Baby G

I have a choice - play catch up or dive in like it hasn't been months and months since we blogged...

Diving in sounds way easier. :)

So, Baby G, who arrived in May, is consuming my time quite nicely.  I have written multiple blog entries in my head since she came - "Expectations" and "On being a mom for the first time at 41" were standouts.  Well, they would have been if they'd ever made it out of my head and onto the screen.  Maybe if I find myself looking for something to do one day....

In the meantime, some highlight moments.

The day she was born -- all wrapped up in white knit hospital clothes.

And those first few hospital days.  There was this beautiful light coming through the wall of windows.  It was great for setting her in to take care of jaundice.  And how great to watch John just drink this little tiny girl in!  He did almost everything at the hospital since I really couldn't move.  I don't think I changed a single diaper until we were home.

We have 'honorary nieces' here in Kandern.  This was a week after she was born.  The pictures don't really capture the shrill delight and battles over who 'gets to hold her'.

She was just so little.  And yes, before we knew that we could simply rent a baby scale from the pharmacy for 1 Euro a week, I was trying to weigh her in a baking pan on our kitchen scale.  I'm pretty sure my mom was at least a little bit mortified.

It was an absolute gift that my parents could come those first weeks and help with everything while tolerating my daily crying and crazy.  This was the stretch that inspired the "Expectations" blog that doesn't exist.  My expectations were wildly inaccurate, compounded by the realities of c-section recovery.  And the most bittersweet part was being absolutely bowled over by the reality that people who desperately loved and wanted to hold this little girl were and will be so many miles away.  I walk the edge of that grief for myself regularly, but including Baby G in it? More painful than I could have anticipated. 

This little girl was just swimming in even the newborn-sized clothes.

Her first real social outing was appropriately German. The very generous couple that John has helped with grape harvesting hosted a private wine tasting and tour of the co-op winery that they're a part of.  It was followed by a grill party (which we hadn't quite realized until we were about to head home - "Aren't you coming for dinner?" - language stuff.  We still miss key info!)

And these two... I can't get enough! She absolutely adores him.

John's parents came too.  I have to snag a good photo of them from John's computer!  Again, what an amazing gift that they could come and spend the time getting to know this little girl and traipsing around with us. This, among our various day trips, is Baby G's first visit to Starbucks.  Some of you are cheering and some cringing.  I'm alright with that.  Consider it symbolic - first taste of America, be that what it may.

I'll give you more photos from this next time, but world of difference from screaming bath time when we switched to a Tummy Tub. But this is also a shout out to John and his photo skills and the beautiful light that comes through the window into our bathroom. 

And of course, a big part of life as an expat - government paperwork to take care of in offices far from home.  We drove to Bern to do all her official paperwork.  We're still waiting to pick up her passport.  Fortunately, Bern is beautiful.  A little sack lunch between the Bear Pit and the river was a great summer treat.

So I think we're doing alright, figuring things out one piece at a time, enjoying as much of it as possible.  Good stuff that God is really gracious and generous and merciful in.