WELCOME HANNAH RUTH!!

Yes, I know, I dropped off the edge of the earth these past couple of weeks. I've been a very inconsiderate and disloyal blogger, and I wholeheartedly apologize. But, I think I have a pretty decent excuse:

Please join me in welcoming to the waking world

Hannah Ruth Lennard

About a week and a half ago, Hannah decided that 37.5 weeks was just about enough time to spend in the oven. On February 21st, after 45 hours of "early" labor and then 30 hours of actual labor, she finally made her way out into the world. She was born at a tiny 5 lbs 6 oz, with a VERY full head of hair, some scrawny little chicken legs, and frighteningly long toes.

Because she was so small, we were kept in the hospital for a few extra days. Except for the fact that there was NO WIFI (gasp!), that was a wonderful experience. I had round the clock care from a team of midwives, and a staff of lactation consultants coming in every three hours to work with me on breast feeding. I can't say enough about how great the UK National Health Service is. And midwives rock.

We've been home now for a week, and things are going pretty well. I'm amazed to learn that caring for a newborn truly is a full-time job. I'm slowly starting to get the hang of how to get anything not Hannah-related accomplished (hence finally managing this blog post).

Adam and I are both utterly besotted by Hannah, who is (objectively speaking) the most astoundingly gorgeous thing ever to have graced the earth.

I can't speak for what Sleep Talkin' Man thinks about her just yet, as he hasn't made a peep since she came along. I think we can attribute this to basic lack of proper sleep. Once we get on track, I hope to hear his opinion on our new addition.

I can share with you the story of STM's most recent appearance:

I was finally admitted into the hospital late Wednesday night, after more than two full days of contractions. By that time, I was in such unimaginable, mind-bending pain that they pumped me full of Pethidine (known in the States as Demerol). I drifted into a pain-free stupor, and Adam got in the bed with me to nap.

As I stirred awake two hours later , I heard him begin to mumble next to me. I sat up to clear my head, at which point he growled, "Seventeen shaved monkeys!" shortly followed by a top-of-his-lungs shout of "COCK FUCK!!"

Until STM decides to rejoin us, I promise to try and get back in the habit of posting things I've still got saved from the nest-egg. In the meanwhile, here are pictures of the utterly adorable Hannah: