Miles the cat?

A great philosopher once postulated that babies are like kittens. Although Joe is very optimistic that Miles will one day demonstrate cat-like-speed-and-reflexes, at this point, all I can confirm is that he has kitten eyes. For the first days of Miles' life, he never opened his eyes! I occasionally saw one or the other (most often the left), but never both together. Today (Miles is now 5 days old) was two-eyes-day!! Hurray! After days of straining with his eyebrows up, he finally got them both to cooperate at once, and now I have confirmed that he not only has two matching eyes, but also that they focus together -- success! (however fleeting). Hilariously, when he manages to get them both open, he gazes around with the most startled, confused expression. It seems he thought he had this place all figured out, until - shock! - a whole new dimension in sight.

introducing Mr. Miles!!

After a few frustrating false alarms, Miles Joseph sprang into the world at 8:26am today. Once he decided today was the day, he didn't mess around: we were at the hospital exactly 9 minutes before he arrived, long enough to make it to the birthing suite (barely, and only after running down the triage nurse in the ED), but not long enough that the nurse had time to ask my name!! Joe says little Miles is announcing his Nelson-ness: late and in rush!! He weighed in at 8lbs 1oz, 21in long. Lots of brown hair, but too short to be curly (yet). After a few short hours of intense excitement, we had quite a mellow day together. So far he's got a great disposition, and the most adorable little expressions. Oh, and all 10 fingers and toes.

Ms. Adelaide, for her part, is the most excited big sister imaginable. She just couldn't wait to meet her new little brother, and talked non-stop about his tiny fingers, soft hair and her favorite part, the "funny belly button" (aka stump). She asks about every 30 seconds if he needs a diaper changed yet. Hurray!! I couldn't be happier! :-)

pregnant women are people TWO

No, I am not miserable. No, I am not going to pop. No, I do not know if today is the day. Yes, I am still pregnant. And, believe it or not, I'm feeling pretty good about it. My new perspective is: what's the rush? I only have a few weeks of my life to enjoy being about as wide as I am tall, and accumulate all the excitement (and empathy) that goes with that. So I am living it up. I figure, how lucky for me that I am not swollen or sleepless or plagued by any of the other terrible 3rd trimester problems that most preggos face. So, I am enjoying this time with my belly and my family, before things change again forever. Might be this week, might be next; hopefully won't be two weeks from now, but if so that'll be okay too.

Adelaide, on the other hand, is very ready and quite excited to be a big sister. Little Ada is at such a great stage right now; she's figured out imaginative play, and she's expressive enough to narrate everything she can imagine. The interplay is hilarious. She's been preparing her doll for how to be a big sibling to the baby she imagines is in her own belly! Yesterday, she settled her baby doll into the car and informed me: "this baby girl is getting so big, she's ready to be a big sister now. When she came out of my belly, she was so tiny, but now she's big enough to be a sister and she's ready for the baby to come out of my belly." I love it.