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I don’t even really know where to begin with this blog. Actually, there should be two separate blogs going on….one for those readers who have children…..and one for those who don’t. It’s kinda weird how that single event can separate the world you used to know from the world you now experience….kinda like the movie “the Matrix”.  We took the red pill. Even now as I write this blog and my little girl is on my lap…I’m not quite sure what just happened. Joelle and I agree that for whatever reason people just don’t talk about what to expect the first few weeks and months of being new parents. Oh sure, you can go to classes about giving birth, you can read about the different stages of labor, exercises, diet….on and on. But the crazy thing is that labor will last (in some cases) 8 hours up to a couple days. While I’m not trying to minimize the pain during labor on a woman….I think it falls short  in comparison to the anguish, frustration, and depression that can often be felt for months after the birth. Certainly there is joy in the midst of the trials and the beauty of our little girl is priceless….but we underestimated the price that we would pay in receiving this gift from God. Maybe it’s harder because we’re a bit older and set in our ways so the initial shock is greater? Who knows. And, I realize that this is not everybody’s experience…some people have babies that don’t fuss, sleep long hours, and eat with little problems….those people can keep that to themselves 
It is comforting to know that the more people we open up to about this newborn stage the more we find that it is unanimously consistent across the board…..we’re not the only ones who go through these diverse range of emotions and experiences. We just can’t figure out why people (friends) don’t come out and specifically say before the birth, ‘Listen, things are going to get crazy. Be prepared for a full-on frontal assault on your emotions, your body, your spirit, your faith, and your marriage.’ Or even, ‘It’s normal to feel frustrated to the point of uncontrolable weeping.’ Granted, you can’t fully understand what to expect until you’re in it up to your neck, but SOME serious conversation other than “Get ready for no sleep” or “Say goodbye to your naps” or my personal favorite, “Your life is gonna change.” Really? Maybe people don’t want to scare us. I know that we are just in a phase and we will turn a corner and come out of the woods shortly. However, I certainly don’t want to be shortsighted and miss the miracle of life that is taking place in front of me. One day she will be gone to live her own life and behold the miracle herself and we will be left with precious memories and photographs.
 Now that I’ve thoroughly ranted….I’d like to take the remainder of this blog to share with you just how amazing a newborn baby is….particularly your own  Equal to not being prepared for the dynamic and paradigm shift in lifestyle with a newborn, nothing can prepare you for the awesome creation of a human being that is the direct product of your love with your spouse. Truly, how can it be that this precious little life can come from mom and dad’s relations 9 months earlier? How can it be that the theory of evolution even exists? How can it be so blatantly complex and be an accident or chance that life exists? Her little hands and feet, her tiny nose, her big blue eyes, the hair on her head, her delicate arms and legs flailing around uncontrollably….all designed and fabricated by a Master creator indeed. The Bible says in the book of Psalms that we are fearfully and wonderfully made…that He knows our name and the very number of hairs on our heads…that He knows our very thoughts…that He knit us together in our mother’s womb. She is perfectly symetrical on the outside, and anything but symetrical on the inside. She grabs my finger with her soft little hand and she may as well be grabbing my heart. Even her incredibly loud screaming can put a smile on my face. I’m not the most educated man, but I simply can’t see how a human being can deny that there is a God after experiencing childbirth.  Joelle and I are learning new things everyday about the baby, ourselves, and the amazing love that our God has for us. Emmelia is our gift and we are charged with raising her to grow up knowing the One who made her and everything seen and unseen.
We also would like to thank everbody for the enormous encouragement and support we’ve received over the past three weeks…particularly the delicious meals!!!! We are truly spoiled to have generous friends and family who go out of their way to express their love for us through serving us. May God repay you all for your generousity….we are humbled by your example.
Hope you like the photos….just a few choice ones that we snapped along the way.   The naked photos are from her first bath. Can anyone identify with the photo of the poor sap passed out with a baby on his lap?
OK….there’s so much more to write but I’m fading and my baby is ready for another feeding.
 peace out
 
 
 
 
 We have made it more than one half way through the time in the hip brace, Emmelia is doing great, all things considered. We attached a photo of her wearing the harness, some of it is covered up by the bib, but you get the idea of the position it holds her in. She is such a trooper. We have two weeks left before we go back to the doctor for an evaluation. We are praying that she will be done having to wear the harness, please pray that her hips are healed and that she does not have to wear the harness any more.  She still hates the brace but she is sleeping through the night again and she is hanging in there, despite her discomfort. She is such a good girl!
