You know you're a First-Time-Mother-of-a-Newborn when....

1. You like to count the number of wet and poopy diapers each day.

2. A trip to Walmart (by yourself) is suddenly exciting.
3. The word "colic" is just as scary as the word "leprosy."
4. You call the pediatrician four times a week in tears because you think something is wrong.
5. You then quickly realize that experienced moms are FAR smarter than your pediatrician.
6. You have the sudden urge to salute or bow down before any woman with multiple children.
7. You have a new found awe inspiring respect for your mother.
8. You spend the majority of your day taking pictures of every facial expression possible.
9. You don't believe it when people tell you "you'll forget how hard it was." (How do you forget!?!)
10. One smile from your baby can make four hours of sleep a night completely worth it.

PS: We just blessed Susanna and it was a wonderful day. More pictures to come!

Susie's Many Faces

It's amazing how, when you have a baby, some days can be so great, and others so difficult! What constitutes a good day you ask? Well, it starts with her getting up only one or two times in the middle of the night. It continues when she eats like a good girl and takes regular naps. It's always a good day if I get to exercise and get a few things done other than breastfeed. Days that are not so good start off really sleepy because it was a rough night. On difficult days she might refuse to eat, only take erratic and short naps, and cry and cry and cry. I think the hardest part for me is not knowing why she is crying. I'm trying different things but it really is a guessing game. We are trying to get her on a schedule, both for her and our benefit and it's a work in progress.

I have been so extremely grateful for all the experienced moms that have given me advice and answered my endless questions. Sometimes on facebook, over the phone, or a visit, the help is greatly appreciated. Two friends in particular that have saved me: Cassanda and Becca. I'm not sure what I would have done without them! THANK YOU everyone!

Good day or not, Paul and I are so in love with this little girl. We love to watch her facial expressions change with her moods. She's just the cutest thing! I thought it would be fun to share a few of our favorites:

There's her crying face of course. We get to see this one a lot...:

Her sleeping face: (this one is extra special because she actually took her binky)


Then of course, our favorite faces are her smiles. She has started to give us more and more smiles especially when we talk to her and kiss her little cheeks:


This one we like to call the bobble-head-Joe. She has quite a strong neck and she loves to move it around. She's just not quite strong enough to support so much movement so she looks a lot like a bobble head! It's adorable, but hard to capture. A video would be better for this expression:


She is also quite the stretcher. She stretches all the time! This is our favorite stretch- we call it the crane. She arches her back, purses her lips, raises her hands, and stretches her neck backward. So funny:


Then there's the blank stare:


And I don't know what this face is! But it's funny!:

So precious...

Happy Day!

I have a few minutes so I thought I would write about my day. Yesterday was way too long.. I was home alone all day (Paul had school and then work) and Susie was a little on the fussy side all day but today was great! Paul didn't have to work today so we got to spend some time together before night classes and he took over taking care of little girl so I could do some things.
Susanna's night last night when like this: She went down on her own at 10:00pm. I put her to sleep in her bassinet while she was still AWAKE, and she fell asleep on her own. If you have ever had a newborn you might be aware how exciting this event is. I went to bed around 11:00.. I would have gone to sleep sooner but Paul got home at 10 and I hadn't seen him all day... Susie woke up again at 12:45. I fed her and she went back to sleep pretty good. She woke up again at 3, but Paul woke up with her and fed her a bottle so I could keep sleeping (I love it when he does that!). She went back to sleep for him too and woke up again for the day at 7. Not a bad night!
I got to go running this morning while Paul took care of the baby. I was able to run longer today than I had planned, so that was great! I love exercising...
We hung out around the house, took pictures of Susie, etc. It's so fun having someone else around that thinks every sound, gesture, and facial expression she makes is the cutest thing in the world. Paul loves Susie. He doesn't call her that though-- he only calls her Susanna for some reason. I don't know why.
My brother needed a ride to run an errand so I got to get out of the house for that, too. Sometimes it's nice to get out and go for a drive. I love listening to music in the car.
Right now Paul has left for class and Susie is sitting in her bouncer being a good girl. Paul and I have been working hard to get her on this "babywise" schedule. She eats, has wake time, then nap time, every three hours. She did a pretty good job today which ususally means we'll have a good night. Babywise has been the best baby book I've read so far. It gives great and specific advice that has been proven to work. Parents who try to get their infants on this schedule have a 86% chance of getting their baby to sleep 7-8 continous hours at night by week 9 and 96% chance of sleeping through the night at 12 weeks. 96% chance by 12 weeks!?!? SIGN ME UP! I have friends whose one and two year olds aren't sleeping through the night. If I can avoid that... I'd like to. Anyone who is planning to have children.. I definetly recommend reading this book a few weeks before your baby is born. I didn't realize how helpful reading up on this stuff can be. I thought- hey! I can do this! Then we took her home and I thought- hey! I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT I'M DOING! :) The baby literature has helped. Babywise. Buy it.
We've had a fun day spending time together as a family. I'm so grateful I get maternity leave. I have 2 1/2 weeks left until I need to go back to work so I'm enjoying every minute!