Day 7

A week ago today was when labor started. That week passed ridiculously fast...and yet it feels like pregnancy and birth were sooo long ago. (I do plan to post labor/birth day pictures at some point...just not quite ready for that yet.)

I know it would be good if I posted some pictures of something other than the face of my sleeping baby. My mother requested whole body shots and pictures of hands and feet. That sounds like a great idea. And I bet you'd like to see some with eyes open. The thing is...if she's awake, she's pretty much always breastfeeding. So we're both occupied. I promise I will share other pictures soon - but for now, its more cute sleeping pictures!

Good Things:

Today a friend came over an gave me a massage and Reiki. She gave me several prenatal massages and is giving me several postpartum too - just out of the kindness of her heart. I was able to relax more deeply than I have in I don't know when. It was a huge gift!

Last night there was an exciting storm here - crazy wind and rain. I wondered if our house was going to blow down. But then it left this beautiful, clean air today and knocked out our electricity for several hours. This was a real blessing to me because I forced to not do too much. Without electricity, I couldn't do laundry or be on the internet or wash dishes. I just lounged with my baby and read The Baby Book by Dr. Sears. Lounging was good and so was reading from that book, because it covers most of the weird little things that happen with newborns that will make you worry if you don't read that it is normal. So that was comforting on many levels.

Food and help from friends is abundant. We got a huge gift from Mangala Sadhu Sangeet's gradparents that made me cry with gratitude. Friends are taking Satvinder to and from school. Dinner is provided every night. And there are countless other varied helps that come. Plus my husband is a saint. I don't know what I'd do without all of you. Because postpartum life is challenging and support makes all the difference!

Dang, she's cute.

Cozy during the power outage

Day 6

It is my intention to post something every day for the first 40 days of Sukhjot's life. (40 days is the amount of time it takes to establish a cycle of change and in yogic practice, we honor that cycle after birth by keeping a peaceful, contained environment for the newborn and allowing for recovery of the mother.)

Today has been a grey and rainy day in Phoenix and that has been just perfect. Perfect for coziness and perfect for a day spent baby gazing indoors. I had forgotten about the sleep-smile that new babies do. Sukhjot has started to have her dreaming smiles and funny expressions - very entertaining to me!

Sukhjot looking at the Christmas tree. Mangala Sadhu Sangeet made her a little nest in the living room next to the tree.
Sukhjot's first rain

Day 5

I feel like I have kind of lost my ability to put feelings into words - so hard to describe even one facet of what each day brings. Today I have felt kind of blue - the empty womb, the changing relationship with my first born, the enormous transition that is life. It is beautiful and wonderful and new and comes with a vast array of emotion.

I realized at some point that Satvinder and I both needed to just have some calm together time. We both are adjusting to my diffusion of energy. So we got out a little magnet game - like paint by numbers except with colored magnets instead of paint. And that simple thing was so healing for both of us. Just to sit together while the baby slept and do a little project together, talking about Harry Potter and whatnot.
Satvinder can't keep her hands off Sukhjot. None of us can. Nope. Not possible. Good thing she sleeps well despite us being so handsy.
Nothing compares to the softness of a newborn. God, she is SO SOFT. There can't possibly be anything ANYwhere that is that soft.
Sleeping archer pose.
Satvinder and the magnet game that helped us both sort through things today.

Day 4

It only took me 32 years but I think I might be finally learning how to nap. Maybe. Today I managed a nap AND I also got to comb my hair thoroughly. I feel so accomplished! (Sukhjot Kaur already knows how to nap - she's VERY good at it.)

This morning Satvinder read Socks to me and Sukhjot. She is quite the reader - and the book is perfect - about adjusting to life with a new baby (though it is from a cat's perspective.)

Today we got a family visit - Dadaji and Nonni met our girl. Satvinder really appreciated having some time with non-drowsy people.

Day 3

Pictures didn't happen much on Day 3 - I think this picture might be from then but I've already forgotten. While pictures weren't in big supply, hormones and exhaustion were - so things are kind of a blur.

Thank God people are bringing us food. Seriously. I don't know how we'd eat otherwise. And I'm hungry. A LOT. Every night someone drops off a lovely meal for us. I am so very grateful for all the help, support, and kindness that has come our way. We are blessed.

Note to Mimi: this is one of the outfits you bought for baby. Look how sweet she is!

Day 2 and Baby Name

We just received our baby's name. It is Sukhjot Kaur, the Princess/Lioness of God who lives peacefully in the light of her soul. Sukh means peace. Jot means light. Kaur means the Princess/Lioness of God who walks with grace and power throughout her life.

Throughout pregnancy and since she has arrived, I have felt that her name would include Sukh. Mangala Sadhu Sangeet also had Sukh coming to mind. I was thinking along the lines of Sukhmani, Sukh Prem, or I even had a dream about the baby being called Sukh Dev. Tonight when we received her name as Sukhjot, that felt like IT. Yep, that's her. She is Sukhjot. She is soooo Sukhjot.

P.S. It is pronounced like Sook Jote.

Here are some pictures from Day 2. Satvinder went back to school today - wearing her "Big Sister" shirt, which was too dirty for a photo by the time she came home!

Pitaji and Sukhjot sleeping - lots of that going on today.

Me and the baby and yes, that's a placenta in my sink. I did a cooking process with it that gets it ready for grinding and encapsulating. There are many benefits postpartum and beyond.

Sweet little sleeping girl

Day 1

Our precious baby girl was born Dec. 2 at 1:35 am - born on the full moon! She is a sweet, mellow, gentle little darling and we are completely in love with her. Here are a couple pictures of her first day.

Wow! We are kind of delirious after the intensity of her arrival. I don't know what to say right now other than I am filled with awe and gratitude. More to come..
Sisters! We have two girls. Can you believe it? Satvinder is such a proud, happy big sister.
This little one really likes to have that hand up by her head. She actually came out that way - hand and head together. Look how cute she is!!