Every time a friend of mine has a baby, I post about it. (Search “welcome” for all the new beautiful babies I’ve had the pleasure of holding.) It occurred to me, only today, that I never wrote an official welcome post for Nora Helen Estridge, born July 5, 2011, 6 lbs. 15 oz., 20 in. Her parents, Dara and Mike, waited for and wanted her for a long time and I couldn’t be happier for them.
I was unable to see Nora when she was first born because of the awful c-diff (which I’m still on antibiotics for) but now, when on antibiotics, I’m able to hold babies whenever I want to. And lately, I want to. Often. I don’t really want another baby (and we’re not having another one) but now that my boys are toddlers, in every sense of the word, something hurts—physically hurts—when I hold a baby or have the rare pleasure of letting one sleep on my chest. I realize you can’t experience that forever, personally, but it makes me realize, really realize, how rare and fleeting that time was. Yes, there was sleep deprivation and projectile vomiting and unreliable hormones and nonstop crying but there was also this tiny, amazing human being who fit, toes at belly button, head at neck, perfectly. I miss that.
But enough about me. Back to Nora. She’s perfect. And her parents are amazing. She’s lucky—very lucky. Dara and Mike, I’m so sorry this is so belated, but I couldn’t be happier for you. You deserve her. And she deserves you. My most sincere congratulations.
“Where did you come from, baby dear?
Out of the Everywhere and into here.” —George MacDonald