11.2.2009

Mimi. Another Mischief Maker is born.

Mimi. A mini mischief maker?

Very early in the morning of October 24, I was awakened by sharp pains in my lower abdomen. Contractions. They weren’t too painful, and they were somewhat bearable. Yet within a couple of hours, they were coming on more frequently, more intensely. We timed the contractions - how often they came on, and for how long - until they were coming every five minutes, for at least one minute in duration, and that this pattern had been established for at least one hour. The 5-1-1 rule. By seven a.m. my contractions were doing the 5-1-1 like clockwork. We hopped in the car and headed for the hospital.

Of course, Wolf had to delay everything. He didn’t have any cash on him, which he said he might need for parking, vending machines, the cafeteria, maybe even the gift shop if he wanted to get a newspaper or magazine. I was in increasing pain, yet there we were, driving around downtown Pasadena looking for an ATM. I wanted to punch him. All I could think of was getting to the hospital and getting this baby out.

To make a long story short, labor progressed rapidly. I think I was admitted to the hospital around 8:30 a.m., and by 3:30 p.m. - after an epidural - I was in the final stage of labor and pushing the baby out. At 5:28 p.m., our daughter Mimi was born. She came out kicking and screaming and after being cleaned up, weighed and measured, I held her. She was amazingly quiet. Her eyes were wide open and she smiled. I think she was happy to finally be in this world. We were.

Life here at the Casa de Mari and el Lobo is quite different. We spend our days hoping for a few good hours of sleep and we feel like we’re probably doing everything wrong. As tired and bleary-eyed and freaked out as we are, we’re also having a grand time. Every day we think we’ve noticed something new about this little being who has changed our lives forever.

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13 Responses to “Mimi. Another Mischief Maker is born.”

  1. Marilyn Says:

    awww, hello, Mimi! welcome to the outside world!

    the ATM bit made me laugh. my Mom told me that when she went into labor with me, my Dad insisted on shaving before driving her to the hospital. i’ll bet if men were doing the deliveries, it’d be a very different story! :)

    hope you’re enjoying every precious, sleep-deprived moment. xo

  2. Sandi Kahn Shelton Says:

    Hi, Mari-I’ve often read your comments over at bloglily’s blog, and when I read that you’d had a baby, I came over and spent some time admiring your beautiful baby girl (Mimi is a GREAT name!) and also admiring your beautiful cookies. What a lovely blog-and congratulations on your little one. She’s exquisite! I hope you get some sleep soon.

  3. Paz Says:

    CONGRATULATIONS! ;-)

    Paz

  4. mischief mari Says:

    Marilyn, isn’t it amazing how men just do the silliest things at the most awful moments? Although my husband will argue I do the same. Don’t know what he’s talking about…

    Sandi: Hi! Well now that I have time off, I’ll be reading your books! Thanks for dropping by.

    Paz: You’re on the babysitting list, you know…

  5. Lily Says:

    Oh my goodness! Mimi is adorable!
    it is impossible for you to be doing anything wrong, you are her parents! everyone is right where they are supposed to be, all together now…
    I am glad you are having a good time even with the sleep deprivation.
    One mistake I made was continually staring at my son when he was first born… while he slept! I definitely should have been sleeping too! I am not sure I could have helped it though. this time really is an amazing time and this tiny infant stage goes by in a flash. In 3 months you won’t believe how different she will be in so many ways.
    I am so happy for you.

  6. Anne (Papilles & Pupilles) Says:

    Congratulations :) Toutes mes félicitations et tous mes voeux de bonheur !

  7. mischief mari Says:

    Lily, Thanks! We think she’s pretty cute, too. Until she starts wailing for food or for a diaper change. The volume that little creature can crank out! But we’re trying to savor every moment, because we know that she’ll change drastically in a short period of time. By the way, Wolf brought several cameras to the hospital - film and digital - to make sure we always had good copies. Thanks for the tip!

    Anne - Merci beaucoup! Bisoux…mari

  8. linda Says:

    “She was amazingly quiet. Her eyes were wide open and she smiled. I think she was happy to finally be in this world.”

    Sigh. Oh Mari! This little Mimi must have won some kind of incredible sweepstakes to get you & Wolf for her parents.

    She is a gorgeous creature!

  9. Patricia Scarpin Says:

    Little Mimi is just beautiful! So adorable!
    Congratulations, dear - and tks for introducing her to us!

  10. lisa s Says:

    so exciting! congratulations!

    how are you holding up???
    [and yes - polaroid film is avail on polapremium and will be made by the impossible project :) ]

  11. Rhonda Smith Says:

    Little Mimi is indeed adorable and congrats on your new addition!

  12. Captain Cat Says:

    Oh she is beautiful. Mari, what a little miracle. I love the going into labour story. I undestand Wolfe needing to get to an ATM (how very pragmatic of him) before the action started as he wouldn’t have wanted to miss anything. but would have felt exactly the same as you, grrr!! It’s actually a hilarious story. Anyway, she is sublime. Thinking of all of you every day. x

  13. mischief mari Says:

    Linda, I hope she feels lucky to have us as parents. I have this feeling she’s going to be utterly embarrassed by our silly antics someday…

    Patricia, Thanks!

    Lisa: We’re hanging in there. It’s those middle of the night feedings that really knock us out…Wolf and I figured out that if we take turns it helps us get some sleep. Some. Sleep. Otherwise, we’re doing okay. This is a totally different life we’re leading now, that’s for sure.

    Rhonda, Thanks!

    Captain Cat, Yes, Wolf is pragmatic but he always pulls these things off at the last possible moment. It’s so frustrating. Turns out there were several ATMs at the hospital. Grrr!

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