Thursday, May 3, 2012

I'm in love

I have a new love. Her name is Artemis Valborg Nelson. She's pretty teeny tiny to warrant so much love - just 7 pounds 11 ounces. But how she makes my heart burst with joy - wow.

Details? I've got details.

Last Saturday I kept telling my friend Jera, who is temporarily living with us, it would sure be fun to have a birthday baby since my birthday was the next day. Brandy wasn't due until May 5 but I got a call at 11 p.m. from Brandy that her water had broken and they were going to the hospital. Who didn't sleep that night? Brandy, of course. Jason. Brandy's mom Jackie. And me. Too dang excited!! I thought she'd have the baby before church at 9 a.m. and I'd be able to announce the wonderful news. I was naughty. I held my cell phone all throughout church, texting Jason and my girls, running out to talk to Riley. All throughout Sunday School and Relief Society I couldn't focus - I just wanted to hear she was here.

After church Jera made potato salad and guacamole to take to my birthday barbecue, then we headed to my mom's house in Springville. My sister had coordinated a wonderful party with family and friends. We enjoyed burgers and all the fixings, chatted, opened presents and I kept checking texts from Jason which said, "we see hair," "coming now. Next 10 I bet" and "crowning." Then, at 3:21 their time, 4:21 our time, as my sister was serving my birthday cake he wrote "She is out   holy crap."  I laughed and cried with joy and held up the phone and gave the news - everyone was happy but maybe not as happy as I was!

We got pictures a few minutes later of a tiny black-haired wailing baby. Brandy and Jason have their own personal memories of the birth that I won't share - those are theirs to treasure. Mine were of gratitude to Heavenly Father for bringing this perfect little child to earth. We heard later she weighed 7 pounds 11 ounces and is 20.5 inches long. We got to see a few pictures and that had me hooked so much I felt compelled to just get to Phoenix and not wait. Brandy's mom was OK with that, Jason said he wanted me there "now" and I had no reason to wait. I needed to see my granddaughter.

I booked a flight for Tuesday morning and got to Phoenix by 10 a.m. Jason picked me up and took me to the hospital where Brandy and Artemis were waiting to be discharged. The baby had been in the room with them almost constantly, bonding, eating and sleeping. I walked in the door and saw the tiniest, truly most perfect little face, body, arms, legs. She is amazing. She looks like Jason as a baby and Brandy as a baby. She has skinny legs and arms with soft, soft skin. She has black hair that hangs over her collar. She has a tiny mouth, perfect nose, little eyebrows and ears. She is a calm, happy baby. She is easily consoled - really doesn't get upset at all unless someone annoys her like the doctor checking her out for her first pediatric appointment.

I'm pretty sure I won't be able to go home. I can't think of the day I will have to leave. All I know is, I will be back. A lot. I'm in love.