9 days postpartum. My emotions are so heightened. Everything is an extreme. But I feel so much joy. So much love. Like my heart has expanded ten fold and every bit of it is full of love for my daughter. We let the gender be a surprise for this baby and I am so proud to have birthed a girl. My sweet Celine.

More than anything, these are the things I desperately want and need to remember: These tiny feet. This soft, postpartum belly. That this body grew and birthed and now sustains an entire life that I cradle in the crook of one arm. The way she falls asleep right after breastfeeding and curls up as though she were still in my womb. Nine whole days I’ve been staring at her, falling deeper and deeper in love than I ever knew was possible. It’s like diving into an ocean, the waves are overwhelming at first - joy, anxiety, gratefulness all washing over me at once making it hard to catch my breath. Tears mixed with laughter. Learning a new routine at the same time as just letting go. The sweet surrender of new motherhood.