Finding each other
We weren't having a good day. We woke up to a mess in the basement and Chris spent the very early morning
hours getting things cleaned up and making runs to the Home Depot. After he left for work, Chantel got a phone call
from her mother: "I think I've got a baby for you," she said without much preamble. Through her shock, Chantel got
the details: A friend of her mothers knew someone who had a daughter in Charleston (phew) that was in a bad
situation and was looking for prospective parents to adopt her forthcoming child. It was a girl and it was extremely
healthy. We had both hoped to have a daughter and this was simply too good to be true.
Knowing that Chris wouldn't be in the mood to talk babies after such a rotten start to the day, she sat on the news
until the next day, when she filled him in. Then we both had a shot of Patron. The adventure was underway...
We weren't having a good day. We woke up to a mess in the basement and Chris spent the very early morning
hours getting things cleaned up and making runs to the Home Depot. After he left for work, Chantel got a phone call
from her mother: "I think I've got a baby for you," she said without much preamble. Through her shock, Chantel got
the details: A friend of her mothers knew someone who had a daughter in Charleston (phew) that was in a bad
situation and was looking for prospective parents to adopt her forthcoming child. It was a girl and it was extremely
healthy. We had both hoped to have a daughter and this was simply too good to be true.
Knowing that Chris wouldn't be in the mood to talk babies after such a rotten start to the day, she sat on the news
until the next day, when she filled him in. Then we both had a shot of Patron. The adventure was underway...
Birth
One of the nice things about adoption? No labor pains! We were in the delivery room when Alyssa (finally!) made her
grand debut, though. It was ... well, Chris kept thinking about that shot of Patron. :) Actually, it went exceedingly fast.
We all go to the hospital at 11am. Pitocin started flowing at 12:30. Epidural came at 1pm. Baby showed up a couple
hours later - in just three pushes..
One of the nice things about adoption? No labor pains! We were in the delivery room when Alyssa (finally!) made her
grand debut, though. It was ... well, Chris kept thinking about that shot of Patron. :) Actually, it went exceedingly fast.
We all go to the hospital at 11am. Pitocin started flowing at 12:30. Epidural came at 1pm. Baby showed up a couple
hours later - in just three pushes..
The Name
We wanted to share the news with friends and family at our own pace - and wanted to surprise some folks totally.
(We're like that. The look of happy shock on people's faces is a wonderful thing.) We wanted to keep one thing
strictly between us, though - the name.
When we told Chris' parents, they - like everyone else - asked if we had a name picked. We did by then, but told
them we weren't announcing it. Chris' father thought this was a great idea and said until they knew the name of their
granddaughter, they were going to call her "Rufus," after an old family pet. We found this to be hilarious and
immediately adopted it as the staging name. It was a lot of fun to tell people this was the name we'd chosen and
watch them struggle to be polite. We'd typically let 'em off the hook a few minutes later, but it was nearly as fun as
when we'd tell people we were expecting a baby when Chantel had a glass of wine in her hand. (Talk about strained
looks!)
As for the name Alyssa, it was actually the first name we considered. We liked that it wasn't commonplace and it just
felt right. We considered dozens of other names afterward, but none measured up. Renly is a family name that has
been passed down for generations. Alyssa's father, grandfather and great grandfather have all had it. We wanted to
pass that on to her. (And we apologize, Alyssa, for the weird looks you will get throughout elementary school when
people ask about it. Just trust that you grow into it.)
We wanted to share the news with friends and family at our own pace - and wanted to surprise some folks totally.
(We're like that. The look of happy shock on people's faces is a wonderful thing.) We wanted to keep one thing
strictly between us, though - the name.
When we told Chris' parents, they - like everyone else - asked if we had a name picked. We did by then, but told
them we weren't announcing it. Chris' father thought this was a great idea and said until they knew the name of their
granddaughter, they were going to call her "Rufus," after an old family pet. We found this to be hilarious and
immediately adopted it as the staging name. It was a lot of fun to tell people this was the name we'd chosen and
watch them struggle to be polite. We'd typically let 'em off the hook a few minutes later, but it was nearly as fun as
when we'd tell people we were expecting a baby when Chantel had a glass of wine in her hand. (Talk about strained
looks!)
As for the name Alyssa, it was actually the first name we considered. We liked that it wasn't commonplace and it just
felt right. We considered dozens of other names afterward, but none measured up. Renly is a family name that has
been passed down for generations. Alyssa's father, grandfather and great grandfather have all had it. We wanted to
pass that on to her. (And we apologize, Alyssa, for the weird looks you will get throughout elementary school when
people ask about it. Just trust that you grow into it.)
Our Baby
We're still getting to know Alyssa, but there's one thing she made perfectly clear before her arrival: She's stubborn.
Rather than cooperating and being born in early July as everyone expected her to, she rode the umbilical express for
as long as she could. Mom and dad hope this isn't a sign of things to come, but know that it probably is...
One thing we know for sure is we never imagined we could love anyone this much. She's incredibly alert - and has
kept her eyes open since the moment she arrived (except for a brief nap). She scored a perfect 10 on her APGAR test,
something that surprised every nurse on shift. (Princeton or Emory is next!!!). She has a full, full head of blond hair
(which is kinda in a mohawk) - and while we know she's too young to smile, we swear she has a couple of times!
We've got a couple of minor issues we're watching out for due to blood differences between Alyssa and the birth
mother. (Nothing major. Just the chance of a little jaundice. We'll know more the morning of the 20th.) Oh yeah... this
little sweetie can poop like nothing you've ever seen. Dad's first diaper change came with what he swears was a good
quart of icky stuff.
We can't wait to take her home and introduce her to everyone!
We're still getting to know Alyssa, but there's one thing she made perfectly clear before her arrival: She's stubborn.
Rather than cooperating and being born in early July as everyone expected her to, she rode the umbilical express for
as long as she could. Mom and dad hope this isn't a sign of things to come, but know that it probably is...
One thing we know for sure is we never imagined we could love anyone this much. She's incredibly alert - and has
kept her eyes open since the moment she arrived (except for a brief nap). She scored a perfect 10 on her APGAR test,
something that surprised every nurse on shift. (Princeton or Emory is next!!!). She has a full, full head of blond hair
(which is kinda in a mohawk) - and while we know she's too young to smile, we swear she has a couple of times!
We've got a couple of minor issues we're watching out for due to blood differences between Alyssa and the birth
mother. (Nothing major. Just the chance of a little jaundice. We'll know more the morning of the 20th.) Oh yeah... this
little sweetie can poop like nothing you've ever seen. Dad's first diaper change came with what he swears was a good
quart of icky stuff.
We can't wait to take her home and introduce her to everyone!
Born: July 19, 2007
Alyssa Renly Morris
Alyssa's story:
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