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| Charlie a few hours old |
In typical Clark fashion, baby Clark, arrived a week early anxious to move onto her next adventure. After three couch bound weeks, to try and keep this baby in, John arrived back from Grenada and two days later our little girl arrived. I don't think anyone was more surprised than I was when a little girl popped out. After nine months of hearing "its a boy" from everyone from the lady at the dry cleaner to the waitresses at our local, the boatyard, I was pretty convinced our little bambino was a little boy.
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| Still in shock we've got a daughter |
While I didn't care about the sex all I wanted was a healthy baby, I was a little more prepared for a boy. I grew up with boys. I knew how to boss them around and I was pretty content in my role as the only girl, but when I first laid eyes on our daughter everything changed.
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| In love with our Baby Girl |
Its been six weeks since Charlie arrived and we've spent a lot of girl time together and I've learned a few things that make having a daughter extra special. Aside from the fact they have cuter clothes, you can dress them in pink, and when I wanted to spend an exorbitant amount on her first Christmas dress John said ok, since it's "her first Christmas." Flash forward to the wedding dress and we are in trouble...
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| Charlie dressed as a snow bear |
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| The expensive dress she hated... |
The Other Woman...
For the first time in our relationship I have seen my husband's eyes light up with sheer adoration for another female and watching him stare in wonder at our baby girl makes me love him even more. This is perhaps the only time in life when you'll enjoy watching your husband moon over another woman. No jealousy just joy that this amazing little bundle has so captivated the man you love.
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| Daddy and Daughter |
Little girls somehow know that you can't leave the house looking a total mess and Charlie always seems to give me the extra minute to put on my mascara. Not sure that a little boy would be so understanding. While I'll never be the "yummy mummy" just not organized enough to leave the house without spit up on my shoulder...I do have a daughter who will lay on the bed and babble at me while I dash on a little lip gloss before we head out.
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| Out for a day on the boat |
The coos and squeals are what I hope will be the beginning of many years of girl talk with my daughter. I spend hours on skype with my mom chatting and filling her in on what is going on with our island life. I am looking forward to hearing about my little girl's adventures, hopes and dreams but, for now those coo's are the sweet precursor of what is to come.
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| Taking a rest from all that chatter |
That Special Bond...
There is something special about moms and daughters that I never really knew til I had one of my own. Now that I have Charlie I understand how my mom must feel about me. Too bad we can't all discover this when we are 13 years old and those turbulent teens might be a bit sweeter...Watching my mom look at Charlie and reminisce about my babyhood is bitter sweet. Sweet that she loved and remembers those years with such clarity and scary that it seemed to go so fast for her. Its been six weeks and I can't believe how much our baby girl has changed. I know in the blink of an eye we'll go from this:
To this:
Baby girls are special and our baby girl has made our bush, beach, lifestyle much more fun. I hope I can remember to soak every minute up and enjoy our next adventure...parenthood.
