I'm writing this post from my blackberry (for the boys' reference if reading this 20 years from now, that's a mobile phone). It's the first time I've done that, but I've got Alder here on my chest and Tom is asleep. Anyway, what I want to write about is perspective. The kind of perspective I have with this new baby. With Rowan, in the middle of the night when the nurse brought him to me from the hospital nursery I nearly burst into tears because I still needed sleep so badly. Last night with Alder, and being even more sleep-deprived from such a rough overnight labor, I woke up and felt only delight to see my baby and feed him. This is because of perspective.
Perhaps the first kind of perspective is knowing how short this exhausting newborn time will really seem in retrospect. That reminds me that even the 2am feeding is positively precious, and I won't be robbed of savoring it. The second kind of perspective, though, I was not expecting. In contrast to the "I have done this before" view that comes from Alder being my second baby, I also have the "I probably will never do this again" that comes from him beingg our last planned baby. That combination is a powerful one indeed.
I'm so blessed to have this opportunity, to be mother to these beautiful children, and to treasure each second with both of them.
Now, since Dad is not benefitting from the hormones helping to give me such a happy outlook, I'll see about getting him some coffee.... :)