Three Weeks Old.

Molly -

Seriously, where is time going?! It's hard to look forward to each milestone while still treasuring each present moment and appreciating where we are right now. It's hard to figure out a balance! Each day you're growing more and becoming more alert, developing into your own little person and it's amazing to watch. I look back at your newborn pictures and already can't believe how much you've grown. I was going to take newborn pictures with Daddy, but I think the time has already passed. I just have to stay on top of taking your weekly pictures. Each day when Daddy comes home and he holds you and you hold your head up longer than the day before, he can't believe how quickly you're growing. He feels bad that he works such long hours and doesn't get to spend as much time with you as he wants to. He feels bad when he goes to play tennis with Uncle Billy, but he snuggles with you as much as possible.

It's amazing how I'm home all day, but I still don't have time to do anything, like call about bills, or a present I got for Daddy. He's really understanding about it though, and don't expect me to do too much during the day. Usually I feel bad that I didn't do anything. Daddy pokes fun at it, but he knows I have a lot to do just watching you. I have to wait until Grammy comes home from work and then hand you off to her and call. She loves holding you, so that's not a problem. You love listening to her, and I think you recognize her voice, it's so precious! I know how much she loves you and considering that you're named after her (middle name) it's only appropriate for you guys to be super close.

Grammy

This week we went to church for the first time and you were pretty good! We started out in your car seat, and hoped that you'd fall asleep, but you didn't. Then Daddy took you out of the car seat and tried to rock you to sleep, but that didn't work either. Finally, I took you and got you to sleep. When we were singing our last songs you totally fell asleep, and so I realized that you like to listen to me singing, so all week we've been listening to church songs and I've been singing to you. Works pretty good. Friday we went out with Grammy to get Pappy's prescriptions and get Old Pop Pop candy for Father's Day. Saturday and Sunday we went to Grandma and Poppa's house, and you were good there, too. Everyone loves holding you, except Uncle Quentin, he won't hold you yet. Give it time, he'll cave. You're so loved, baby girl, and I love seeing everyone fuss over you, it makes me such a proud mama!

Grandma

Since Sunday was Father's Day, I let Daddy pick what he wanted to do. He got to stand up in church and got a lot of "Happy Father's Day's" from everyone at church. I think he was very proud to be a father. Once we came home, he went to play tennis with Uncle Billy, then came home and napped with you for about 2 hours while I got some things done. Then we went over Grandma and Poppa's and he got to cut down trees with Poppa and I got to cuddle with you all afternoon. We went to visit Great Gma, too, and you pooped through your cute dress. Oh well, bound to happen sometime, right? At least you lasted most of the day in it!

Sleeping's been okay. We only slept in the recliner once this week, and that's because you were awake and I was dead tired so that was the best decision for us. Your sleep stretches are getting longer, we've had some 5 hour stretches! Granted, that's 5 hours between feedings, so sleeping maybe 3 1/2 or so, but I'll take it! You're not really a fan of napping during the day now though. I can tell you're really tired, but you won't sleep. I nurse you, make sure you have a clean diaper, but you're just awake. It usually takes until about 2pm or so for you to fall asleep, after feeding you every hour all morning. Oh well, you're still little, I'm not complaining. We're getting to the point where you want to be up longer after eating during the night. It usually takes a full hour from me starting to nurse you to you actually sleeping again, which means I only get 2 hours of sleep between feedings, but that's okay. I'm thankful I'm getting some sleep. We're also trying to put you in your crib for nap time. Well, I am, since I'm home all day, but that's going pretty good, too!

Eating is pretty good, too. We're still trying to work through this oversupply/fast milk issue, but we're getting there. Sometimes you get really frustrated and it breaks my heart to see you upset, I feel like I'm torturing you, but then other times you latch right on and you're a champ! I told Daddy I feel like every time we conquer the "big boob" you should get $1 in your savings account, haha! We're working through it. I have more patience with you though, I haven't cried at all this week regarding breastfeeding!

"Aunt" Krissy and cousins Isaiah and Colton came to visit on Monday. It was a totally sporadic visit. She asked if it was my first day home with you and I told her kind of since Grammy worked 2 Thursdays ago, and I was home for 4 hours, but she decided to come up! I was pretty excited since we had a rough night and I love seeing them. The boys were really good with you, although I don't think Colton was too happy that his mommy was holding you. He was touching your feet though, it was really sweet! Krissy got some pictures of that. It was so strange to be sitting here with you sleeping in my arms, and Krissy holding a sleeping Colton - for the 6 years that's between Krissy and I, it's nice that we're finally in the same stage of life, she's always been one life stage ahead of me. It was my first real realization that we're really adults and how far we've come. I think Grammy got a taste of what it'll be like in a year when you're walking and getting into everything - Colton was into everything. Oh well, we'll cross that bridge when we get there, I'll enjoy each day with you and all the baby snuggles I get.

You already rolled over, from your tummy to your back, TWICE! But I don't think you meant to do it on purpose, you were confused when you did it. You were frustrated and wanted to be picked up and were flailing all around and just flipped yourself over. I haven't been able to get you to do it since, but I'm glad I got to see it!

Daddy is still awesome, and I know he always will be. He loves you so much and wants to spoil you with hugs and kisses. Between me, Daddy, and Grammy I think you get about 8 millions kisses each day. Daddy loves snuggling with you when he comes home from work, he gets bummed when I have to feed you because he just wants to hold you all night. Our "schedule" of Daddy staying up with you until about 11pm, or being "on call" didn't really work out too well this week, you were hungry, so he got to sleep and I was on duty. That's okay though, I know that I need to appreciate each second with you, even if it means I don't get very much sleep.

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Did you/would you take newborn pictures?

I have an update on me, along with some pictures, scheduled for next week!