow to bring light to many.

Unknown said...

Hey Renee- Just now reading your post from March...I'm obviously a little behind... Anyway I heard somehow or another that you had another little one but (8 months later) I owe you and your family an overdue congratulations! Also, just an update on our family, sometime around when you are celebrating Elsa's 1st birthday we will be welcoming our 3rd into the world! I can still remember standing in your kitchen in Asheville talking about when Jon and I were going to have kids, Chloe was around 5 then...now Milo is 5! So glad you are back to good health and enjoying your beautiful family. Take care, Emily