Beach Party

For us this week was very much a mixed bag, as we also welcomed Alexandra Ann into the world. She came in rather unexpectedly, weighing in at six pounds, eight ounces, and dealing with some jaundice. As such, she spent her first few days starting off with blood being taken from her heel, and we were advised to start her sunbathing early. It was in so doing that I took this picture, not intending the contrasting darkness but struck by it nonetheless. There is something profoundly hopeful about a newborn, and another passage came to mind: