Thursday, September 4, 2008

The Incredible Expanding Infant

We took Promise for her newborn screening today at the clinic. They take some blood samples and send them to a lab to be analyzed. I think they're checking to make sure she won't die or something. They had to prick her in the heel to draw the blood, and she didn't seem to like that very much. She screamed for a while, but I'm sure she won't be emotionally scarred for life. I actually really enjoyed holding her and comforting her after the ordeal. It felt great to be one of the only people on the planet who could truly console her. I like being a Dad.

Promise is very healthy and she's gaining lots of weight. She's growing like one of those foam toys that expand in water. We checked today and she is now 6lbs 15oz. That's a 23% increase in just 12 days! I did the math: if she keeps growing at this rate, she will be heavier than me by the end of January. I think we may need to alter her diet.

Bethany is doing great. She went out for a haircut at a fancy salon today, which is something she never does. In fact, she enjoyed it so much that she reportedly started to cry for joy when the stylist pulled out the blow dryer (is that some sort of post-pregnancy hormonal thing?). She's going back to work tomorrow, but only for an hour or so. She has a couple of continuities that need a prenatal exam. I think she's going to take Promise with her, so I'm sure it will be quite a challenge.

Have I mentioned that Promise is awesome? Well, she is. I love her so much. My Mum said something that blew me away last week. I was telling her how I like to hold Promise on my chest while I sleep, and just how much I love my little girl. You know what my mother said? She said, "Now you know how much I love you!" That rocked me to the core. In fact, I'm crying again right now just thinking about it. I had no idea until that moment how much my parents love me. What an incredible revelation.

I'm going to sleep now. Sleep is hard to come by these days, so I'll take it when I can get it. I've attached a few more pics of the special lady. Some of them have been up on Facebook for a while, but I know that some of our readers are not "Facebookers". I've just finished writing an update on the water project for the Impact Nations website. I'll probably post it on these pages in a day or two.

Cheerio,
Tim.

5 comments:

heather said...

Oh my gosh. These pictures are amazing! Thank you for the update! :) I'm trying to decide which picture is my favorite - I think i like that one up on top the best. It's simply lovely, made even lovlier still by the lovely ladies in it. I also love Promise's red hair. Oh my!

We thanks Jesus for Promise again at my small group last night, and prayed for you all.

Blessings and love to you dear friends.

Heather

Anonymous said...

Tim,
Isn't being a parent the best? If you gain that much joy from holding Promise on your chest, think of how much God must love you as your Father??? Wow! That's really awesome! You are a blessed man and your mum is so right!
Love ya too,
MomMc

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you are enjoying being a Dad, Tim. As I have discovered, both from my Dad and watching Andy with our girls, there is nothing like a Father's love for his little girl. Promise is so beautiful and healthy looking! Praise God for such a miracle. Take care of your ladies...you've got your hands full!
Blessings, Nicole

Unknown said...

Two of the most beautiful ladies I've ever seen...wow.

Christine Fiscer, Birthkeeper said...

Aww Tim, *I* started crying! There's nothing more beautiful than a man who loves his child with so much tangible affection - even through the internet I could feel it in your words. Bethany is blessed with this!

And yes, after experiencing what the Phils does to the hair...I myself might cry at the sight of a blow dryer. LOL It's probably the first time since the birth that she felt "put together". I so totally get that.

Keep being an awesome husband and dad. You're a rare gem! And please, give Bethany a big hug from me. She made a big impact on me in my short time there. :)

Christy
The 2 week summer intern at MMC. ;)