It's a wonderful life
All is well.
Since my last entry, an incredible sense of calm and well being has covered Luke and me like a blanket, which has made these last couple of days the best ones since Kara's birth. I'll tell you about it soon enough, but for now, all I want to do is revel in how blessed we are and how thankful I am for everything God has given us.
Most of the members of my family have been too sick to make the trip to Indy, so it was extra special that my sister Ryan drove in from Chicago to spend Christmas with us. Newly married and desperately missing her army husband, who's currently in Germany awaiting February deployment to Iraq, a little baby fix was just what she needed to get through the holiday.
As for my own spouse, I can't tell you how mesmerizing it is to watch him with our daughter. He's so gentle with Kara, so enamored with her, and I honestly don't know what I've done to deserve such unconditional love and support. This last week has been the most exhilerating and terrifying one of my life, and he's been right by my side the entire time, holding me when I cry and telling me what a good job I'm doing when he's not washing bottles, refilling my water glass, and reminding me to take my pain meds. I couldn't ask for a better life partner or a more loving father for my baby.
I look at these two people and wonder how I ever lived without them.
Merry Christmas.
The title of my next post will be original, I swear.
Indeed, it is a wonderful life. Ryan and Kara are beautiful. Is Kara cracking a little smile at her daddy in the last picture?
Merry Christmas to you, Ryan, Luke, and Kara.
Posted by: Grandma Molly | December 25, 2007 at 11:44 AM
Merry Christmas. Joy of this day to you all. It is a wonderful life to have family near and far. Whereas, near is more helpful.
Posted by: daddy dd | December 25, 2007 at 11:58 AM
Wonderful post! I am glad to hear you are feeling calmer. I'm sure that makes a world of difference! Enjoy that sweet girl and your beautiful family.
Posted by: Becca | December 25, 2007 at 03:02 PM
How sweet a picture of a daddy with his baby girl. You truly are blessed and it makes me happy just to read about it. Happy first Christmas as a family of three!
Posted by: Katie | December 25, 2007 at 03:03 PM
Merry Christmas, sweet little family!
Posted by: Lindsey | December 25, 2007 at 04:10 PM
Merry Christmas! Seeing my husband with our babies is the only thing that has kept our marriage together at times (seriously)!
Posted by: Katie | December 26, 2007 at 12:20 AM
Oh, so, sweet. I love it.
Posted by: SJ | December 26, 2007 at 12:30 AM
Oh, Merry Christmas to you all!! And the title is PERFECT.
Posted by: cpa mom | December 26, 2007 at 12:47 PM
What a wonderful bond Luke and Kara (gee, that seems strange after typing Freka for so long!) seem to have. Love that last pic, and all of the others too.
Posted by: Virginia Gal | December 26, 2007 at 03:32 PM
What a wonderful Christmas for you guys! Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Christar | December 26, 2007 at 03:38 PM
Your family is so cute. Kara is beautiful. I love watching my husband interact with our 1 year old too. It's magic, I swear! :) Lots of warm fuzzy thoughts to you!
Posted by: Trilby | December 26, 2007 at 03:50 PM
Yay Luke on being so supportive to you during this exciting AND trying time! You and baby are so lucky, and they're lucky to have such a loving, funny, kind wife/mommy.
Posted by: HollowSquirrel | December 26, 2007 at 08:14 PM
Such a magical time! :) Enjoy every moment with your beautiful family!
Posted by: Kelly | December 27, 2007 at 10:16 AM
Frema, she is sooo beautiful!!
Posted by: Bethany | December 27, 2007 at 10:16 AM
What a super post and a perfect Christmas!
Posted by: Isabel | December 27, 2007 at 11:01 AM
What a sweet post! And that feeling will just continue to grow and grow. Alyssa is almost 2 and I still smile when I watch her and Chris together. I fall in love all over again.
Posted by: Rachel | December 27, 2007 at 12:49 PM
Just beautiful. Children really are a miracle, aren't they?
Posted by: Stacey | December 27, 2007 at 05:23 PM
We just watched the You Tube video twice and are in awe of how beautiful and perfect our little niece is. We love you guys so much. XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Posted by: Donna and Samantha | December 29, 2007 at 02:12 AM
Know whar's awesome? Our kid has the SAME Christmas outfit (she was born on the 21st).
With my 1st I had a c-section, but no labor to get the hormones going, and it took 10 FREAKIN DAYS for milk to come in (with 8 hours a day dedicated to the horrible pump/fruitless feeding attempts). But once it happened I was a milk makin' machine. And formula can be a gift from the gods. Nothing like feeding your starving child while waiting for your body to recover from major surgery... And I don't feel bad about admitting to using some occasional formula this time, despite the natural birth, while waiting for my body to recover from massive blood loss & anemia. Hooray for bottles while waiting for boobs to work!
Posted by: May | December 30, 2007 at 01:09 AM
I meant to comment when I first read this Christmas Day...
I'm glad things seem to be a bit better. I know they will continue to get that way.
I absolutely love how you talk about Luke. He always struck me as a great and gentle person. I hope I can find someone like that one day.
Posted by: Jenny | December 31, 2007 at 12:16 AM
more picyures please!!!!!!!!
Posted by: auntie betty | December 31, 2007 at 01:07 AM