She’s Here!
February 5th, 2004Introducing the most beautiful baby in the history of babies (in perhaps the most unflattering photo of a newborn ever):
Leta Elise Armstrong
7lbs. 10 oz.
20 inches long
born 3:59 a.m., 02/03/04
A better picture is up at dooce, but I look at this one and weep instantly. She’s right there, getting weighed and breathing and moving; healthy and life affirming. She’s also sucking on her arm, which we soon discovered was covered in blisters caused by _in utero_ sucking. Her other arm has three blisters as well.
I already had weepish tendencies, now it’s full blown. I can’t tell if it’s the profound experience of her birth or the lack of sleep. I will see her wiggle her long toes and tear up. Either way, she’s here and every time she grabs one of my fingers and tries to stick it in her mouth, I lose it. In the hospital, I had fallen asleep weeping and rolled over. The tears that had pooled ran down the side of my face and woke me up.
Childbirth is primal, beautiful and terrifying all at once. And I wasn’t the one doing the pushing. I tried to push (and keep my breath in so that my diaphragm would help push the baby out) so that Heather would know that I was helping, but was told, with a stern glare that translated through the oxygen mask that I couldn’t pass out. I stopped the breath holding and just counted and watched the strongest woman alive give birth to the sweetest, most amazing girl. They are both doing better than I could have ever hoped.
We are a family. Now we just have to re-integrate Chuck into the house. He’s staying with Grandma and getting all kinds of Grandma snacks and treats and we’ll probably have to send him to Doggy Phat Camp for Teen Male Neutered Dogs.
Non-sequitur below:
I’ve never been happier in my life. Thank you all for your kind wishes. o
February 5th, 2004 at 9:40 pm
Congrats
February 5th, 2004 at 9:45 pm
Hee. I like this picture better–you really see her character (sleeping babies all look the same to me). This girl is going to kick ass and take names. Congratulations!
February 5th, 2004 at 9:45 pm
Congrats
February 5th, 2004 at 9:46 pm
Hee. I like this picture better–you really see her character (sleeping babies all look the same to me). This girl is going to kick ass and take names. Congratulations!
February 5th, 2004 at 9:51 pm
congratulations. i’ve been following both yours and your wife’s weblogs for a little while now. i’m quite happy for the both of you!
February 5th, 2004 at 9:53 pm
OhmyGOD she’s beautiful….just as I knew she would be. Congratulations daddy!
February 5th, 2004 at 10:00 pm
Mazel Tov!
February 5th, 2004 at 10:07 pm
Jon, your words echo my reaction to our daughter’s birth nine weeks ago. I cried more than our baby, who also sported suck blisters on her arms. Wait until you get your first smile. You devolve into a quivering mass of jelly. Best to Baby Leta and Heather, and welcome to fatherhood!
- mike -
February 5th, 2004 at 10:10 pm
What a beautiful baby girl. And of course the two of you would have a child born with quirks. Best wishes to all three (er, four if you count Chuck) of you.
February 5th, 2004 at 10:11 pm
many many congrats to the armstrongs! she really is an adorable little girl!
February 5th, 2004 at 10:31 pm
Congratulations! She’s beautiful!
February 5th, 2004 at 10:34 pm
Congratulations to you both! If you’re weepy now, Leta’s first smile will leave you weak in the knees, and then there’s the first laugh. My 3 month old just laughed for the first time, and now all we do is try to make him laugh again. It’s like a drug, and we just need another fix.
February 5th, 2004 at 10:36 pm
That entry made me tear up, reminded me so much of when my son was born. Congratulations to you both on your gorgeous little girl. I’ve been checking both your sites madly for updates, I’m so thrilled to see them.
February 5th, 2004 at 10:37 pm
congrats
February 5th, 2004 at 10:38 pm
congratulations to you and heather. rock on leta. she’s gorgeous.
amazing to read your perspective…
February 5th, 2004 at 10:40 pm
eeee!!! her middle name is my first!!! well…spelled differently…but i’m delighted all the same! best wishes, many congrats, and rock on, proud pappa!
February 5th, 2004 at 11:02 pm
what a beautiful, wonderful time for you, dooce, leta and chuck! happy and healthy days to you all…
February 5th, 2004 at 11:10 pm
Ahh, goosebumps. What a wonderful thing for two wonderful people.
February 5th, 2004 at 11:10 pm
Yahoo!!! Leta is beautiful, and what a beautiful name! I am so excited for you guys… and I’ve never before been excited like this for people I’ve never met. What can I say? Utmost congrats!!!!
February 5th, 2004 at 11:14 pm
congratulations! i’m due in april.
your baby is absolutely perfect.
February 5th, 2004 at 11:21 pm
Congratulations!!! May your new punk rock baby daughter fill your lives with joy.
February 5th, 2004 at 11:27 pm
She is beautiful! I’m wishing all three of you joy, and every good thing! My sweet little monkey is almost 12 now, and I can tell you that it just keeps getting better. Congratulations!
February 5th, 2004 at 11:29 pm
Oneigaishimasu! Congrats to both you and the Dooce. Leta is stunning.
February 5th, 2004 at 11:31 pm
I have never been more excited or overwhelmed by the birth of a child of people I don’t actually know. Huge congratulations and best wishes for the whole family.
And her slight cone head is perhaps the cutest thing of all.
February 5th, 2004 at 11:44 pm
congratulations jon + heather!