Sunshine!!

It's a sunny Friday morning and four whole weeks since Luka's birth, and somehow in the wacky way that time has of playing tricks on us, the pregnancy and birth already feel so, so far away. That is both a relief and a sadness....what an insane paradox....a postpartum mishmash of feeling and emotion and yearning. All, of that said, Luka continues to be an absolute joy and gem....he eats and sleeps and asks for little more than cuddles and love. It has been a very good transition, and while I know this will change soon as he begins to wake to the world, I appreciate this time to learn how to "do" three children. Thankfully, Miles and Anina have been nothing but loving, gentle and interested in Luka. Zander's first week back at work since the birth has been intense and stressful, so he hasn't been able to be around much this week. That was hard, hard, hard for everyone....but, again, I'm so grateful for friends who know the right time to call, stop by, or drag my healing body out for a walk, as this had made the week a positive, good one.

This is a photo of me in triage a few days before Luka was born....I was having contractions every 2 minutes for days, so we finally decided to head into the hospital and ended up getting fully admitted. This photo makes me happy -- lots of excitement, expectation, relief, and many, many hours of sitting there with Alexander having some quiet time. I don't really know why this photo is speaking to me today, but it is. It makes no sense, but somehow I am sad that the pregnancy and birth has passed....what a transient, special time.

Moving on, though! It's sunny and it's almost the weekend, and for the first time in a very long time I am feeling physically well enough to head out for a hike or maybe even hop on the bike for a short ride...weeeyoooo! We are all ready for the weekend, and are looking forward to sunshine, outdoors, and some serious easter egg hunting! Here is a crazy photo of what nursing an infant with 2 other little ones around looks like. Anina is nursing the statue of "Jeez," our resident Jesus figure.

And, finally, we were able to get everyone in one place for the split second it took to take this one. Here they all are....Easter basket on heads and all! What an insane existence we are living!