It’s been less than a week since I became a mother. As you might guess, my time is spent a little differently now: feeding baby, changing diapers, doing laundry, trying to remember to feed me, quick naps… but most of my time is spent staring at this:
Baby Genevieve made her appearance at 6:16 am. She was still two weeks early, but she officially made it to full term the night before she was born, and she’s a good healthy size – 20 inches, 7 lbs 9 oz.
She’s perfect and we couldn’t be happier
a journey started in a moment of heat
making love, making a child
at the same time making myself
something more than myself
changing from woman
to mother
I am not the same person
Invaded,
my body is not my own
my belly rolls and kicks
with a power I don’t possess
I am possessed
the new life within my body
changes my body:
juicy curves
rosy cheeks
thick hair
long nails
glowing skin –
I feel the weight
of my husband’s eyes
there is more to me now
I feel the connection
I am the connection
between past and future
I am full of hope
full of life
I see the smile in your eyes
when you see my belly
strangers fall over themselves to get the door
my husband holds my hand as we cross the street
then doesn’t let go
at home I rest
my husband wraps himself around me
palming my belly, whispering
“my two greatest loves
right here in my hand”
lady in waiting
simultaneously wishing
to speed up time
and hold this moment forever
the best thing about being home from the hospital: snuggling with my husband
Sprung from the cage. Released on my own recognizance. Flew the coop.
Baby is doing well. I’m at home from the hospital, still pregnant, and on bedrest. By bedrest I mean reclining; I’m not to be sitting up either.
Perhaps bedrest would be a little less frustrating if we hadn’t just moved, and I wasn’t surrounded with thousands of boxes that still need to be unpacked. I still can’t find anything.
Now I need to get busy on all that homework I didn’t get done during my week in the hospital. At least there will be fewer interruptions here. Imagine trying to write a paper juggling 12 different books and a pile of papers and the laptop while leaning back – without sitting up or straining or reaching too far for any of the books. Don’t take for granted the little things like being able to sit up and spread your books out on the table. Oh, I miss sitting up and leaning forward.
Somebody needs to bring me some bon-bons.
