Once again, I've allowed too many stories to backlog themselves in the writer piece of my brain, and have daunted myself from ever attempting to release them in a calm, natural flow. They are all a-jumble and a-rumble and will not let me move forward until they crash, loose and free, right through the dam, spilling willy nilly where they will, flooding in a rush over any semblance of chronology in its wake.
Are you sensing a pattern? I'm sensing a pattern.
Whatever.
Here go the floodgates.
----
I am a grandmother. We are grandparents. My baby girl has a baby girl of her very own, and the reality of this is the most astoundingly wondrous thing I've ever experienced in my life so far. And, hand-to-God, there is not even the slightest, teeniest bit of exaggeration in that sentiment.
----
Jessi went into labor in the wee hours of Wednesday morning, February 8th, and called us en route to the hospital. It was 2:30 a.m., give or take, and we decided to sleep a couple more hours before packing up and heading to DC. As it all played out, we arrived at the hospital mere minutes after Henley finally made her way into the big world, taking part in the drama of the delivery itself via phone calls, texts, and more phone calls.
My son-in-law was - and continues to be - a champion and a natural. He's been absolutely brilliant, from where I sit, and watching him with Henley you can't help but get the sense that he was born just for this moment. To be her daddy. It's a joy to watch.
The birth story is my daughter's to tell. All I can say is that I was, am, continue to be so proud of the woman she is. There are so many things about my daughter that I am in awe of, and amazed by, and deeply grateful for; probably first and foremost among them is how clearly she knows and respects her own mind. This trait served her well for the duration of her pregnancy, up to and including delivery. She's going to be the most amazing mom.
My daughter is a strong and beautiful woman, and I am so honored to be her mother.
----
When it was finally my turn to hold Henley in my arms, I was overcome with an awareness and understanding that I was looking my own immortality in the face, and it was precious.
Do you have any idea what a gift the power of that moment was?
If there are adequate words available to describe it for you, I've yet to find them.
Maybe someday they'll come to me.
Today is not that day.
But I can tell you this: perfect love does exist, and the meaning of life?
Well, it's less and less a mystery to me with every passing day.
Just look at that face.
What more is there to know?
Welcome to the world, baby girl.
I love you, as big as the sky.
_____
*Title quote by Emily Dickinson
Congratulations! I thought of you today when I saw a commercial for Chantix - I hope you've been successful with your effort to quit smoking!
Posted by: Angie | March 03, 2012 at 11:14 PM
Congratualtions to you and Drew, Jennifer. I know this little girl will be loved and spoiled by you both beyond what you can imagine. All of you are very lucky to have one another!
Posted by: Emily | March 01, 2012 at 08:14 PM
Oh. My! Adorable . . . Congrats!
Posted by: Brian | February 27, 2012 at 07:58 AM
Congratulations and in that face is the wonders of the world. Seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and more of enjoyment lay ahead.
Pure.
Posted by: Deborah | February 26, 2012 at 01:39 PM
What a face... So lovely. Love is immortality, indeed, and I am thrilled there is so much of it in your life right now.
Posted by: Roxanne | February 26, 2012 at 06:11 AM
Oh congratulations, Jen! To you and your daughter.
Posted by: Stereo | February 25, 2012 at 01:24 PM