Expectations
Leading up to Lydia's birth, there were many thoughts and planning that went into the time that would come right after our child was born. We started building expectations regarding how we would be able to transition from being two to being three: How much time off of work would be sufficient?; what would be like at home with a newborn? All of these expectations are of course without much merit, but simply based on what the "typical" new parent experience is thought to be.
Well, maybe my first lesson of fatherhood is that any of my pre-conceived expectations are most likely not going to reflect reality.
Over the past week, I have seen this as ringing true in two profound ways:
1. There is no way that I could have possibly expected the wonderful child that is Lydia. She is simply beyond-expectation. Everthing from the way she looks to the way she acts is outside of what I could have possibly imagined two weeks ago. Of course Elizabeth and I talked about things like "I hope he/she has your eyes" or "I really don't want the baby to have my nose;" but to be able to actually picture anything like this little baby that is now living in our midst...no way! Maybe this is lack of creativity on our part, but more so, I believe Lydia is living proof of the wonderful miracle of life! I feel truly blessed that God has created someone so special that we can now call our daughter!
2. Well, for the second week in a row we went in for a clinic visit on a Thursday and didn't leave until Sunday! The first time we gave birth to Lydia...this time Elizabeth was re-admitted to the hospital due to increasing blood pressure and liver enzymes. These symptoms typically subside after giving birth, but for reasons unknown, they were not acting in the "expected" way for Elizabeth.
The news that we would have to spend the next days in the hospital were tough to swallow. We very much expected and wanted to be at home, getting to know our new daughter and forming a routine. Instead, Elizabeth, Lydia, Elizabeth's Mom Cynthia, and I got to spend our time together in a small hospital room while Elizabeth's condition was treated with rest and IV medications. Elizabeth's dad returned to be with us on Saturday. Elizabeth was able to make a good turnaround over the few days in the hospital, and we are certainly glad to be home with a much better bill of health! Of course, this was not what we "expected" as part of our first week with Lydia, but in the long run this will be just another interesting part of the beginning of Lydia's life.
So, when it come to parenthood, now I am looking to "expect the unexpected." Hold on, here we go!!
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I am amazed at how one small moment in time can change life forever. The birth of our daughter, Lydia Anne, on September 19th (3:26 am) was the perfect example of this type of transformational moment. Elizabeth and I cannot believe this amazing person that has entered into our life. At 7 pounds, 6 oz and 19.5 inches long, Lydia is unbelievably perfect (of course no father would say any different of their child).
The few days since her birth have seemed like a dream - partially due to the lack of sleep, but more so because it just seems unreal that we could now be in the presence of such a small wonder. I can't say that there haven't been frustrations along the way, but so far I have found every minute of it worth it tenfold. Lydia captivates us even more every minute and I can't begin to imagine the wonderful joy that we will experience over the next days, months, and years to come.
My plan is to use this blog as a means to describe some of the great things that Lydia shall do, like when she stretches out her legs as straight as can be for moments on end (now that she has room to do so). Some things, like the way she opens her eyes when waking, will be beyond description and so I also hope to capture some of my own thoughts on this little (all to soon to be bigger) life that has started before us.
Thanks to everyone for their love and support as we have welcomed our little Lydia into the world.
Pictures from our first few days with Lydia Anne: http://picasaweb.google.com/eaewinglee/LydiaAnne02#
All of the pictures of Lydia Anne will be posted at: http://picasaweb.google.com/eaewinglee/
.JPG)
I am amazed at how one small moment in time can change life forever. The birth of our daughter, Lydia Anne, on September 19th (3:26 am) was the perfect example of this type of transformational moment. Elizabeth and I cannot believe this amazing person that has entered into our life. At 7 pounds, 6 oz and 19.5 inches long, Lydia is unbelievably perfect (of course no father would say any different of their child).The few days since her birth have seemed like a dream - partially due to the lack of sleep, but more so because it just seems unreal that we could now be in the presence of such a small wonder. I can't say that there haven't been frustrations along the way, but so far I have found every minute of it worth it tenfold. Lydia captivates us even more every minute and I can't begin to imagine the wonderful joy that we will experience over the next days, months, and years to come.
My plan is to use this blog as a means to describe some of the great things that Lydia shall do, like when she stretches out her legs as straight as can be for moments on end (now that she has room to do so). Some things, like the way she opens her eyes when waking, will be beyond description and so I also hope to capture some of my own thoughts on this little (all to soon to be bigger) life that has started before us.
Thanks to everyone for their love and support as we have welcomed our little Lydia into the world.
Pictures from our first few days with Lydia Anne: http://picasaweb.google.com/eaewinglee/LydiaAnne02#
All of the pictures of Lydia Anne will be posted at: http://picasaweb.google.com/eaewinglee/
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