snuggling my 3-day old son

I've never wanted time to slow down more than I did this week. It has been incredible. So many things to be grateful to the Lord for. Let me update you guys. 

The birth went so smoothly and great, praise Jesus! (I will post our homebirth story someday when I have more time to write.) Casper is doing awesome - nursing, pooping, and sleeping like a champ - and my recovery is going really, really well! Because the labor/birth happened all in one 12-hour stretch instead of over a period of several days like Hadley's, my body wasn't in labor-mode for nearly as long and I wasn't as behind on normal eating and sleeping by the time Casper was actually born. It's been almost a night and day difference between my first postpartum recovery experience. Instead of feeling like all I can do is survive, I actually feel calm. Such an answer to prayer! I also have an appetite, which makes a huge difference in everything. After Hadley was born, it took several weeks before eating didn't require a lot of effort. Also, nursing is going great and sleep doesn't seem like such a big deal! It probably helps that I'm able to get decent stretches of it in the night, and sometimes a nap during the day. My tailbone is sore from sitting on it so much (I remember this happening after my last birth, too) as well as a bunch of other sore muscles from positions I held during labor, and the after birth pains were, well... painful. But other than that, I can't complain a bit. 

I just cannot believe what a difference it makes to have experienced it all before. What used to stress me out, both newborn-wise and regarding my own healing, I am now embracing. Expectations and experience are everything, I'm learning! The Lord has given me His grace to be able to sit back and truly enjoy this stage. This stage where going up stairs, taking a shower, getting a couple hours of sleep, or even getting comfy in bed are all major victories. Now I pray that I will remember to ask for more of that grace each day. 

Grant had this whole week off of work to be home (a wish come true), so it has been such a sweet time together for our little family. What a blessing to have my husband here. It feels like another Christmas break, except with more diaper changes, which Grant has handled completely. He is incredible with newborns. Thank you, Grant for taking care of all of us so well! Also, huge thanks to my amazing and talented mother-in-law for supplying us (spoiling us) with her good cooking all week long. Thank you, Judy! Yummy things keeping popping up in our kitchen, including my favorite cranberry orange pecan muffins, and it has been the best gift ever.