A warm hello from that island somewhere in between Timbuktu and Antarctica known as post-partum.  We've had exactly one emergency a week in the first three weeks of our little one's life, and I gotta tell you, I'm ready for the new normal to emerge 'cause I'm not settling for this!

I won't get into the details of the first two, because nobody wants to read about a 30-something's trek to heal from childbirth, but I'll tell you, I'd have much preferred the third could be blamed on me as well.  Stella began to run a fever Sunday afternoon.  If you've ever had a newborn with anything over 100.4, you know what happens next.  Blood draws, spinal taps and a minimum 3 days in the hospital.  We couldn't kick the fever until day 4, so we're just getting home.

We're counting our blessings over and over, although I will turn into a primal club-weilding cave-mom should anyone try to touch her over the next five weeks.

So in celebration of her homecoming, and my first trip to my desk since her arrival, I want to post an unedited photo her Aunt 'Becca and I took when she was 4 days old.  Pullbacks, tutorials and more pictures to follow!

It's almost time.  Really, any time now.  Seriously.  Baby, are you listening?  Mommy is ready.

I can only say this because I am finally ready.  The bassinet arrived - which is pretty important since we decided to forego the nursery renovation decisions in favor of something much more simple like buying a new house. Still no name, but I'm resolved that we'll choose one after we see her, hold her, kiss her, see her big sister hold her... oh can you tell I am really starting to wrap my arms around this whole thing?

It wasn't that way for a while... a good while, actually.  I think my list of to-do's was piled up between the sightline of my heart and the miracle of what's just around the corner. And, of course, the list of to-do's included having everything ready for newborn portraits.  So here's my list of preparations on that front!  Who knows, it may save you from doign something rash like, oh, hosting a real-estate open house while 38 weeks pregnant.