So, tonight's post will be short. Just a brief introduction to the children who will be the center of most of my posts from here on out.
This is Abigail Rose.
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We waited until her birth to bestow a name upon her, though we had Abigail in mind ahead of time (in the end, it was down to Abigail or Sophia). Once we saw her, we both agreed that she looked like an Abigail. I've always loved the name for its meaning (Father's joy in Hebrew), and I think it's a perfect fit for her personality, somehow. I wanted a one-syllable name for her middle name, preferably a saint's name, and something with meaning. I think "Rose" fits on all three counts. We used it in memory of Tom's cousin, who died young of cancer a few years ago, as it was her middle name, too.
And here is baby Michael Joseph.
He was born early as well, on January 18th, 2012, 11 days before his due date. I had a very fast active labor with him (about two hours), after toughing out a tortuous and highly stressful six-weeks of prodromal labor. We had a tough time coming up with names for him, and actually named him pretty spontaneously. As with his sister, we had some names in mind but waited until we saw him to be sure that he "looked the part." I think it had been ten minutes or more since his birth, and Tom and I were still going back and forth about which name to use. Finally, I admitted to Tom, "I think he looks like a Mikey." I never expected Tom to agree, but he did. Then we had to choose the middle name. I suggested Michael Thomas, but Tom didn't like the way the names flowed together. The next name to pop into my head (still going for saint's names) was Joseph. We both agreed that the two names sounded great together, and after the fact, we realized that he ended up getting a name from an uncle on each side. Bonus! He also shares his first name with my uncle, who just recently, and suddenly, passed away. I take comfort in the fact that my son continues on with the name, and carried it even before the loss.
He is the sweetest little guy, and when he laughs and smiles, it melts my heart. But we've had a rough start with him, due to terrible troubles with reflux and major sleep issues.
Every day I hope that the next will get a little easier, and overall, I think we're getting somewhere. But while I really try to cherish his infancy, a little bit of me hopes he'll grow up a little faster, just enough that his tummy can handle what his body needs to take in, that he can learn to sleep for more than one or two hours at a time, and that he can gain the strength to move and do the things I know he wants so much to be able to do. He's only four-and-three-quarters months, and trying so hard to sit up each day that he ends up doubled in half, having thrown himself halfway forward out of whatever seat I put him in. I think he'll get there soon. In the meantime, I'm thankful everyday that he is otherwise so healthy and perfect, which I especially try to remind myself of in the throes of my intense sleep deprivation. And it's so true, that saying- it won't be this way for long...
Well, it was supposed to be short. But you know how parents get when you ask them about their kids, I guess. I could go on and on... However, I've got a little baby in my lap now who needs to be put back to bed, and that's where I should be, too. As I say to Abby every evening, "Nigh-nigh!"
