Please help us welcome our new beautiful daughter, Finley Roux! She was born with 1/2in. of strawberry blonde hair, blue-grey stormy eyes, and a cute button nose. She is calm and patient and almost never cries. We are so blessed!
It’s rare when you can pinpoint an exact moment that changes your entire life. What you feel in those moments is such raw emotion and after only a few seconds its past. I’ve had a heightened sense of everything- every feeling for everything and everyone I hold dear. I also feel a little sadness in that this is our last baby because I know how quickly they grow up. I find myself staring at her, trying to memorize every little feature and nuance of her face and little body. My heart feels like its going to overflow at any minute.
She is our second child, so we’ve been through this stage before. It’s been so overwhelming to have her snuggle up to me. You go on with your day to day and you forget- you forget the way their little head rests right up to your cheek so you can smell their fresh baby scent. You forget the deep relaxation that you feel in your soul when you hold them. You forget how little and vulnerable they once were. You forget how much they needed you. It’s entrancing. It’s euphoric and its nothing short of magical and miraculous. And, its a little scary. Life all of a sudden feels fragile, vulnerable and uncertain. And when they lay on you, the world stops, even just for a moment.
Finley failed her in-hospital hearing test in her left ear and had some follow up testing two weeks ago. We were praying it was just liquid in the ear that needed time to dry up. To our shock, there wasn’t liquid in there and she actually does have a mild hearing loss in her left ear. I’m not going to lie, this left me feeling deflated and scared of the unknown as it relates to our daughter’s health- a feeling I had prayed I’d never have to experience with her. We have to go back for more definitive testing next month (to know what kind of hearing loss) when we’ll already be in the hospital with Caddie for his open heart surgery, how convenient! *sarcastic voice implied. Scott nor I have any family history of congenital hearing loss or heart disorders, so I think the main feeling through all of this has been confusion. One of my personal goals for 2018 was to trust more in the universe and the unknown. I didn’t know I’d be tested on this goal so soon in the year. We are anticipating her possibly needing a hearing aid, but my prayer is that the mild hearing loss she does have is not progressive and will be a minor factor in her life. Caddie has blessed our lives with the gift of perspective. Even though Finley’s hearing is less than perfect, she has a healthy heart, healthy organs, and the sweetest disposition, and for that, we’re so thankful.
Little Finney has helped us take time to be a family. It’s been so fun discovering the differences between the two kids. Caddie was a very relaxed baby, or so we thought until we met Finney. She grunts a lot and kind-of sounds like an old man who’s smoked for years. She deals with her brother’s temper tantrums like a champ! She loves eating, snuggling, and being held. Caddie has surpassed any realistic expectations with how he’s adjusted to a family of four. He loves her so much! He kisses her on the head each and every time he walks by her. He’s so empathetic as well. When she cries, he gets upset. Scott and I feel like he’s shown us a whole new side to himself, as he doesn’t seem to be jealous at all.
Thank you so much for the outpouring of love we’ve received in the last couple of months. Scott and I have felt very humbled by all of the congratulations, gifts, and cards. Life is such a beautiful and magical journey. Always hug your family so close! XO Jess
So adorable human being!