Best nap day ever!

It really is the small stuff that can make a wonderful day! Lucy had the best nap day ever today! We went down easily, without a fuss and slept for her entire nap time. I actually had to wake her to eat! I am hoping for a good nights sleep but I'm not getting my hopes too high. I have enjoyed the last two days with her so much. She is changing everyday and really growing into a little person. Yesterday she giggled for the first time, it made my heart skip a beat I swear. Today she was all smiles and sleep, what a wonderful combination. When Joe got home from work today I met him down stairs and he asked where she was, I told him she was upstairs in her bassinet just chilling (I was cleaning the bathroom). I went to go get something and he wasn't there when I got back...I figured he went the bathroom or was checking something on the computer. I went back upstairs and there he was playing with Lucy in her bassinet. He had missed her while he was at work. I was so happy to see them together...Joe told me yesterday that he is feeling the bond between him and Lucy grow a lot lately. It isn't as instant for some dads, of course they love the child but for awhile it is just a little sleeping, pooping lump that really just needs its momma. He is really growing as a dad and I love watching it. Lucy adores him, he walks into the room and she grins, he talks and she tracks where he is, he talks to her and she is elated by him. It is so wonderful to see their bonding time together.

Joe and I went out to dinner last night and to Target. It was great to go out as hubby and wife as opposed to mom and dad of Lucy. My parents were watching her and of course that is very comforting. We have such a great family support which makes it easy to get a little more hubby-wife time. We are very lucky in that way and in a lot of ways I am finding out. We shopped for the next size up in clothes for Lucy which was fun because I haven't shopped for clothes for her yet. I was so impressed that four outfits came to 21.00...too bad she won't always be that cheap! Dinner was fun and relaxing. Amazingly we were only gone for two and a half hours but I missed Lucy and was glad to be back home with her. I just love that little one. I can't wait to see the little person she becomes but for right now I am just cherishing each day I have with her and hoping she doesn't grow up too quickly.

Flickr

So I created a Flickr account so that everyone can see new Lucy photos without a lot of work. So if you want to see some new photos of Lucy go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/mjcantwell/ and you will get the latest. There is a way to link that to our blog page but I'm not sure how yet, so as soon as I figure it out there will be a link that will make it easier. Enjoy!

Time

Well, I have been waiting to blog about this whole parenting, Lucy, new life experience for a while now hoping that I would have time...however, that just doesn't seem to be the case. So here I am at 2:53 am with Lucy eating and me typing because well...that seems to be the only time I have right now that is uninterrupted. So here I go and hopefully I will get this written before she is done eating or God only knows when I will be able to finish.

For the most part this whole experience so far has been....nothing like what I expected! This is both good and bad, I have really enjoyed most of it and then there are times when I am scared to death and frustrated to no end. I don't know why no one speaks of all the trials you go through in the early on phase of this parenting thing. For example, Joe and I were home all weekend with Lucy and it was a 3 day weekend so Joe was home more than usual. Lucy has had a particularly difficult time this weekend when in comes to taking naps. Now I am used to this...I do this every day. Joe however is not and is perplexed as to why Lucy doesn't just take a nap as opposed to waking up and screaming only to be comforted by us and put back into her crib to try again. This process goes over and over until she either falls asleep or keeps it up until her next meal. It is tiring when she doesn't get a full nap in but it is sooooo great when she does...at this point it is about a 1/8 success rate. He is such a wonderful dad, he just hates to see her so upset when she has a yucky tummy or is having a difficult time falling asleep. I have decided with naps this week that it is just going to take a lot of consistency and some extra patience. I have been venturing out of the house a lot lately and haven't really created a consistent routine for her when it comes to naps, so that is my focus this week. The other major thing this week is finding a nanny who will be with Lucy this year while Joe and I are at work. We have done a couple of interviews and one grandma-like lady who is retired would be wonderful. We will hopefully see if she can do the job for what we can afford to pay her. Well, I think that is all I have time for right now. Must get her fed and me some sleep!

Little Lucy...

My goodness, I wanted pregnancy to fly by and now that Little Lucy is here I can't slow time down! I really want to make time just stand still right now. She is growing so quickly and I cherish every moment with her. It is truly amazing how my life has changed in such a wonderful and holistic way. She has brought so much to my family and I am so thankful for her. I feel very fortunate and blessed to have such a wonderful gift. Now on another note I have also had quite a few experiences that I was not anticipating. Like an early morning diaper change that included projectile pooping all over me! I have changed a lot of diapers in my day and had never been pooped on!! The exhaustion is another thing I was not ready for. She is getting to be a good sleeper now but waking up every hour or so is really too much for my body...and yet I enjoyed seeing her adorable face looking in my direction every time I woke up. Joe thinks I am either crazy or super mom because I keep on going even when I am really tired. I don't seem to notice...it is what I am supposed to be doing right now and I wouldn't change any second of it!

Mostly Lucy is a pretty good baby, she gets a little fussy in the evening but nothing a little tag team from both me and Joe can't handle. She loves her bath time and snuggle time. I am sooooo glad she likes to snuggle. Basically right now I am just taking this precious time to enjoy her and love her. I am so fortunate to have the amount of time off that I do. It is amazing to think of the bond I am creating with her right now and for the next three and a half months. I feel very blessed. She has started smiling at people in the last few days and that is enough to steal your heart. I am very excited to see what the next day will bring but at the same time wishing time slowed down so she didn't grow up so quickly. I will try to post more frequently now that she is on a little bit of a schedule and naps are no longer in my arms (at least not all of them...:).