Arzelia & Me
A man cannot be part of the Mommy/Baby/Boobies bonded trinity. We just don’t have the equipment.
But a man can cuddle/sing and hum, and I think that RZ really likes the “good vibrations” that a big solid daddy can make. I have a use!! Yay!! (that and changing diapers/burping babies at 4am, I am really good at that)
I don’t want to have this blog turn into a mush-fest of baby pictures, but that is where my heart is right now. After 4 days at the Hospital, we returned home late yesterday, and are settling in.
A speedskating post, with some absolutely amazing photography by Tom DiNardo of the Vancouver Short Track World Cup, immediately follows.
My photography cannot compare with Tom’s, but my subject can.
I just keep looking at her, and can’t believe how blessed Jess & I are.
Filed under: baby stuff
Yay, more baby stories! It’s like watching TLC or Slice, but wayyyyyy better! You look amazing together. Those craz strong lungs of yours must feel so good to her- thanks for sharing the mush-fest, and keep it coming.
J&A, Congrats! Been holding off…waiting to slide in on a new blog entry…found my window of op. Beautiful baby girl, guys. Get a shot of her with those glasses of yours, then we’ll see who she really looks like! (sorry, had to) Enjoy this bonding time. Way sooner than you can imagine (odds are) she’ll be turning 15 and spending all her time IM’ing her friends and having “mood swings”. Hope to see you soon!
You know, most babies aren’t so cute in the beginning, but she’s BEAUTIFUL… and we’re not just saying that so you’ll post more photos. Please do, though. They’re great. Your writing about it is, too.
Baci!
A mush-fest is fine! She is adorable, and she does look like both of you. In the second picture, she looks all interested in whatever you’re doing…it makes me want to go to see you all and hold onto a little hand!
Jess & Andrew,
If first impressions mean anything, ‘RZ’ has been given the most wondrous of blessings - AMAZING parents! Enjoy these days - though you may be tested beyond measure, you will look back on them as ‘the days to remember’, and will long to re-live them someday. Savor every moment with your new little babe… and congratulations!
Lori (from the SLC World Cup ‘bunch’)
You’re so right — there are some things only Daddies can do, and no one will ever love you like that little girl. She is just gorgeous! We really didn’t listen when everyone told us how fast those early days go by…treasure every moment.
She looks so - together, so grown up for a newborn. Beautiful.
You are SO important - food is good, food is all-important, yes, but it’s almost that important to hold and love this small person, to keep her warm and feeling secure, to talk to her and sing to her. It will make a difference for the whole rest of her life.
Plus, even a super-mom wears out, needs a break - needs to know that it’s not just her taking care of this kid. IMHO, there’s no gift you can give -> Jess
Congratulations! To borrow Rebecca’s comment, most newborns aren’t so cute right away, but she is just beautiful. I’m so happy for you all!
And, Andrew, make sure to capture some of those sweet father-daughter moments in pictures - some of my favorite photographs from my infancy are those of me with father, curled up in his arms, on his chest, trying to pull his hair, etc. But seriously, everyone gets all mushy about the mother-child bond, but the father-child bond is just as important. I hope that you and ‘RZ’ will have a special relationship similar to that of my father and me - he’s my father, but over the years it’s evolved to where he’s also one of my closest friends and confidantes. In many cases, I can talk to him about subjects I could never discuss with my mother. Plus, he gives excellent advice when it comes to tools and car maintenance!
Congratulations to both of you!! All of us at the Lake Placid Speed Skating Club send good wishes to all three of you!
Christie (LP Skater)
MANY MANY Congratulations!!! I didn’t think the day would ever come, and I’m probably not the only one.
I’m glad to see you cried, and not in a bad way, after the indepth conversation we had about crying many years ago. It can be such a release, and you will cry many more times as the daddy of beautiful little girl… hopefully tears of joy.
She is so beautiful, and like many others said, more beautiful than most newborns. She doesn’t have that “wrinkley” look to her.
Keep up the baby mush-fest. Everyone loves a baby, and it reminds us of happiness in a world that isn’t always so great.
Congratulations…she is so adorable!!! Father-daughter relationships are so special, and I know you will be such a great dad!
You are starting off on a very special journey. We just celebrated 31 years with our first born. Every year has been special. my congratualtions to both of you.
Brett
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congratulations. She is gorgeous. And i love the name. Sounds fast. Enjoy her.
Congratulations! What a beautiful girl - and she definitely looks much prettier than most newborns! And even though you can’t be a part of the mom/baby/boobie trinity, please note that the father-daughter relationship is something I have treasured immensely over the years. My father and I never had the “daddy’s little princess” thing going (I learned how to change oil, mow the lawn and use most tools by the time I was 12), but he was always there for excellent advice and humor, esp. throughout my figure skating years.
Some of my most prized photos from my infancy are those of me and my dad, curled up in his arms while he was watching tv or trying to catnap himself. Make sure you get plenty of those.
And as time went on, our relationship has gone from strictly dad-daughter to good friends - I highly value both, and it is my hope and wish that you and RZ will enjoy such a relationship for many years to come. Oh, and please give Jess my best. By the way, she looks so radiant in that post-delivery photo!
My father died in April and in May, we gathered together to clean out his apartment: All hands werre on deck: my brother and his wife, my daughter, and their 3 children. Teams rounded up and delivered items to Salvation Army, cartons of books went to “Got Books”, and car trips of trash across the street to the dumpster. Things to be kept by the family were moved into the living room for a final disposition.
We broke for lunch, eating sandwiches, sitting in the middle of the living room floor. I played ‘Santa’ and would hold up an artifact, giving its history, and asking ‘who want’s it?”
It was interesting to see what the grandchildren were interested in. For some reason, my neice wanted his military pictures, including his American Legion cap that she had seen him march in during Memorial Day parades.
There werer 3 afgans that my mother had made. I held one up: “who wants this?” and my daughter,, who had been pretty quiet beforehand, shot up her hand and said “I do!”. Later in the day I asked her why she wanted that particular afghan vs. the others. Her reply:
“In the picture of me napping on Grandfather’s chest after my first Thanksgiving …that is the afghan that is covering us.”
Linda, your comment is really special. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Congratulations. I have not visited your websites for a long time but have been thinking about you. It is wonderfoul to be dad. Enjoy. And dont forget training. I am coming.