Meet Harriet. She was born yesterday. We’re ecstatic! But flying back and forth between island (work) and city (with the new family) — we’ve kept a few seats warm on the ferry the last few days, and we’ll be back and forth quite a bit more in the next while. Will update more later. For now, I’ll be up on that cloud, right over there . . . Happy Nana!
Edited to Add this lovely poem with a big thank you to Duchess for her comment alerting me to it. Intimations of Immortality, indeed. . .
The Conch, by E.B. White
Hold a baby to your ear
As you would a shell:
Sounds of centuries you hear
New centuries foretell.
Who can break a baby’s code?
And which is the older —
The listener or his small load?
The held or the holder?
Precious! She's gorgeous. Congratulations!!
OH HOW GORGEOUS!!! And what and adorable name. As in my family, yours seems to have a lot of girls 🙂 Congratulations to all of you, especially the new parents. So happy that everyone is healthy and I hope you made it there on time.
We do seem to do girls, although in the wider family of my sibs, my kids' generation is dominated by the guys right now.
So exciting to welcome a new baby into the world. She is beautiful.
Joy! There is no greater happiness, I'm sure.
I'm in your neck of the woods today to give a workshop – the most over the water and view to the islands is spectacular.
Waving from the other side . . .
What an angel. Congratulations. I'd warm the ferry seats in order to spend time with such a precious darling.!!
Congratulations to the whole family, especially the happy parents! I've been thinking a lot about grandchildren lately, as my husband's niece has just had a baby, the first grandchild among his siblings. However, I can wait a while for ours, as our boys are only 16 and 18!! :0)
Yes, better those boys not give you any grandchildren just yet, but oh, you're in for a treat someday . . .
Wonderful news – congratulations to all!
How wonderful! A new baby brings such joy. Enjoy those sweet newborn cuddles.
Oh there's nothing like a new baby to fill ones heart with joy!
Congratulations!
Congratulations to you! And welcome, Harriet!
Congratulations to you and your family!
"Hold a baby to your ear
As you would a shell:
Sounds of centuries you will hear
New centuries foretell."
– from "Conch" by E.B. White
Welcome, Harriet, congratulations GrandMater!
Thanks so much for the gift of this poem, Duchesse. I ended up looking up the second verse and adding both to my original post, as you can see. And I made this poem my contribution, yesterday, to Twitter's #todayspoem.
A perfect poem to welcome baby Hattie. And a lovely first portrait–so much mystery, potential and joy. Elle
I know! They're so inscrutable in their adaptations to our world. See Hester's lovely comment below . . .
Late to this news, but oh Mater, many many congratulations to your daughter, son-in-law and to you and all your family on such a beautiful addition to your kin. I felt my uterus go 'twang' at that photo…tells self sternly, "no more babies! you're 42!" But oh, it melts my heart, those tiny whorls of ears, the coffee bean eye lids, the breath of finest downy hair on head, the fierce studied look of concentration on getting to grips with this whole Being Alive on Earth business, even whilst asleep, still working doggedly on that concept, figuring it all out in their newborn dreams….It makes me well up every time I see a newborn, the whole enormity of a unique new life in all its beauty and possibility. Sending love from my side of the Pond, xxx
Hester
You've captured it, Hester. It's so moving, this something-out-of-nothing, here-from-there magic of it all. . .
So beautiful. So wonderful. And I too love her name.
xoxox to all.
Many congratulations!
thanks, Patti!
Welcome baby Harriet! She is perfect Mater.