Friday, February 22, 2008

2 weeks!


It's amazing how difficult it is to find time to get online, never mind have the brainpower to compose coherent sentences, when you have a newborn in the house. If you see any typos or things that don't make sense, please gloss right over them. My editor brain is switched off at the moment.
Baby Olivia is 2 weeks old! She likes to think that she's much older and is constantly craning her head around to look at things. Most adorable and heart-melting so far is when she has her eyes open and looks over at us when she hears our voices. She makes the most hilarious faces when she sleeps -- pursed lips, little smile showing her dimple, raised eyebrows, scowl, grin. I could watch her all day, and I still sit and sniff her fuzzy little baby head constantly. What is it that makes babies smell so good? It goes without saying that we love this little girl to pieces and are constantly in awe that we made something so wonderful and miraculous.

If you don't catch the 2-second warning sign that she needs to eat, watch out. She snorts like a pig for a minute before the lip quivers and the air raid sirens -- I mean, cries -- begin. So far, her favorite sleeping position is on our chests, which is precious and so sweet, but makes certain logistics (fixing bottles, eating, using the restroom) difficult because she wakes up seconds after being put down. It's too bad our couch is so uncomfortable, because we're sleeping on it most nights. We take turns. One of us holds baby O and attempts to sleep sitting up while cradling the delicate bundle of joy -- which means you don't really sleep -- while the other person is afforded the luxury of sleeping in an actual reclining position, with a pillow and everything.

A certain person who shall remain nameless but is no one in my family has commented that we're holding the baby too much and spoiling her. Hmm. They've obviously never read up on secure attachment in infants. Besides, how is it humanly possible to spoil a 2-week-old baby? She Who Shall Remain Nameless is coming to visit tomorrow, and I'm going to find it difficult at best to bite my tongue if she dishes out any more of her advice. Can I chalk up any snippy outbursts to postpartum hormones? ;)

I don't think we've ever been more tired. You know you're running on fumes when 2 hours of consecutive sleep feels like 8 hours. Everyone warned us about the sleep deprivation, but it's just not something you can wrap your head around until you've lived it. Sometime earlier in the week I was stretched out on the couch, sort of snoozing, holding the baby. I asked Dan to hand me my glass of water on the coffee table. Moments later I'm jolted awake by the sensation of freezing cold wetness soaking my crotch. Wha? Too cold to be urine, my brain slowly processes. I look down and notice an empty glass of water in my hand. Aha. It had soaked through two blankets, my PJ pants, my underwear, and down through to the couch cushion. At least it makes for a good story now.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

KT, I'm loving reading this journey with you. Little Olivia is absolutely precious! I am so happy for you!

Unknown said...

KT, I just wanted to let you know I tagged you... although I doubt very much you'll have a lot of time to respond. ;) See my blog for the rules.