ttle baby girl who represents only 5% of newborns out there. She was born on her due date (June 3rd 2009 at 12:45 pm) to show her sincere desire to be punctual and on time like her poppa. She was 7 lb & 6oz and 19" long when Leng gave the last mighty push that rocketed her (literally) into the arms of the waiting midwife. She was the next in line of our home grown buddha babies (order yours now while supplies last) and only cried a tiny bit to let us know that her lungs were working just fine. She spent the rest of the time calming looking around and taking it all in. She was wrinkled like an old man (I am missing the hard wiring that makes all babies cute) and looked under inflated. She has a great way of making squinty faces like she was eating sour foods and her vocalizations that would make her an ideal extra in the next Star Wars movie. Think R2-D2 meets a midget wookie and you have it perfectly.
We have continued our trend of confusing people all around us with our blended family and our kind of nutty crunchy meets hard science lifestyle. Our midwives (who know their way around a baby) had some
stumbling blocks with us. Lulled by our choice of a home birth they were stunned we asked for the vitamin K booster and eye ointment (often skipped by those more organic than us). We continued to stump them with the liberal passing of the baby around all involved and the 16 (yes that would be 16) people that we had through the house that day to see the newest Stouder-Studenmund. We had DNA techs (for the legal mumbo jumbo that awaits us egg challenged family types), friends (doing double duty as witnesses for the above legal whirlwind), family and even more friends. She was the belle of the ball from start to finish. We were flooded with the resounding cries of "She's perfect!" often quickly followed by "She's so cute!" or "She has your lips!".
After everything had settled down we had time to relax at Leng & Lisa's house. More family and friends continued to trickle in and out to see her. Once again we encouraged any and all to hold her, to introduce themselves in a way that she could really get to know them. We fed her (thanks to her Egg Mama & Auntie Leng for the power food), bundled her up and took her to see her Nana Regina and even more family. It was perfect way to end her 1st day. She had met her Grandad Don early that evening and having them see her was something vital and needed in my life. It felt like the proper order of things.
I want to again thank everyone who has been with us as we have worked to build this family. I stand at the center of an experience impossible to describe in a single word or emotion. I see everyone in her face and hear your voices in her strange loon like calls. There is a universe in this little girl that humbles me anew with every passing moment. She is the perfect counterpoint to Tre and they together are the harmony of our family. I know no way to express my gratitude than to say you have all, every last single one of you, have blessed our lives.
Thank you.
