Spread Thin

Yesterday I cared for the World's crankiest 3 month old. Seemed like anything I'd do would only work for about 5 minutes. She wasn't crying necessarily -- more like making lots of annoyed-sounding coos at her play gym, etc.

And just when I thought that maybe she was just sick of me, Stephen came home from work and she continued for the rest of the night.

It wasn't all bad. We did enjoy some good times in her crib. I take her there to play sometimes to get her used to the idea of sleeping there.


Yeah. We're finally starting the (very slow) transition to the nursery. We're going about it in phases . . .

• Stop swaddling. I don't know the magic age when most parents stop, but in general I've noticed my friends have tried to phase it out by around 3 to 4 months. Mostly when their little ones are rolling over. (More on that below.) Last night was the first night we tried sleeping without being wrapped tightly -- and it worked! She woke up an hour earlier than normal for her nighttime feed, which is actually around 5AM -- so she woke up at 4 -- but we both were shocked that she slept from 10 until 4 with her hands free!
• Sleep on back. We're still having Ada sleep elevated in a reclined chair inside her Pack 'N Play due to her reflux issues. We're going to continue for at least another week. But her reflux is getting slightly better and she's not choking nearly as often as she used to. So, as soon as we feel the swaddling switch is OK, we're going to put her to sleep on her back in the Pack 'N Play.
• Nap in crib. I had been putting Ada down for naps in her crib when she was 2 months old. But I had also been putting her chair in her crib. I've tried having her nap on her back and she hates it. However, I don't feel comfortable leaving her unattended in her chair anymore since she is more mobile. So, once she's sleeping well on her back at night, I'd like to have her nap in her nursery during the day. Who knows how long that will take!
• Switch-a-roo! I'm not sure if we'll end up doing this one, but I thought maybe the next step would be to have her sleep for the first part of the night in her Pack 'N Play and when she gets up to eat, return her to bed in her crib. Might be silly, we'll see.

Of course, the next step would be full-time sleeping in the crib. My goal is to be there by 6 months. I don't feel any sort of pressure to meet this goal, but I think it'd be good for all of us to have a bit more space at night. I also feel like if I don't make the transition by then, it'll get harder and harder.


I might be making too much of the entire process. In fact, I know I am. And I know some of it is just for my own piece of mind. Being a mom to a baby with bad reflux is, at times, terrifying. I turn into a different person at night because I'm so worried I'll miss something and Ada will be in distress if I'm not RIGHT THERE. It's happened before (like last week when she was playing and then we looked down and she was convulsing because she couldn't breathe -- AHH!), but is happening less and less as the weeks go on.

In other news: Ada rolled over this weekend! She did it twice in a row and hasn't done it since. But it was pretty cool. Means I'll need to stop holding tummy-time atop our living room ottoman.


Anyway: Spread thin. I'm trying really hard to get the new site up and running by next week. So, I don't know how many more updates I'll be posting on (never home)maker, baby! this week. Good things to come, though!

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The 4th Trimester

Now that we're almost done with our new site (hopefully making it live in the next two weeks), we thought we'd organize our first months of parenting posts in one place. There's information here on the postpartum period, Ada's development, breastfeeding, and all other things that have happened in our early days with a newborn. It's been quite a ride!

You can also read all about my pregnancy in this same format -- check out 9 Months: 1 Post.

Ada Mae was born on November 16th 2011

Welcome to the World, Ada Mae!
Early Labor Through Transition
Ada's Birth Story, Part II: Pushing


ADA'S WEEKLY UPDATES

1 Week
2 Weeks
3 Weeks
1 Month
5 Weeks
6 Weeks
8 Weeks
2 Months
11 Weeks
3 Months


ASHLEY'S UPDATES

2 Weeks Postpartum
3 Weeks Postpartum
4 Weeks Postpartum
8 Weeks Postpartum
11 Weeks Postpartum
12 Weeks Postpartum


BREASTFEEDING

Breastfeeding: The Early Weeks
Breastfeeding SUCKS (Energy)
Breastfeeding Sucks, Part II


LIFE WITH A NEWBORN, ETC.

The Sleep Situation
Falling In Love with Ada
Baby Must-Haves (0-3 Month Edition)
Cloth Diapers: How It's Going
Good Morning, Ada Mae (Video)
Our Nature "Hike" (Video)
Happy Valentine's Day, Ada Mae!
Valentine's Day Flop

Thanks to everyone who has joined us on our journey to parenthood. All of your thoughts, advice, and support have meant the world to us! We look forward to sharing more as our family grows.

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Breastfeeding Sucks: Part II

As always, thank you for all your comments in response to my Breastfeeding Sucks post. I suppose I should specify that I seem to have what I would consider "normal" energy, but then I get ready to do something, like jog, and Ada needs to eat. I feed her for 25 minutes or so.

After that, my energy levels plummet to almost zero. That's why I think it's the breastfeeding -- that the two are directly linked. It very well could be the hormone my body releases during breastfeeding. Or it could be my diet and sleep habits.

Thanks to your suggestions, I plan to:

• Wake up earlier. Like when Ada eats around 5:30 in the morning. I'll do something low-key, like surf the net or take a short walk through our neighborhood, to get my mind and body going for the day.
• Switch vitamins. The multivitamin I was taking doesn't have iron in it (the gummy kind). For whatever reason, I had spaced out and thought that it didn't include calcium, but DID include iron. Not the case. I am now back on my prenatal vitamins.
• Pay better attention to my diet. Forget the multi, I need to eat more protein and iron-rich foods versus carbs to keep myself awake. I'm guilty of munching on cereal, oatmeal, and easy-to-grab granola bars/etc. and forgetting the yogurt, eggs, and leafy veggies. The same goes with my consumption of H2O. As silly as it sounds, it's hard to eat well and remember to drink water with a baby around. She's going through a phase where if I'm not with her, she's screaming.
• Stimulate my mind. One reader's comment initially offended me. She suggested I might not be getting enough mental stimulation. But then I realized she was entirely right. Besides taking care of Ada, I blog, do house chores, exercise, and watch TV. These activities are challenging both mentally and physically, but very different from when I was working outside our home. Mostly, I feel when I was on a schedule, I kept my momentum. I'd like to find a way to replicate that (in a small way)at home.
• Keep my exercise expectations realistic. I think I was literally running on adrenaline after Ada was born. I was running five days a week and feeling great. Now? Not so much, nor should I. I ran 4 days a week most of my pregnancy but in the later months? Maybe 3. With my half marathon training plan, I should be running 5 days, but have decided to switch to 4 because I feel my body and mind need more rest time. On other days, I will walk and do other light activities.

More than a few of you pointed out that I could have a thyroid problem, anemia, or other medical issue. I didn't consider that something more could be going on. So, if these tweaks to my habits don't make much of a difference, I will head in and get a full workup.

In other news, I got my to-try glasses from Warby Parker last weekend. Major fail. I don't like any of the styles. I only semi-liked these two:


But not enough to take the plunge. I had specified four pairs to try out, so they included a random pair as well. That one was the worst of all!


(As you can tell, Ada hated them, too. And I'm not kidding, I don't think she recognized me!) I might try some more pairs sometime soon. But for now, it's back to my old glasses. They're not so bad.

Thank you again for all your comments. Now I'm off to the eternal struggle of getting Ada to take a nap in her crib. Ada: 86; Mom: 2. Not doing so well!

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Breastfeeding Sucks

This isn't another post about how frustrating I find breastfeeding to be. In fact, Ada and I have worked most of the kinks out of our system. I suppose the title of this post should be extended to say: Breastfeeding Sucks ENERGY. I've been so incredibly tired lately and it usually links directly to feedings.

We had a great four-day weekend and took lots of walks. However, I also spent a lot of time on the couch watching Gossip Girl. Ada ate every 2 or 3 hours, which is usual. But for whatever reason, she's been taking longer to eat these days.

• Part of it is because she seems to get easily distracted. She'll drink a few sips and then look up at me and smile. It's way too cute for words, but I find myself pleading with her to "get back on task" more and more each day.
• And I imagine the other part might be that she's eating more. The only way I can tell is because when we offer her a bottle, she's upped her intake by about an ounce.

I've noticed with the longer feeding sessions that I am sleeping like a rock at night. And I'm typically an really light sleeper, which is why I think I've had trouble with sleep paralysis. Anyway, waking up -- despite sleeping 9 or 10 hours -- is difficult, too. Then once I'm up, I'm tired basically all day. Peeling myself off the couch the run seems impossible despite my motivation to train.

I can't help but wonder what I'm doing wrong. I understood why I was tired in the beginning. But now? I try my best to eat tons of food throughout the day. I'm getting good sleep. I'm taking a multivitamin. Perhaps with the increased production, my water intake hasn't kept pace? I've also read that women who breastfeed can become anemic.

I guess this post is more of a question than a statement. Has anyone else experienced sheer exhaustion after the newborn period with breastfeeding? Do you have any tips to share that might help me feel less zombie-like again?

I thank you in advance!

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Ada: 3 Months

Now that Ada's out of the fourth trimester, I've decided to stick with monthly updates or ones that come about as interesting things crop up. Everyday is interesting, but I can only write "I can't believe how much she's grown/changed/etc." so many times, right? And yet -- I really, truly can't BELIEVE how much she has grown since birth!

Tiny baby Ada:

Ada today:


I've been having a conversation on Twitter with some other moms about teething signs and symptoms. Ada has been biting her hands, crying in what seems like pain, congested, and drooling like crazy. She's had less intense teething signs for a while, but they kicked up a notch in the last week or so. Stephen's mom told me that he broke his first tooth at 4 months. I had mine at 6 months, so I guess anything is possible.

I'm wondering what teeth mean for breastfeeding. It's surprising to me that I hadn't thought about the two in combination until recently.


We've been playing a lot more these days. Of course we still have tons of fun in the activity gym -- and Ada's showing much more recognition with cause and effect -- but she has a new favorite: Black and white books and cards. I bought a set of sea creature cards from Wee Gallery a few weeks back. Each morning after we get up, I show her the cards . . . and she grins at the octopus and jellyfish. I can't believe the reaction these simple designs elicit from her.

Lots of fun. We're also using the Bumbo chair now that she's basically mastered head control.


I know all babies are different, but I feel like Ada sleeps way more than most 3 month olds. I could be wrong. But she'll start to sleep at night around 7:30 or 8 . . . then we'll change her diaper and feed her around 10 or 10:30, swaddle her, and she'll sleep through until 5 AM, at which point we'll usually have to wake her up (it's when Stephen gets up for work) and feed her. Then she'll go down again until 7:30 or 8.

During the day, she naps a few times, probably equaling 4 hours total.


I'm not complaining, I just thought by now she would be up more and taking fewer naps during the day. I suppose I'll be yearning for all this sleep when she goes through a phase where she's waking up all the time. A few of my friends are reminding me of this almost daily. Duly noted!

Though she still fits into a good portion of her 0-3 month clothing, I've decided to pack away a majority of it because I can tell any day now, she'll be busting out.

Remember this green dress?


It was the first baby item I purchased once we found out we were having a girl. I call it the "gateway dress" because it opened up this whole new world of girly items to me. If you remember, I had been utterly convinced we were having a boy until I was 18 weeks pregnant.

Other milestones we've hit up to this point include tons of smiles. Head control and bearing weight on her legs. She squeals, gurgles, and coos quite a bit. Blows tons of bubbles with all that teething drool. Bats and holds toys.

And despite like zero minutes of tummy time, she can do a mini pushup:


I know it's early for the jumper, but with how much she likes to stand on her legs, we thought we'd try it.

She liked it a lot.


But I think we'll wait a while before trying it again -- she's so small.


Yup. She's got a lot of skills in her repertoire. But we don't like to brag. It's funny, we were picking out a book for Ada today at Barnes and Noble. And I forget why, but the cashier was like: "Oh, I hope you won't be like those parents who say things like, 'Our little Timmy is reading at a FOURTH GRADE level!'" We all laughed.

I mean we'll never be those parents. The level of pretension makes me gag just thinking about it. But I also never thought I'd be that mom who posts only photos of my baby all over Facebook. I guess you never really know.

I'm making lots of progress on the new site. SO, that's exciting. Oh! And I just had to share this. It's too true. As much as I'd like to laugh at each of these scenes, I'm certainly guilty of a few of them!



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Valentine's Day Flop

Valentine's day this year was far from romantic. I woke up. Changed a poopy diaper. And then another only 30 minutes after. Proceeded with my normal morning routine of feeding, then pumping, then feeding again. Then went off to the YMCA to train for my aqua instructor gig. My dad watched Ada, which was incredibly nice. (I mean how many grandpas feel comfortable watching a baby alone? Thanks again, dad!)

When I got home, he broke the news to me that Stephen had called. Yeah. This year for Valentine's day, we had to buy a new engine for our Subaru Forester. I knew it'd be expensive, but let's just say I joked with my friend Lindsey about how I could buy 800 bottles of Andre (my favorite cheap champagne) with how much it'll cost. I spent the rest of the afternoon totally bummed about the massive financial strain when we're already really tight. Ada cried on and off for most of the afternoon. She is showing some teething symptoms, which seems really early, but Stephen's mom seems to think that he got his teeth early, too.

Stephen got home from work a bit later than usual. He was also in a bad mood. It was cloudy . . . it's always cloudy. I decided to skip my run. We ate leftover Curried Celery Soup for dinner. I made Muddy Buddies for dessert. Then I decided I absolutely needed to get out and train -- so I went for my run, but ended up having major digestive issues (I have had stomach trouble while running since I had Ada -- weird), so it wasn't exactly pleasant. We went to bed early. V-day was over.

Sigh. I think we're going to have to have a re-do sometime this weekend. Stephen has four days off, which is fantastic. Anyone have some really cheap or zero dollars date ideas? I have a few, but haven't decided on anything yet.

Sorry to be a downer! It wasn't all bad. Here are some cute photos I took of our little Valentine:

And here's Ada with her Valentine, Bumble. I made a cute video of them, too. She's seriously in love and will be totally embarrassed when she's older.


So, please make me jealous. What did you do for V-day this year?

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Happy Valentine's Day, Baby A!

Early in the morning on Valentine's Day last year, I took a pregnancy test two weeks after our first time of "trying" to conceive. Cheesy, I know. I didn't exactly plan it that way -- it was simply the earliest day I could test with a reliable result. Regardless, I just knew I was pregnant. I had all kinds of whacky signs and symptoms like chills, exhaustion, weird pains, etc. So, I took the test . . . anxiously waited for a few minutes and thought about what a fantastic gift this would be for Stephen.

We were going to have a baby!

The minutes ticked by slowly.
I saw a line.
Maybe a second?
Possibly . . . ?
Nope.
It was most definitely NEGATIVE.

I mean of course it was negative. It was our f.i.r.s.t t.i.m.e trying. But I had worked myself up so much with imaginary symptoms. And those two weeks waiting to know for sure were maddening.

So, instead of a baby, I gave Stephen Chinese takeout and some sort of chocolate dessert. The next month? Well . . . I guess this was a good birthday gift.

It's strange to think about if we had conceived that first time. What THAT baby would be like. If it would have been a boy or a girl. If it would have had Stephen's eyes and mouth . . . and my nose and chin. If it would kick and scream or smile and laugh in the same way.

I'm not a terribly spiritual person, but I definitely feel like Ada was somehow meant to be ours. I can't imagine loving any other drooling, pooping, constantly spitting up(ing?) baby quite as much.


Though it has been a journey (if you don't know what I mean, read about Falling in Love with Ada), this love has been more intense than any other bond I have felt.

Ada Mae: You might be the gassiest baby in the world, waking us each and every morning with your symphony of toots (farts, according to Stephen is too crass to use in relation to a baby), but it's music to our ears. We truly do love you and always will.

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12 Weeks Postpartum

I know I complained quite a bit about not losing baby weight in my 11 weeks postpartum post. I have experienced quite a bit of thinning this week, though. Unfortunately, it's the thinning of my hair. I didn't notice a tremendous thickening during pregnancy. And I have relatively limp locks to begin with. But last night when I got time to shower, I conditioned and combed through my hair with my fingers . . . and then I pulled out what seemed like an entire handful in all.

I read it might happen. Still, I was absolutely horrified. Does anyone know how long the hair loss typically lasts? I'm starting to consider a shorter haircut.

I'm going on 12 weeks without wearing my contacts. My left eye -- especially -- immediately turns red and hurts when they are in. So, I've still be wearing my not-so flattering glasses basically since I gave birth. I ordered 4 pairs to try on from Warby Parker yesterday. (I'll probably need some help figuring out which ones are the best match -- they were all a little too hipster, even for me.)

Hm. I just found this photo a couple days ago. It was taken almost right after giving birth. It definitely helped me see that -- despite not losing weight -- my stomach is getting smaller. I can't believe what a dramatic transformation my body has gone through in the past year. It blows my mind.


Still, now that it's been nearly three months since I was pregnant -- it's hard for me to remember what it felt like. It's also hard to remember how much the labor process hurt. I get a lot of emails from pregnant women asking if I'd go without drugs again. The answer is definitely yes. For my situation, it worked out well. But I know that might not always be the case.

Pain or no pain, I can totally see why people go on and have more children. We're not leaning in that direction anytime soon, but labor didn't scare me from wanting another baby. I'd just like to wait at least two years before thinking about trying again. Between being pregnant and breastfeeding, I'd like at least some time when my body is just my own.


Emotionally, I feel a bit overwhelmed at how fast everything is going. Ada has changed so much since she was born. She was a creature then. And she didn't smile or interact for a long while after that.


Now, she's got such a personality. She seems so much OLDER and it's only been 12 weeks. If the rest of her babyhood goes like this, it'll be over before I know it. That's what everyone tells me, too. I'm not ready for all the milestones to come and go so quickly.

I worry sometimes, too, that I'm not doing what's best for Ada. We have lots of really great days where we play, take walks, learn, and I feel like she's really benefiting from me being home with her for such a long time. I get housework done those days and generally feel like a rock star. Other days, like today, she cries a lot and I sit on the couch all day feeding and napping with her. I feel like I don't know what to do and should be more independent/productive by now since other women already go back to work at this stage.


But then I remind myself that I'm doing the best that I can with the knowledge and love that I have. You have all taught me that the ups and downs are totally normal and expected. So, thank you for that.

Ada's update will be coming soon. As I wrote on the main blog this morning, the lack of posts has been due to getting the new site up and running. I can't wait to have a more exciting spot to blog about my family!

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Ada: 11 Weeks

If you keep up with the main site, you know that (never home)maker, baby! will be moving in March. You can read more about it in yesterday's post (bonus: a tasty Curried Celery Soup with Mint recipe). I'm really excited about the new site, and I hope you will all join us when we switch over. (never home)maker, baby! will remain up as a chronicle of my pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Now for a brief update of week 11 in Ada's life . . . now that she's almost 12 weeks.

Everyone has told us that as we near the three month mark, Ada's mood will change. And I'm happy to report that her cranky days and evenings are to a minimum. She is most definitely happiest in the mornings. I know babies have good periods and not-so-good ones, but I'm enjoying this upward trend -- with lots of smiles, coos, and dancing feet. I'll take it!

Though we posted this cute photo of Ada in her crib for the nursery tour, she is still sleeping in our room and probably will for at least another couple months.


Why exactly? Well, the reflux thing, while more under control, is still an issue. I've become more relaxed about it -- not freaking out as much when she chokes, etc. -- but I still don't feel comfortable having her sleep in another room until she's a bit better. I keep reading that SIDS rates are higher in infants who have reflux problems.

And there's another thing. Admittedly, I tried moving her Pack 'n Play across the room so it wasn't RIGHT next to me, and I failed miserably. Ten minutes into sleeping, I just had to have it back in place. I need to learn to let go and be more comfortable because I also realize a lot of why we haven't moved her to her dedicated room has to do with me. So, I'm hoping to at least start the process soon. For now, the crib is her go-to place for naps. At the same time, I don't see any reason to force anything.


I mentioned in my postpartum update that I stopped trying to force a schedule. Well, that's worked out wonderfully for us. Ada has her own eat, play, nap or more often eat, nap, play routine worked out in about 3-hour increments. How did I do it? I did nothing. Fingers crossed the "schedule" continues.

Otherwise, Ada and I went for our first jog together since she was in my belly. I struggled pushing the darned thing and she rather enjoyed our time outdoors. I won't get into how we used the BOB too much, as the recommended age for jogging with the stroller is 8 months. But she was strapped in and snugged and secured between towels.


I kept a close eye on her throughout the jog. She fell asleep almost immediately.


I say it all the time: I feel blessed with this warm winter. I think Ada loves being outdoors. If she is crying, I strap her in the Moby and take a stroll around the block. 4 times out of 5, she's sleeping by the time we return home. The other time, she's usually soaking in the sights and sounds of the neighborhood.

I also strapped her in the Moby this week for her first visit to our favorite cafe. (Thanks to our old neighbor Shelby for these photos -- he was up visiting from TX!)


And we have to get a photo with dad in for this week.


Ada is still loving her play-gym and exercise ball rocking chair. Some of you have asked what type of play-gym we have -- after we wrote about it in the Baby Must-Haves, Etc. (0-3 months) post. It's this one from Infantino. It folds up quickly and easily. And it's only $40!

And that's about it!

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11 Weeks Postpartum

Right about now I'm feeling incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to take seven months off from work. Otherwise, I'd be returning next week. I can't imagine going back right now and have TONS of respect for the women who do. My life is still so unpredictable. I feel like I don't have much of anything together or in a routine.

Part of it might be staying home for the first time since -- well -- ever. I can't remember when I've been home for any extended period. I've always either been in school or working full-time. But any daydreams about maternity leave being a vacation are slashed for sure. Being home with a baby is hard work. Only other moms can truly understand that statement.

Though I started out wanting to force more structure, I can't bring myself to doing it. I don't like to idea of forcing Ada to stay awake after feeding to play if what she seems to want to do is sleep. Or anything else the books, friends, and baby websites tell me I "should" be doing by now. The days I try, Ada is cranky. Going with the flow seems to make her much happier. Still, the unpredictability in my own day makes doing laundry and getting other things done, like blogging, almost impossible.

We're closing in on the 3-month mark. I'm already observing a bit more of a pattern that's evolving . . . naturally. So I'm hoping we'll fall into a schedule that works for the two of us without having to struggle to make it happen. If we don't, I am learning to be cool with that, too. In general, I'm learning to go with the flow and be less controlling, which is a great thing that has come out of being a mom.


I didn't know it until recently, but our town is one of the 10 cloudiest places in the United States. Apparently 212 out of the 365 days a year here are "heavily clouded." What this means is that the house is dark most of the time. In the morning. At noon. And, of course, at night. When I was at work, I was too busy to care much. Being home, I get crazy dips in my mood throughout the day and week.

But we've had several balmy days lately. I'm talking temperatures in the 40s and 50s. The ability to go outdoors has helped tremendously. It was sunny most of the day today -- weird in a great way. Usually, as I mentioned in my video the other day, it's snowy and in the negative digits. I'll relish these warm days while they last. I'll take as many Moby wrap walks, stroller strolls, and baby-on-board jogs as I can.

I am excited for spring like whoa. When Ada reaches 6 months old in May, I can start enrolling in some fun baby classes and meet other moms in my area. I'm already counting the days.


I feel like I need to write a disclaimer before this next part. About how I'm happy to have such a beautiful baby, happy I can breastfeed, and happy to be healthy. Obviously I feel that way about everything. OBVIOUSLY! Still, I'm losing weight, but e.x.t.r.e.m.e.l.y slowly and, for lack of better words, it annoys me. Maybe a pound every 2 to 3 weeks falls off. But just when it seems I've lost more, I'm up again.

Some women just hold onto 5 to 10 pounds while they are breastfeeding.
I am providing Ada with essential nutrients for her growth.
It will come off when we wean.
It's too early to evaluate my weight loss.
Etc., etc., etc.
I know and appreciate all these reasons and more.

At this point, the breastfeeding and weight loss link is a total myth. Well, for me it is. Because it really does feel like every other woman I know or read about in forums, etc., has lost her weight -- and sometimes more -- by the 3 month mark. I'm almost there, and I'm 6 or 7 pounds over my pre-pregnancy weight and holding.


As I've written before, I'm not going on any crash diets or anything. It's not and will never be my style. Plus, I'm starving all the time from the breastfeeding, so dieting wouldn't work. Instead, I eat heartily. Good, healthy foods with some desserts mixed in (I can't live a day without gnawing on some form of chocolate or peanut butter -- if that's the problem, I'm unwilling to change). Anyway, it's not the number that matters to me so much. It's the principle!

I can't help but feel cheated. I am running 25 miles a week and racing. I'm eating well and ate well AND ran during my entire pregnancy, too. This is all coming across as a lot of whining, which I guess it is. We're all allowed to do that from time to time. Thanks for reading/listening.


That's enough for this post. Ada's update is coming tomorrow. She has grown a lot these last couple weeks. Especially cognitively. Those days when I couldn't quite figure my feelings toward her are over.

I'm now one of those sappy moms who thinks everything she does is the best. Each of her firsts is like the first time in the WORLD any baby has ever, for example, reached out to touch a toy and bring it to his/her mouth to chew on. My baby is a super-talented and gorgeous genius. What can I say?


Oh, and if you missed it on (never home)maker, I finally got around to posting a photo-tour of Ada's nursery.

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