That time I had a human baby

And briefly abandoned my lil baby newsletter

I’ll be back soon with more thoughts on life and office work soon. Until then, here’s a newsletter with some disjointed, heavily sleep-deprived thoughts about my new beloved taskmaster.

Our friend Joanna was born about two weeks ago. She left the hospital at 7 lbs. She’s now almost 8 lbs, thanks to Daddy Jeff Bezo’s infant formula. This was not the original plan, but it is working for her and I’m trying to learn the lesson of letting go of “the original plans.”

She smells like nickles because of the milk, so we call her Joey Nickles. I also call her Deleware Jo. And maestro, because of her long, articulated fingers. 

I spent the last seven weeks of the pregnancy on bed rest, which was…interesting and terrifying. I had to go to the ER again, post-birth, because the damned preeclampsia caused my blood pressure to go insane (preeclampsia can continue to rear its head up to six weeks post birth - the more you know!). I’ve had to advocate hard for myself medically and cannot imagine how anyone who doesn’t have the various privileges I have manages to get any medical professionals to take maternal health seriously postpartum. It’s very fucked!

My husband Danny is a very good father, as I long suspected he would be. So, what I’m saying is, I was right.

Sometimes I take a little time out to cry on our patio while staring at our neighbors’ giant dog because hormones are wildthings. Last summer I exercised on that roof every day. It was a catcalling amphitheater. Now everyone is getting a different sort of show.

The cats will never forgive us, however, but maybe they’ll learn to love us differently in time.

We love the baby. The baby is very good. It’s insane. 

Though, it’s incredible how something so good requires so much healing.