i remember thinking that the generosity we received upon getting married was overwhelming. people who i had never met were sending us checks, crystal candlesticks appeared from crate and barrel from lost high school friends. no one hesitated to let us know that we were loved. but i didn't know love like the love we've received since eliana has been born. actually, even before she was born, i was amazed at how embraced we were. i had four showers, none of which i planned. from my family and friends in pasadena to my old colleagues from another school to my current amigos and families from my job now, we were quite literally showered with affection. at the blessing that my friends bri and joellen hosted, all the beautiful women in my life went around the circle sharing loving words, poetry and advice, while i sat and soaked my swollen feet in a bath of rose petals and lavender oil. at first i felt uncomfortable receiving that sort of affirmation. it was so public. so all about me. would people think i was an ego driven ninny just for wanting that sort of shower? then i realized how ridiculous it is that women in our culture don't feel like they can be loved and appreciated in that sort of way. in some small, tribal cultures, women are given the ceremonial robes worn by warriors on return from battle after they give birth. in other cultures, women are not supposed to do anything for weeks after their baby is born and are pampered and taken care of by other members of the community. why in our culture is it not okay to be pampered? "thankfully, i do feel like i deserve to be treated like a warrior coming out of battle. what i did with my body on july 16th (and, heck, the nine plus months before that) to bring my baby into the world was no small feat. and since then, we have been showered with even more affection and generosity than i ever thought i could have wanted. every day a package of some sort awaits on the doorstep, sometimes from people who i hardly know. she has more clothes, more beautiful clothes then i could have ever asked for. organic cotton clothes, tye-dyed onesies, ralph lauren fancy tennis suits (seriously), patagonia snow jumpers- i tell ya, this girl can play any part. i have not had to buy her one single item of clothing, which is pretty remarkable given the clothes horse that i am. she has an amazing array of blankets. a special pink blanket with "eliana celie" embroidered on it. another fancy pendeleton, super montana blanket, again with her name embroidered beautifully on the fleece. a blanket hand knit by my 93 year old grandmother. another blanket hand knit by her special auntie hilary. she has a poster that tells about her name and all the historical things that have taken place on the day she was born. and my favorite, a little rocky balboa style terry cloth robe that is pink with green little antennae and other bug like markings with "eliana" written on the back. how wonderful it is that we love and embrace children the way that we do! how thankful is this mama to know that her daughter has been sent good wishes and hopes and cheer from all over, allowing us all to sleep well knowing that we are embraced with the love of our community. this pic is of elie in one of her fancy outfits, her lavendar "daddy's little princess" suit sent by aunt ginny in connecticut (good job, ginny, realizing that she is too small to wear anything but newborn clothes just yet!).
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