Feels Like Home

"Feels Like Home" - Chantal Kreviazuk

 

 

 

Good afternoon, friends. 

First - a huge THANK YOU to everyone.  Steve and I are so filled with love.  And so very thankful for all of the beautiful words sent our way this past week.  I wish I could express just how much it means to us.  And how truly touched we are.

Thank you.  Piper thanks you too. <3

 

 

At 4:49 this morning, Piper and I celebrated one week since she's come into this world. 

I drank hot tea.  She drank milk.  I looked down at her sweet and innocent face and gave thanks for the incredible little girl that has completely stolen our hearts these past seven days.  Tears fell as I looked at the tiny life attached to me in a whole new way - depending on me for her very early breakfast. 

Oh, these past seven days.  You all weren't lying.  They fly by.  This time last week, I was in my hospital bed eating for the first time in almost 24 hours, watching my husband get lost in the magic that is our daughter, as he cradled her tightly in his arms.  And now, I'm lying here in the living room with Piper next to me...taking in every little coo and precious baby noise she makes.  Daddy went back to work this morning.  He didn't want to leave.  Piper and I went upstairs to wake him up and he swept her up in his arms, kissed her face and stole a few minutes with her before getting up.  My heart melts in these moments.  It has melted every minute these past seven days. 

 

 

Oh, the love that is swimming inside of me.  It's hard to do anything but look at her.  I want to memorize every silly and funny face she makes.  I want to hold her close and feel her warm body close to mine.  I tell her I love her at least 835 times a day.  I kiss her 100 times a minute sometimes.  I thank her for being ours.  I look at her with such amazement.  I thank her for making her mommy and daddy feel like the luckiest people in the entire world. 

 I thank her for showing us the true and complete meaning of love. 

I thank her for making our dreams come true.

I thank her for making it feel like home.

 

 

 The hundreds and hundreds of nights that I spent awake and dying for answers in this house - praying and begging for a child...a family...a love of our own. 

All those prayers were answered these past seven days.  And this house has never felt more like home.

 

 

There's so much to say.  I plan on writing Piper's birth story this weekend.  It's a night/day that will forever be stitched in my heart.  I remember every ounce of it and I can't wait to bring it to life. 

 

 

For now, a very long ramble of sweet details (after I feed Piper). 

 

 

We are all doing well.  Adjusting to this new and exciting life very well.  We came home Wednesday early afternoon and have been learning, loving and feeling more alive (through even the most exhausting of moments) than we ever have.  Piper is more than we could have ever asked for.  She is healthy.  The doctors keep telling us she is one of the least jaundice babies they've ever seen.  She was born 8 pounds 10 ounces and when we left the hospital, she was 7 pounds 12 ounces.  They assured us it is perfectly normal for a baby her size to lose almost 10% of their body weight.  She has had two doctor visits since and is gaining appropriately - now up to 7 pounds 14+ ounces.  She is so sweet (I know every mama says that about their baby...but she really is such a love bug).  She's pretty "chill" so far.  She sometimes shows signs of "vampire-ism," but that's to be expected with a mama like hers (and a Dee Dee like hers).  She loves loves loves to be snuggled.  She loves to cuddle up on my chest and rest her head under my neck.  I swear there is no better feeling in this entire world.  She is completely out when she's asleep.  And super alert when she's awake.  She met the kitties as soon as we got home.  We're amazed and so proud of the fluffies.  They took right to her as you'll see in a few photos below.  My brother brought one of her blankets from the hospital and laid it on our bed so they could get her scent before our return home.  We found Muffin sleeping soundly on it when we arrived home .  They sniff her.  Sit above her.  Check her out in her cradle. 

 

 

She's definitely her mama in the potty department.  She's a pro.  A pooping/farting champ. 

Breast feeding - It took her a couple days to latch well.  And then, she couldn't latch quick enough.  We had a rough couple feedings Saturday morning due to gas.  Once mama had a good cry and said the word nipple 387 times, we were good as new.  In those moments, I realized even more how much I love her and how much I would do anything to make her feel happy, safe, full and satisfied.  She is eating great...every 3 hours and sometimes every 2 hours. 

 

 

 

I've got myself a nice little setup in the living room.  I've been sleeping hanging out down here with Pips until more of the soreness goes away.  Our bed is gigantic and super high and not the easiest to get in and out of.  I haven't been getting much sleep.  I was averaging 2 hours a night for the first few nights.  I got 4 the other night and it felt like 10.  Steve takes her when I need a quick nap.

Steve is such a wonderful daddy...completely smitten and in awe of Piper.

 

 

 

It has been so wonderful to watch him with her.  Until last Monday, he had never changed a diaper in his life.  He changed Piper's first one (a sticky blowout that covered mama's hands)  and it was easy to see he was a natural.  The nurses called him a swaddling pro.  He's constantly talking to her and giving her kisses.  I've cried handfuls of times watching them together.  Is this really happening?  I keep looking at her as I type - her little hands folded over her chest while she sleeps so peacefully.  She's ours.  She's here.  She's 8 pounds of magic. 

She has us all wrapped around her finger. Dee Dee is so in love with her.  I love seeing my mother with her - the way she holds her.  Kisses her.  Talks to her.  Jokes with her and I (making me laugh so hard I think I'm going to bust a stitch).  I know her and Piper are going to be so close and share such a special relationship. 

And for that, I am so grateful. 

I'm grateful for it all...
 

Wednesday through Sunday with Piper...

 

 

 

Daddy drove us home from the hospital.  I sat in the back with Pippy.  She loved the car ride.  You could tell it was soothing for her.  I choked up at the thought of walking into the house with our little girl.  We stopped at Steve's work to let a few friends come outside and say hi.  We stopped at school to say hi to Dee Dee.  We drove home with such excitement.





Video - Piper comes home...





sweet bonnet from Dee Dee

 We pulled in the driveway to find colorful balloons decorating our front door.  I smiled a teary smile as it all hit me so hard.  Thanks to Kim and her mom for such a sweet welcome home.

Jamie and Leslie sent us this purrrfect, happy treat.

We cried again.

And the kitties meet their new little sister.

I followed slowly behind Steve as we went up the stairs to show Piper her nursery.

He handed her to me and let me do the honors.
How special that moment was.

I can finally reveal all the "Piper" decor in her room.

The fabulous, funky and fun letters Aunt Jessica handmade for Pipsy (the gypsy).

The artwork I found on Etsy...one of the very first pieces for her nursery.

We're in love.

Once we got settled, I sunk into the couch and fed Piper.  It was a beautiful feeling. 

I spent so many nights stuck in that very same corner...crying, pleading and begging for a miracle. 

And finally, there she was.  Closer to me than ever. 

I love this face.  I LOVE it.

One of her #1 fans. <3

Dee Dee

Piper's first doctor's appointment - She doesn't like the cold.

Brie came to visit.  She is a natural and Piper cuddled into her instantly.

Thanks to Brie for making an incredible dinner for us.  Salad and chicken pot pie.

It's all gone.

Muffin can't get enough of Piper's hospital blanket...

Twinkie is fascinated by her.

So is Dee Dee.

Pip's first bracelet from Dee Dee

We're all fascinated with this bundle of pure love...

2nd doctor visit - "Oh heck no, don't you dare get me nakie again!"

Piper got tons of Easter treats from Dee Dee

even though she came 4 hours and 49 minutes too late...

2 sweet peeps

Straight up gangsta

Snuggle bunny...

Little glow worm

Stealing a few minutes before Daddy's first day back to work this morning.

We are so insanely in love with you, Piper.

You were more than worth the wait.  In seven little days, you have proven that "it's all worth it" is more than the truth.  I never wanted anything more than to become a mother.  And now,

I've never believed more that I was meant to be one.  You have completed your daddy and I.



"If you knew how much these moments mean to me

And how long I've waited for your touch

And if you knew how happy you are making me

I never thought that I'd love anyone so much"

<3<3<3

I'll be back in a few days with some very special photos. 

And then comes the birth story...I can't wait to revisit those crazy, surreal moments.

Have a beautiful day, everyone.

Thank you always.



Piper Lovin',