Tuesday, December 23, 2008

how we're progressing

Vital stats:
  • Abby's 9lbs 3oz at last weighing, in the 75th percentile for weight.
  • She's grasping our fingers when we touch her palm.
  • She smiles, probably not intentionally, but we'll take it.
  • She's finally allowed to sleep through the night, which she does admirably. I say finally because, though she slept a lot at the beginning, she needed more feedings to gain weight and thus we had to wake her up every three hours. Now we get up when she cries, which is about every 4-5 hours. Yay!
  • Nursing has gotten exponentially better--the first couple weeks were awful--but is still problematic.
  • She continues to be the cutest baby ever. Seriously. Have you seen the photo?
  • We're totally in love.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

hard work

It is surprising to me how much hard work goes into taking care of a baby. Loving Husband says it's like being entrusted with a poop machine that we have to keep in good running order for a set period of time--everything goes back to that one function. I just had absolutely no idea how hard this parenthood thing would be. It's one of those moments where only the experience of doing it prepares you. Beforehand, you have this theoretical knowledge that it will be difficult--afterwards, you know. Kind of like adolescence--before, you've no idea what the changes will really be like nor what growing up is about, and after, it's all there (though admittedly jumbled).

The sleep deprivation, the emotional exhaustion, the mess in the house--who knew? Anyone who's had a kid, I suppose.

The smell of her hair, the joy in seeing a smile (even if it's from gas), the warmth of her little body sleeping on yours--who knew? Anyone who's had a kid.