she's here!

Sorry for the radio silence the last few days. Then again-- not really sorry. I've had a pretty dang good excuse.

Our sweet little girl was born yesterday morning, November 7, at 8:37 a.m. She is a teeny-tiny itty-bitty thing, only 19 inches long and 5 pounds, 9 ounces. She is one hundred percent healthy and one billion percent cute. She has as much hair as your average six-year-old, dimples on both cheeks, and the most perfect little rosebud lips you have ever laid eyes on. I can't share pictures of her publicly just yet, but if you would please just imagine the most beautiful baby you have ever seen and then multiply the cuteness by ten, you're probably getting somewhere near Ellison's ballpark.

It has been alternately wonderful and excruciating. We spent almost a full 24 hours with our birth mom and her family before the baby came-- it was an amazing opportunity for our families (including both my parents and Matt's parents) to get to know one another, to share our lives and our histories and our plans and our fears. I am so thankful for that time we got to share. Matt and I were in the room with our birthmom through the duration of her labor and delivery. Matt cut the umbilical cord when she finally arrived and we all sobbed together for quite a long time. 

 We were given our own room here in the hospital and are happily shuffling the baby between our room and the birth mother's room, giving both families the opportunity to hoard tiny baby cuddles and kisses (and change diapers). Today I have big plans to dress her up in something other than the hospital-issue way-too-big shirt she's been wearing since yesterday and am also scheming about doing whatever it takes to catch a glimpse of those dimples. I haven't slept since approximately Tuesday, so I look like something the dog dragged in, but when I'm holding that sweet baby I really don't care. Right now she's in her other mom's room so I have a few minutes to really admire those huge bags under my eyes in all their glory...it's really special. 

(I wrote the stuff above about 4 hours ago. Apparently I'm moving into the 'takes all day to write one miniscule blog' season of my life.)

She's back with us now and she's doing a little tanning for some jaundice, but at least they're letting her do it in our room! I swore I wouldn't let her go to a tanning bed until she was at least 3 (pageants, obvi.) (please no 'helpful' anonymous comments-- I am totally joking) but here I am being permissive so early...

Gotta go feed a baby. What a tragedy. :) In the last 24 hours I've become altogether abysmal at returning texts, emails, and phone calls. I almost feel guilty but then- no. :) But I thank all of you so much for your prayers, concern, and love during this time. We are so incredibly thankful, overjoyed, and still a wee bit terrified-- thanks for coming along for the ride.