Ummmm...breastfeeding hurts. The books say, "It should not be painful if they are on correctly." Well, I think this is a conspiracy to make an new-bf'ing-mom feel like quitting. Something perhaps concocted by the formula companies (who oh-so-nicely have large bags of their supplies delivered to you in the hospital in a dapper-dandy striped bag). There are other areas of discomfort...I am sure with Daniel's super-grande head, progressing from crowning to cord-cutting in 13 minutes, and her 9 lb. birth weight...you can figure out which area this is.
I know that the pain of nursing will pass. The sharp-knife-like pain will pass. But several weeks sounds like an eternity sometimes.
At least the pain comes with an incredible experience of being able to look at my one-eyed pirate girl. She always has one eye closed and then the other dark slate-gray eye stays open. Her eyes, by the way, are a mystery. Daniel's eyes are not that Asian-looking. Mine are certainly not of such a beautiful slant. Perhaps Lola Loi (D's mom &"Lola" is Kapampangan for Grandma) dropped in her DNA into the mix, certainly Lolo Quiel (D's granfather) came through in the curved palate above her lip.
And who knew this game of "Whose _______ does she have?" would turn out to be such a fabulous way to pass the hours. Sometimes Nora slumbers in serenity and Daniel or I find ourselves picking her up and just looking at one another and justifying it by saying, "I just miss her" and then the game begins.
Here's what we think so far.
two cowlicks = me
eyes = ?
nose = Daniel
dimpled chin = Daniel
eyebrows = Daniel
ears = Daniel
fingers = me
toes = both
Did you notice a pattern? Uh, yeah, me to. I was harboring a near genetic replica of a female Daniel in my womb. Proudly carrying on his lineage of the African-American & Filipino caramel twist. I'm sure other physical and certainly personality elements will eventually emerge; however, for now, I am smitten staring at Daddy's little girl. (He is, too, by looking at his picture)
If you can point out similarities that I don't see, let me know. Here's a pic of me being held by my Grandpa Thurm. The next picture, is the "apple of my pie" (a favorite mixed-metaphor saying from Auntie Ludee), Nuglett Nora, being held by Lola Loi.
What do you think?
***and for kicks & giggles - another video of Meine Liebe.




