Our Sweet Addie Grace

She was born two weeks ago today. January 16th at 11:36 am.

She weighed 8 lbs and 5.7 oz.

She was 20.1 inches long.

She spent the first days of her life surrounded by her Mommy and Daddy.

And her Mama and Papa Cherry.

She never goes more than a few minutes without being loved on and cuddled.

She loves to rock, swing, eat, sleep, and snuggle. 

She also really, really loves her pacifier.

She is the most amazing thing we've ever seen.

More soon!

40 Weeks, 3 Days

My due date came and went quite uneventfully on Saturday. Now it's Tuesday and we're still waiting. Our girl's not showing any signs of wanting to leave her comfy-cozy home just yet, so it looks like we're going to make it to our scheduled induction on Thursday morning. We'll report to the hospital at 5:00 am. My favorite time of day!

The weather turned cold and gray overnight. There's been a steady drizzle all morning and I've had the fire burning away the chill in our living room. Keith went back to work yesterday and the house felt especially quiet and empty. I felt quite anxious and impatient leading up to Saturday and through the weekend, but now it seems that something inside me has settled into the waiting and the lack of control and I'm feeling pretty relaxed and peaceful. One way or another she will be here soon.

39 Weeks, 4 Days

It's been very quiet around here lately as we settle into the waiting period. I'm more incredibly grateful than ever to be able to work from home right now. I don't think I could manage sitting straight upright at a desk all day every day. But I also don't think I could just sit at home, not working, just twiddling thumbs and waiting for something to happen.

It is truly the best of all worlds for me right now- sitting cross-legged on the couch, barefoot, my laptop balanced on a cushion in front of my giant belly. I have plenty of last minute work-related loose ends to occupy my mind but none feel too stressful or urgent. Keith is in and out but mostly nearby as he prepares for the new semester, runs errands, and vacuums up cat hair. I think he's nesting.

Right now I'm sitting, soaking in the silence. It's the end of a gorgeous sixty-five-and-sunny-day. The windows are open and delicious, fresh, green smells of pine and grass and damp earth are drifting through the air. The kitties have all come back in after a day spent romping in the sunshine and are sprawled, exhausted and content, across the floor. The house seems full of expectant stillness- like even these old floors and walls anticipate the big changes coming any moment.

A few days ago I was feeling no hurry. Mounting anticipation, yes, but no real longing for things to hurry-up-and-happen. But now, I'm longing. Now I am secretly willing things to move. I want to hasten the pace of things. I'm so ready to meet our little girl, ready to kiss her tiny cheeks and squish her tender toes. We took a walk at lunchtime. I suppose I hoped it might set something in motion inside me. Instead, it seems all I accomplished was to lull the tiny girl in my belly down into deep sleep. She's been much calmer than usual ever since.

Which is, itself, a small mercy. Growing bigger and running out of extra space hasn't in any way stopped or slowed her constant motion. I still spend most of each day (and night!) with a belly that rolls like a restless sea. She is strong and dauntless, and full of enthusiastic energy, it seems. And maybe almost ready to meet the world?

I told her today would be a perfect day to be born.

Merry Christmas from the Reich Family

We can hardly believe another year has flown by! We still love our new life in North Carolina and as we continue to settle into it we realize we’ve never been so thankful for dear friends & family both near and far. We both keep pretty busy with work, church, friends, and the day to day routine. 

Last May found us a long way from our normal routine as we traveled to Europe with a group of Chowan students and faculty for a religious heritage tour. The trip through Germany, Switzerland and France left us with an even deeper appreciation for travel, the college students Keith teaches, and the staggering history of our faith. 

In this season of Advent, we’re getting a brand new perspective on this time of waiting and preparing as we anticipate the double joys of celebrating Christmas and the coming birth of our long-hoped-and-prayed-for little girl. She already has some very special boots to fill.

37 Weeks

We are in the home stretch with less than a month until my due date! I can hardly believe how fast the time has flown. In fact, I sent this photo to several friends last night with a caption reading "27 weeks" instead of 37 weeks. Hmm...typo or Freudian slip? I'll let you be the judge.

At 37 weeks, here's how things are shaping up:

Feeling

• Pretty good overall, despite being less and less comfortable with each passing day. 
• But also quite large and cumbersome. Keith has to help me put my shoes on because I can't quite reach over or around my big old belly. Too bad winter weather requires boots or shoes with laces for the most part instead of summer's easy flip-flops.
• As ready as I think I'll ever be. The hospital bags are packed, I've read all the books (and pamphlets, and websites, and blogs), toured the hospital, watched the videos. The stroller, car seat, and baby bath tub are all en route via various shipping methods and everything else is waiting in her nursery and ready to go.
• But also a little bit terrified. Am I really ready? I don't think anyone ever truly is. What have I forgotten? Probably plenty of really important and not-so-important things. Can we really do this? Only by the grace of God. And even then, we will mess up, and mess up, and mess up.

Craving

• Apples. Fruit has tasted so good to me throughout this whole pregnancy and apples have been my favorite. Especially galas and honeycrisps.
• Dessert. Normally I'm not a huge sweet eater, but lately I love a sweet treat at the end of the day. Chocolate chess pie. Fresh baked cookies from the the new coffee shop downtown. Ice cream with some kind of crushed goodie sprinkled over the top. Yum!
• Decaf Chai tea with steamed milk and honey. Also from the local coffee shop downtown. I'm so glad they're finally open!

Missing

• Full nights of uninterrupted sleep. I know, I know...it only gets worse from here.
• Being able to turn over in bed, get up off the couch, or sit down on the floor without going through a major ordeal.
• Sleeping on my stomach.
• Pop. Christmas will mark a year since the last time I hugged him or saw his smile or heard his laugh. If there's one thing in the world I wish I could change for my little girl, it's the fact that she won't get to experience her great-grandfather's exuberant, incredible love. There just are not words.

Loving

• A roaring fire, despite the fact that the weather here is unseasonably warm and doesn't feel anything like almost-Christmas.
• The house all decorated for Christmas with presents for Addie stacked under the tree.
• Every kick, jolt, jiggle and barrel roll in my bumpy belly. This little girl is very active. She's either inherited her Daddy's athletic prowess or her Momma's complete spazzitude. Even though she's big enough that it's a little painful these days, I will miss feeling her dance and flip around all the time.

Wishing 

• There was a way to be everywhere at once, so we could spend the holidays with all of our wonderful family and friends, despite the fact that so many are so far away.
• The Christmas cards and thank you notes that I'm so behind on were already in the mail instead of still on my to-do list.
• For Addison to come just a teeny bit early, so Keith will have some time to just be home with her before the new semester starts.

Praying

• For a lack of ice storms on and around her birth.
• That labor and delivery would be as painless and complication-free as possible. 
• A safe and healthy little girl will be in our arms soon!