Last night I had the opportunity to meet one of my very favorite people in the world just after her first 24 hours.
My brother and sister in law welcomed Halle into the world on Monday night. We offered to come then, but they (very exhaustedly and happily, I think) took us up on our offer to wait until Tuesday for a visit. She was born at 38 weeks, but was a healthy and robust 7+ lbs. It was wonderful visiting with her parents. Kelly looked like she was doing AMAZING. I hope I look as good and alert after Pinchy shows up. I know she’ll continue to be a great mom. She’s already done a fantastic job with Emma (who, by the way, LOVED her Spirograph big sister gift) and I could tell that she already adored the little one. Matt may have been the proudest papa of all times. I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to see them all together and all so happy. Perfect picture of a nice little family. I’m excited that our kids will be so close in age, that they live so close to us and that we’ll be able to spend some more time with them as the kids grow up together. We are incredibly lucky to have them so close.
My new friend, Clara, was born a month or so ago. I held her on the day she arrived and a hundred times since then. Still…I can never seem to remember quite how a newborn feels from the time I hold one to the next time I have a chance to. These little lumps of people are so incredibly light, yet so incredibly solid. They already show bits of their personality from the first minute they open their little eyes to size up whoever is holding them this time…and likely wondering if this person is a food bearer. They squirm and squiggle as they start to wake up, but mostly, they are just content in those first few hours to be held by someone warm, eat when they can and get used to being on solid ground and not just floating along inside a balloon.
Little Halle was content to sleep in my arms for a good long time as I stood and swayed with her. Kelly says she looks completely like Matt, but I see traits of both in them. She has a thick crop of dark hair that may or may not stick around. Perfect little eyelashes, perfect little nails. Perfect, perfect, perfect. Regardless of how the mix of genetics turns out, she is a beautiful baby and will grow into a beautiful child.
Luckiest. Aunt. Ever.
