Ruby Louise Connors

She is here. All 6 pounds 11 ounces of her came face up into the world at 7:18 pm. She seems to be healthy. She has eaten and been washed and is now, I imagine, resting peacefully in the nursery. Ashley was a champ. Due to some thoughtless planning on the part of the Dodo (who closed today in order to host a company party) Ash did not eat the traditional turkey sandwich post delivery. Cafe Rio rose to the occasion. I don't know how it is for other women, but "first food eaten after delivery" is information only slightly less important to Ashley than weight of the newborn. So, with no further ado, our announcement reads as follows:

Ruby Louise Connors

Dec. 8, 2008

6 lbs 11.4 oz

20 inches

Cafe Rio Chicken Burrito

I left Ashley asleep at the hospital. I am home, looking after the two that came first. They are asleep and I am up too late, thinking of this same night nearly 3 and 5 years ago. Thinking of those first breaths and tears; all that pain and hope wrapped up in those little blankets. Child birth refined my definition of beauty a bit. Often, I say something is "beautiful" when I mean to say it is "tidy." It is clean, well put together, and easy to understand.

But that first breath is not tidy.

It's a tiny scream from a shaking little baby. A baby that looks nearly nothing like the cute clean child she will turn into over the next few hours and days. It's the conclusion to hours of watching this woman I want to protect get the life beat out of her. It is painful to watch, and I am assured by Ashley, more painful to take full part in. As a whole, it's pretty gnarly.

Still, it's beautiful. Completely beautiful. And not in spite of it all.

Thank you to all of you who care to meet this little girl. We want her to meet you too.

More pictures later.