Here is Bella with Grandpa Hall, Grandma Barb and Daddy...
To Grandpa Hall and Grandma Barb, thank you for all that you did for us while you were here.

Ere on my bed my limbs I lay,
God grant me grace my prayers to say:
O God! preserve my mother dear
In strength and health for many a year;
And, O! preserve my father too,
And may I pay him reverence due;
And may I my best thoughts employ
To be my parents' hope and joy;
And O! preserve my brothers both
From evil doings and from sloth,
And may we always love each other
Our friends, our father, and our mother:
And still, O Lord, to me impart
An innocent and grateful heart,
That after my great sleep I may
Awake to thy eternal day! Amen

Making the decision to have a child - it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking outside your body. (E. Stone)

Before you were conceived I wanted you
Before you were born I loved you
Before you were here an hour I would die for you
This is the miracle of life. (M. Hawkins)

If one feels the need of something grand, something infinite, something that makes one feel aware of God, one need not go far to find it. I think that I see something deeper, more infinite, more eternal than the ocean in the expression of the eyes of a little baby when it wakes in the morning and coos or laughs because it sees the sun shining on its cradle.
-- Vincent van Gogh

Ever since I was in college, one of my favorite poets has been Pablo Neruda. He's a Chilean poet whose work consists of beautiful love poems, surrealist poetry, historical epics and many more. I love reading his work in Spanish and then reading the translation. Though I may not understand the whole thing in Spanish, it's more beautiful than in English.

Many years ago, Patch Adams the movie came out and featured a tidbit of one of Pablo Neruda's love poems. I recently came accross it again and realized that it not only sums up the intense romantic love between a man and a woman, but as I reread it this time, I realized that this is also a description of love between a parent and a child. Here it is:

"I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way

than this: where I does not exist, nor you,
so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep."

I definitely recommend his book, "100 Love Sonnets: Cien Sonetos de Amor" and any others.

When did public places start having "family bathrooms"? Did they always or did I just start noticing them? I think it's a great idea. I hate changing Bella in a busy ladies' room. The changing table always seems to be out in the open right when you walk in. I may be germ-a-phobic, but I feel like as she lays there all these gross bathroom germs that are floating in the air get all over her. Also, how often is the changing table disinfected? How come the liner container is always empty? Whenever I use them, I usually cover the entire thing with paper towels, then put down her changing pad, then lay her down paying careful attention so that she doesn't touch the actual changing table. I'm thisclose to packing a spray bottle of disinfectant in the baby bag or disinfectant wipes in the baby bag.

Another thing. Public breastfeeding. If public facilities can provide family bathrooms, how come they can't provide a quiet and private place for women to breastfeed their babies? It would ease the situation for all involved from the mother, the baby, to the uncomfortable public that isn't used to seeing a breastfeeding mother. I understand that the demand isn't that high, but I don't think one tiny room or cubicle or curtained off 4ftx4ft area is too much to ask in a busy mall or amusement park or shopping center. NIH, lucky for me, supports breastfeeding, working mothers and provides several rooms throughout the hospital for women to pump or breastfeed. The room closest to my department has two cubicles, each with telephones, a table and a bulletin board full of baby pictures of the mom's who use the rooms. It's quiet, serene, locked, and hidden away from the judgemental eyes of others.

(Picture caption: I'm bushed!) Today Izzy had her 2 month well-baby check up. She was outstanding during the appointment - an absolute angel. She is growing rapidly which is a testimony to our excellent feeding sessions. In terms of length, she's in the 75th percentile...she's really long/tall. She also now weighs a wopping 9 lbs, 11 oz!! Almost 10 lbs! Every measurement gave us all confirmation that Izzy's a normal (well better than normal), healthy, happy, thriving little angel. The worst part of today was probably for me though it was done to her. Izzy had to get four immunizations today. This is the worst - and I knew it was coming and I knew exactly how it would be done. I'd done it, afterall. They laid her on a table and two corpsmen held down her little legs. They each took a syringe, counted to three, then thrust the needle into her upper thighs. Then they did it again for the 3rd and 4th shot. She screamed so loud and painfully with each injection. I huddled in a chair away from the table and covered my face. Once it was over Charles was able to scoop her up and console her. However, she wasn't done yet... she had to take an oral immunization which didn't go over too badly. >>Deep breath<< Over until next time. Today was also significant because it truly marked the end of our connection to the Navy. We are officially disconnected with the National Naval Medical Center. Since I first got stationed at NNMC in 2003, Charles and I met, dated, married, and started our family while at the hospital. Now, we move on...

Isabella dozed in and out all night waiting up to meet Aunt Jenny & Uncle Louis who arrived after midnight this morning. We're still waiting to get a good picture of the three of them...
Now we just have to wait to meet Uncle Adrian, Cousin Ethan, Uncle Josh, and The Hall clan (who will be coming next) as far as the immediate family goes! Isabel's lucky to have such a large, loving family!

Today was a bit too chilly and wet for Isabella to welcome Aunt Beth and Uncle Tim at the airport, so we anxiously waited for them in Myersville.

(Picture from our first check-up 48 hrs after discharge on Friday, the 18th. She's cozy in the sling!) It is 3:30 a.m. and I just put Isabel down to sleep after nursing. I can't believe it's been a week already! All the days have blurred together and I can't remember what life was like before she came! At the hospital, I didn't sleep much because I just thought of Isabel ALL the time. My mind raced with thoughts of her. I watched her sleep and closely observed every expression on her face, committing them to memory. This first week has been quite a learning experience for all three of us. We've learned to nurse, change diapers, pack & dress appropriately for baby, care for bottles and pumps, and the list goes on!