Smitten

What can I say about the first five weeks of having my daughter with me? I am smitten. I open my eyes every morning wondering how this happened. What a miracle it is to have her. She is my sunshine.

Mary Katherine is a very good girl, almost too good. She would almost sleep through the night (from about 10:00 pm until 4:00 am) if I would let her. But I try to wake her when I can because I know how important it is for her to be nursing at night. When I go back to work, that will be one of the only times she will be able to nurse...so if she is in the routine now, it will be easier on all of us!

I can't believe that she is sleeping such long hours, but I am feeding her on demand so if she is hungry, I nurse her...no questions asked.

During the day it is a totally different situation. She is awake a lot and wants to be held ALL of the time. She nurses every few hours but only for 15 minutes or so at a time. (Jack used to nurse for 45-50 minutes at every feeding...so this is a little disturbing to me.)

However, at her one-month check up, she weighed 11 lbs (97%)and was 22" long (80%) so apparently she is getting enough nutrition somehow. The pediatrician said that she may be a more efficient nurser?

The bigger issue is her wanting to be held always. She would prefer to never be put down and she will not sleep more than 15 minutes or so in a crib or bed unless I am lying beside her. It is exhausting, I can't get anything done because one of us has to be holding her all of the time. (though she will sit in a swing and sleep for 30 minutes or so....and has been enjoying the mobile in the crib without crying for 30 minutes or so at a time lately.)

We are starting to get to know each other and develop a relationship. I know that she knows me. She will stop crying as soon as she hears my voice...and I know that she has smiled at times when I have come to rescue her from a dirty diaper or to feed her. She is so content when we change her diaper. She never cries when we change her. She lifts her legs in the air and seems to enjoy it. She also loves baths just like Jack did. I have never seen a baby cry when given a bath because it calms both of mine down...they both love to be in water!

I enjoy every minute that I have with my little Katie. I am bonding with her. She loves to sleep cuddled next to me and wiggle her toes so that she rubs on me...she needs to be close to people and I can't get enough of it. I love my darling daughter.