Welcome Little 3rd Planet

My sister had a baby one week ago. She and her husband decided to wait to find out what the sex was. Not many people do that these days, and I seriously admire their willingness to wait and enjoy being surprised.

At work a few weeks ago, the Modest Mouse song "3rd Planet" came on. It's partly about getting pregnant and made me think of the little one we were anticipating.

"... Didn't know then was it a son was it a daughter.
When it occurred to me that the animals are swimming
around in the water in the oceans in our bodies and
Another had been found another ocean on the planet
given that our blood is just like the Atlantic..."

I love those lyrics, thinking of blood as oceans, babies as a new sea or planet. It reminds me of what is so precious about newborns- that they are tiny helpless humans, but immense and shiningly connected to something big and universal. So small and infinite at the same time. I think that's why we want to hold babies that aren't even ours.

My sister was in labor for about 30 hours, but finally on Wednesday afternoon a healthy baby girl was born. I went to the hospital to meet the tiny bundle just a few hours later. She is beautiful- none of that squishy alien newborn look- just clear skin and exuding serenity. Here she is less than 4 hours old.

The nurse did the footprints, and made an extra copy just for the baby's 4-year-old big sister.

Here is one set of proud grandparents.

I am so thankful both mom and baby are doing well. Can't wait to spend more time with this tiny planet who is already a gravitational force within our hearts.