When you rush off in the middle of the night to have a baby, life as you had planned it for the next few days gets upended. You reschedule work meetings and any plans you’d made become tentative. You rely on friends and family more than usual. You sleep less than you’d like to, your own meals get put on the back burner, and you probably drink more coffee than is reasonable.

Essentially, the day of the actual birth is the same as how I experience parenthood in general, just compressed into about 12 hours.

Essentially, the day of the actual birth is the same as how I experience parenthood in general, just compressed into about 12 hours.

Today is my first day back to work since Ramona was born, thanks to MJM‘s remarkably generous paternity leave. Mel and I are very grateful for the last two weeks to get to know our little girl, and for the time to help the other kids adjust to a “new normal.” Thanks to the MJM team for the extra work it took to make it possible. We’ve also really appreciated the meals (and the coffee) friends and family have been bringing by, and the messages and all the offers to help with the other kids.

We appreciate you all, and we’re reminded that being self-sufficient is neither possible nor desirable–we’re built to live in community. Our life is richer because you’re all in it, and we can’t wait to introduce you to our sweet little girl.

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