Two and a half months ago our lives changed forever. On April 22nd, at 4:05 pm our little 5 lb 14 oz, 18 1/2 in long bundle of joy was brought into the world. It capped nine long months of anticipation, worry, and preperation. Suddenly all the cares in the world suddenly disappeared and were replaced by new ones. Ones like how to care for our little Mara Jade. Yes, I said Mara Jade, and yes, she was named after a Star Wars character. An esoteric character, but a character nonetheless. Her dad's a geek. The newest addition to the Rouse family had no idea what she was getting herself into. The hospital was teaming with people just waiting for Mara to be born.
The hospital was a mess with people there to see the birth of the new addition. Julie had her own rooting section and the baby had it's own welcoming committee. As a kid I can remember how much I hated being regailed with tales of how "I was there for when you were born." Luckily I only had to stomach such stories from a very select few as there weren't a whole lot of people there for my birth. Poor Mara on the other hand is going to be haunted by stories of her birth from a regular troop of spectators. Told tales of how mother slept through the delivery and how she crapped all over the nurses for the first 5 minutes of her life. Told stories of how everyone's eyes instantly lit up when she was brought out of the OR. How she was the favorite of every nurse that was on duty those couple of nights she spent in the hospital.
Anywhere she goes she is the center of attention. I realize that's how it is with all babies. They're all so small, and cute. They all smell so good and everyone wants to hold them. Poor Mara has been passed around and around since the day she was born. As if the stresses of being born weren't enough she went on her very first roadtrip when she was only 4 weeks old. Cooped up in a car for 6 hours with her mother and father on her way to Phoenix to watch her cousin's graduation.
Once there she again was the focal point of everyone's attention. Being passed around from aunt, to uncle, from grandmother to grandfather, from cousin to cousin, and back to the grandparents for another go.
Just a week or so after returning from Phoenix the poor kid was yet to embark on yet another trip. A long plane ride out to Ohio with her mother and grandparents. She did the plane ride okay. Slept most of the way there. Much better than expected. Once in Ohio, she got to get the treatment from a whole new set of relatives and people wanting to see, "the baby." It was nice for us, because there was always someone there to watch, feed, or entertain her. It was in Ohio that she was given the first of her baptisms.
We had one in Ohio because her mother wanted her to be baptised by her priest. We'll have another one in August in California with her other set of godparents. What a lucky little girl to have 2 sets of godparents. Then that trip, as all trips eventually do, came to an end and it was time to go home. Fortunately she did well on the return trip home too, sleeping most of the way.
Once home the real adventure and test of wills came. Now there were no grandparents staying with us, no aunts or uncles, cousins, or friends to hand her off to when she got into one of her tantrums. Now it was just us. It was just us when she got fussy at night, or when she needed a diaper change. Noone else to feed her or give her a bath. She's a good kid. For the most part she actually has a very good nature and is one of the happiest kids I've seen. But the poor kid has already inherited one of her father's biggest faults. She's been cursed with his fiery temper. Hopefully it won't get her into as much trouble as it has him, but I guess that's something we'll have to wait and see.
She's been through a lot for a little kid. Road trips, plane rides, trips to the zoo, strawberry festivals and her first 4th of July. Little does she know it's only a taste of what's yet to come.
This is a picture of Mara on her first trip to the LA Zoo. She was only about 2 1/2 weeks old.
Okay, Mara found her "thumb" on her trip to the LA Zoo. Luckily, she never really uses it. Although, now she has found her whole fist/hand. She now drools a lot and tries to put her whole hand in her mouth.
Mara sticking her tonque out!!! This is one of my favorite pictures of her.
Another one of our cute and adorable daughter!!!
We promise to post some pictures of our baby from the 4th of July...
Mara, sleeping baby. She's getting all the rest she can. She has family coming into town tomorrow for a week. We went to Phoenix in May and my cousin fell in love w/Mara, so she is making a trip out to visit. Which means we get to do all kinds of sightseeing. I enjoy showing people around and I get to spend more time w/my bundle of joy!
