the next day

No one slept much last night. I expect Sparrow, just a few hours old, along with his mom and dad, kept everyone hopping all night long. At the farmhouse, Snowdrop went to bed some two or three hours past her bedtime. I got busy then with photos, posts, emails and texts. I dragged myself upstairs (three hours past my bedtime!) to the sound of thunder in the distance. Just as I reach over to turn out the light, I hear Snowdrop calling. This is a girl who will sleep through anything, any night. But not on this night.

It was a good hour before she is settled again.

Not for long. At 5:30, she is in our room asking -- gaga, is it morning yet?

It's hard to explain that it isn't, when the light so clearly states otherwise. It is June, after all. Sparrow was born in a month full of light. I stall Snowdrop some, but eventually and with a very big sigh, I'm up, she's up, and I'm sure everyone else in the family is up as well.


We settle into morning routines. Snowdrop still prefers to not shower and so we trudge to the sheep shed...

(Can I pick a flower? why do children love picking flowers? why do grandmas always say sure, just this once, when it's never just this once?)






(young chicks: do you have something for us? No? No??!)






...where she bathes in Ed's monstrously big tub.






And now we're back at the farmhouse, playing magnet dolls, castles and kings and queens, and eventually building a Lego house together.






Finally we settle down to a breakfast of pancakes and bacon, with beloved cherries on the side.






We're scheduled to be back at the hospital just before noon and if the little girl showed no great agitation over the whole new baby brother event during her morning play, she certainly becomes anxious to get going as the time draws near.

Finally! At her brother's side!






Sparrow is a calm baby thus far. He utters little chirpy noises, like a little bird trying out his voice, but is very content to lie on a combination Snowdrop-mommy lap...






... and the girl is thrilled to have him wrap his little fingers around her hand.






Happy family makes for a happy childhood. For both.






Time for a swaddle...






Dad, getting so good at multitasking as he talks on the phone and wraps little Sparrow and answers Snowdrop's innumerable questions.





Now is the time for a good old Snowdrop story and the little girl delivers, along with a burst of spontaneous song of her own creation about the coming of spring.






Oh, there is a moment for grandma to hold the little boy as well. Of course. He is my grandson.






And there will be the photo of my daughter and her now two children, with me hovering.






I leave the family then, which is a good thing, because I need that hour or two of rest. So does Snowdrop, but she has reserves of energy that are beyond incredible. After her sleepless night, napless days, she continues to play with every ounce of her usual charm.

By dinner, Ed swears her eyes are closing. But, she rallies, enjoys her meal with us...





And then begs for five books before bedtime.

It's not something I would say no to. Not today. Not on this lovely time of good family stories, conversations and cuddles.

Tomorrow, everyone will be home again. Or home for the first time, in the case of Sparrow.

My kids have families and big smiles on their faces. We are one happy, lucky lot!