Morning Light
Allow me to introduce
Aurora Solstice Eve Adams
Born extremely healthy on July 14th, 2008 at 43 weeks "post term" but we think she arrived in perfect time.
Little Aurorabora is approx 21 inches long, and weighed in at 8 lbs 1 oz when she was born.
Like her parents, she's stubborn and late.
The first was taken only moments after the birth, as I carried the freshly swaddled Aurora to her Mother.
No, I hadn't shaved in a week.
Aurora wasn't crying in the animated gif, she's actually initiating a series of bird-like, open mouth "feed-me" expressions known as "rooting" and Daddy instigating it by imitating her.
In fact, she didn't really cry until later in the day, and then only produced a single, dissatisfied squawk.
It wasn't until after the medical testing started that she really began to explore the full range of her voice... and the mandatory testing is a post unto itself. [insert expletive here]
Both The Lady and I are writing our birth stories and trying to capture the events which have transpired over the past week. Put simply, it hasn't been smooth. To be honest, we almost lost her on Thursday night...
Not only was our "Baby-moon," (that time set aside for new parents to share privately with their baby), derailed at the hospital during the first three days, and then again less than 48 hours after we arrived home when we had to rush Aurora to the emergency room, but we spent the past five days at the Palmetto Children's Hospital watching over our little girl as she endured prods and punctures attempting to diagnose her sudden drop in energy.
We're still uncertain as to the exact cause of her sudden drop in temperature and slowed heartbeat -most likely it was a combination of issues- but she's back home, alert, gaining weight from breast milk and currently cuddling with The Lady, so I can rest at ease, and write the birth story up later as well.
As for her name...
It's our opinion that names should have some meaning to the parents beyond just sounding nice.
The Lady and I, like most couples came up with several lists of names that we found attractive... and gradually scratched through the lot.
It's no secret that the majority of contemporary Western names are derived from the Judeo/Christian mythos and because neither of us adhere to such religious beliefs, choosing such a name seemed dishonest and lacking in thoughtfulness (to both our Baby and Judeo/Christian belief). I had been pushing for a more modern, space age name, something that connected her to the now, while The Lady wanted something more ephemeral and graceful. Thankfully the ancient Greeks, Romans and the Latin language have strongly influenced both poetry and science -especially astronomy- and so sated both our tastes.
Aurora: the goddess of Dawn in Roman mythology, comparable to the Greek goddess Eos (who was the mother of Boreas, the North Wind...an interesting bit of trivia for those who know about our potential surname change). Her brother is the Sun (Sol) and sister Moon (Luna).
Note: She is Not named after Princess Aurora in Disney or Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty. However, strangely enough, while researching for the SWO plot, I just discovered that there was an earlier variant of the Sleeping Beauty tale entitled Sun, Moon, and Talia... I'll assume the Sun and Moon connection is obvious, but what isn't obvious is that Talia was another name we were strongly considering... round and round we go.
Solstice: derived from the Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still), because at the solstices, the Sun stands still in declination; that is, its apparent movement north or south comes to a standstill. That sounds like a static eddy to me...
Aurora's birth date, as originally estimated by the clinic, was supposed to be June 20th, the Summer Solstice (and also my birthdate). We knew -and now have proof- that such dates can be largely inaccurate. All the same, I thought it would be a subtle nod in honor of her father as well as a link to time honored date and suggested to The Lady that we use "Solstice Eve."
The Lady looked at me the same way she had when I suggested the name Smudge Wumpus, so I assumed I should scratch the name. Instead, she asked me if I was serious because Solstice Eve was a combination she'd been considering for years.
Done.
...and finally...
Eve: Granted, while the name Eve has strong roots in Judeo/Christian belief, the traditional meaning of Eve is 'living' and that fit nicely with the things we cherish (Dawn's Light, The Change of Seasons and Life).
On a curious note: for the past few weeks I've been waking up with the lyrics to a song I couldn't place, running through my head. I finally had to track down the song last night, and with help from The Lady, I discovered that this song is eerily appropriate.
The lyrics I I kept waking with were:
"I used to think that the day would never come
I'd see the light in the shade of the morning sun
My morning sun is the mumble mumble mumble
Humm mumble mumble mumble mumble"
....then...
"I feel so extraordinary
Something's got a hold on me
mumble mumble mumble mumble"
I feel so extraordinary
Something's got a hold on me
I get this feeling I'm in motion
A sudden sense of liberty
I don't care 'cause I'm not there
And I don't care if I'm here tomorrow
Again and again I've taken too much
Of the things that cost you too much
I used to think that the day would never come
I'd see delight in the shade of the morning sun
My morning sun is the drug that brings me near
To the childhood I lost, replaced by fear
I used to think that the day would never come
That my life would depend on the morning sun.
When I was a very small boy
Very small boys talked to me
Now that we've grown up together
They're afraid of what they see
That's the price that we all pay
Our valued destiny comes to nothing
can't tell you where we're going
I guess there was just no way of knowing
I used to think that the day would never come
I'd see delight in the shade of the morning sun
My morning sun is the drug that brings me near
To the childhood I lost, replaced by fear
I used to think that the day would never come
That my life would depend on the morning sun.
I feel so extraordinary
Something's got a hold on me
I get this feeling I'm in motion
A sudden sense of liberty
The chances are we've gone too far
You took my time and you took my money
Now I fear you've left me standing
In a world that's so demanding
I used to think that the day would never come
I'd see delight in the shade of the morning sun
My morning sun is the drug that brings me near
To the childhood I lost, replaced by fear
I used to think that the day would never come
That my life would depend on the morning sun.
Aurora Solstice Eve Adams
Born extremely healthy on July 14th, 2008 at 43 weeks "post term" but we think she arrived in perfect time.
Little Aurorabora is approx 21 inches long, and weighed in at 8 lbs 1 oz when she was born.
Like her parents, she's stubborn and late.
The first was taken only moments after the birth, as I carried the freshly swaddled Aurora to her Mother.
No, I hadn't shaved in a week.
Aurora wasn't crying in the animated gif, she's actually initiating a series of bird-like, open mouth "feed-me" expressions known as "rooting" and Daddy instigating it by imitating her.
In fact, she didn't really cry until later in the day, and then only produced a single, dissatisfied squawk.
It wasn't until after the medical testing started that she really began to explore the full range of her voice... and the mandatory testing is a post unto itself. [insert expletive here]
Both The Lady and I are writing our birth stories and trying to capture the events which have transpired over the past week. Put simply, it hasn't been smooth. To be honest, we almost lost her on Thursday night...
Not only was our "Baby-moon," (that time set aside for new parents to share privately with their baby), derailed at the hospital during the first three days, and then again less than 48 hours after we arrived home when we had to rush Aurora to the emergency room, but we spent the past five days at the Palmetto Children's Hospital watching over our little girl as she endured prods and punctures attempting to diagnose her sudden drop in energy.
We're still uncertain as to the exact cause of her sudden drop in temperature and slowed heartbeat -most likely it was a combination of issues- but she's back home, alert, gaining weight from breast milk and currently cuddling with The Lady, so I can rest at ease, and write the birth story up later as well.
As for her name...
It's our opinion that names should have some meaning to the parents beyond just sounding nice.
The Lady and I, like most couples came up with several lists of names that we found attractive... and gradually scratched through the lot.
It's no secret that the majority of contemporary Western names are derived from the Judeo/Christian mythos and because neither of us adhere to such religious beliefs, choosing such a name seemed dishonest and lacking in thoughtfulness (to both our Baby and Judeo/Christian belief). I had been pushing for a more modern, space age name, something that connected her to the now, while The Lady wanted something more ephemeral and graceful. Thankfully the ancient Greeks, Romans and the Latin language have strongly influenced both poetry and science -especially astronomy- and so sated both our tastes.
Aurora: the goddess of Dawn in Roman mythology, comparable to the Greek goddess Eos (who was the mother of Boreas, the North Wind...an interesting bit of trivia for those who know about our potential surname change). Her brother is the Sun (Sol) and sister Moon (Luna).
Note: She is Not named after Princess Aurora in Disney or Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty. However, strangely enough, while researching for the SWO plot, I just discovered that there was an earlier variant of the Sleeping Beauty tale entitled Sun, Moon, and Talia... I'll assume the Sun and Moon connection is obvious, but what isn't obvious is that Talia was another name we were strongly considering... round and round we go.
Solstice: derived from the Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still), because at the solstices, the Sun stands still in declination; that is, its apparent movement north or south comes to a standstill. That sounds like a static eddy to me...
Aurora's birth date, as originally estimated by the clinic, was supposed to be June 20th, the Summer Solstice (and also my birthdate). We knew -and now have proof- that such dates can be largely inaccurate. All the same, I thought it would be a subtle nod in honor of her father as well as a link to time honored date and suggested to The Lady that we use "Solstice Eve."
The Lady looked at me the same way she had when I suggested the name Smudge Wumpus, so I assumed I should scratch the name. Instead, she asked me if I was serious because Solstice Eve was a combination she'd been considering for years.
Done.
...and finally...
Eve: Granted, while the name Eve has strong roots in Judeo/Christian belief, the traditional meaning of Eve is 'living' and that fit nicely with the things we cherish (Dawn's Light, The Change of Seasons and Life).
On a curious note: for the past few weeks I've been waking up with the lyrics to a song I couldn't place, running through my head. I finally had to track down the song last night, and with help from The Lady, I discovered that this song is eerily appropriate.
The lyrics I I kept waking with were:
"I used to think that the day would never come
I'd see the light in the shade of the morning sun
My morning sun is the mumble mumble mumble
Humm mumble mumble mumble mumble"
....then...
"I feel so extraordinary
Something's got a hold on me
mumble mumble mumble mumble"
I feel so extraordinary
Something's got a hold on me
I get this feeling I'm in motion
A sudden sense of liberty
I don't care 'cause I'm not there
And I don't care if I'm here tomorrow
Again and again I've taken too much
Of the things that cost you too much
I used to think that the day would never come
I'd see delight in the shade of the morning sun
My morning sun is the drug that brings me near
To the childhood I lost, replaced by fear
I used to think that the day would never come
That my life would depend on the morning sun.
When I was a very small boy
Very small boys talked to me
Now that we've grown up together
They're afraid of what they see
That's the price that we all pay
Our valued destiny comes to nothing
can't tell you where we're going
I guess there was just no way of knowing
I used to think that the day would never come
I'd see delight in the shade of the morning sun
My morning sun is the drug that brings me near
To the childhood I lost, replaced by fear
I used to think that the day would never come
That my life would depend on the morning sun.
I feel so extraordinary
Something's got a hold on me
I get this feeling I'm in motion
A sudden sense of liberty
The chances are we've gone too far
You took my time and you took my money
Now I fear you've left me standing
In a world that's so demanding
I used to think that the day would never come
I'd see delight in the shade of the morning sun
My morning sun is the drug that brings me near
To the childhood I lost, replaced by fear
I used to think that the day would never come
That my life would depend on the morning sun.