Margaret Marianne was born at 12:11am on Monday, May 15, 2017. My labor was quick (but not as terrifyingly fast as with Clara) but we made it to the hospital with an entire 55 minutes to go before she was born! The birth went smoothly, Margaret did perfectly, and we headed home from the hospital and up the mountain to the lake on the morning of the 16th.
Margaret is our smallest baby, weighing in at 6lbs 11oz and measuring 20.5 inches at birth. She seems incredibly tiny and we can't get over the perfection of her little features, her little body and her little feet (with very long toes!).
Just like in my dreams about her, she has a little bit of fine brown hair, much darker than her sisters' at birth. Her eyes definitely look blue at the moment, though that can change, of course. She's absolutely beautiful, with a perfectly round little head and (what seems to me) Schweiss features.
Her disposition is equally sweet. From the moment she was born (she didn't cry and the nurses had to poke and prod at her to make her), she has been calm and sweet. She simply doesn't cry or fuss, though she is now beginning to explore the sounds she can make. She opened her eyes immediately after she was born and spent a long time looking around and at Mommy. Now, as she is four days old, she is spending even more time with her eyes open. She has the cutest little skeptical look on her face as she looks around. It makes us giggle with delight to see her exploring the outside world for the first time.
Margaret Marianne is named after St. Margaret of Scotland, St. Marianne Cope, and Mary Ann Weiler, Tony's maternal grandmother, who might as well have a "St." in front of her name according to everyone who knew her. All three were women of courageous and selfless love for God and others, who spent their lives giving to, caring for and loving everyone they came into contact with. We pray that our Margaret Marianne will grow in perfect charity and love under the intercession of these three strong, beautiful women of God.
Tony and I aren't the only ones completely smitten with Miss Margaret. She has quite the group of admirers already, but her biggest two are her big sisters, Marie and Clara. Both girls are completely in love with this little one. The main problem we have around here these days is figuring out who gets to hold her first and for how long (Mommy included...). Marie is incredibly helpful, thoughtful and sensitive, and extremely curious about everything having to do with the baby. Clara is equally as enthusiastic but in her own two-year-old ways. Both have showered their baby sister with affection and shown no signs whatsoever of wishing that things were different.
Yesterday, Marie said "Mommy, I just can't believe that Margaret is already here! That we already get to hold her! What are we going to do with Margaret for the rest of our lives?" Well, my sweet girl, we are going to love her, and watch her grow, and thank God for all the love and joy and wonder that she brings into our lives.
Once again, I am completely in awe of the wonder of new life. Something from nothing. Someone from two people. An entirely new and unique soul was formed in my womb, came out into the world, and will live for all eternity. Thank you, God.
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