Can't sleep

It's so darned frustrating when my baby sleeps 5-7 hours in a row and I consistently wake up at least an hour before her... and then can't get back to sleep till after I feed her! I hope and pray I can start sleeping at the exact times when she sleeps. It seems like in the beginning I slept more readily, maybe because I was so sleep deprived. Now it turns into a mind game every time I lie down at night (or morning) as to how quickly I'll fall asleep, and how soon she'll need me. I CRAVE solid sleep like air or food.

Trip to Nashville

Charlotte had so much fun visiting her extended family and friends in Nashville. She especially wooed her great-grandmother, and enjoyed singing old folk songs with her grandpa!

Playin'

Playing with Charlotte has gotten more and more fun. She is beginning to grasp things, if you put them near her hand, and she pays great attention to her toys, images, and especially people's faces. Yesterday she started laughing as I was changing her clothes! At first I thought it was just a complaint, but she kept doing it, like she was laughing at me! So rewarding.

One of her favorite things to look at is a baby in this book we have about babies moving. She just stares at her, and starts working her arms and legs and mouth like she's working up the courage to talk to her! And although she often cries and fusses through it, bedtime reading is becoming a routine around here, especially Goodnight Moon.

Another fun thing for me, and possibly Charlotte, is performing for her. I love to sing and dance and clap for her, and she sure pays attention to that!

Charlotte has arrived-- a while ago

So I slacked off a little at the end of the pregnancy. I see that my last post was in November, and my daughter was born on January 10, 2008, at 1:30 a.m. Perfect in every way, 7 lbs 2 oz, 19 in. long. Her name is Charlotte Lucy. Here's a photo.

So the sleeplessness of pregnancy was nothing compared to motherhood/parenthood (Armistead is up nearly as much as me, since the little one likes to stay awake after she eats at night). But overall things are going far better day and night at 7 weeks than they were at first.

She is such a little darling. Beginning to coo, smiling like a pro, and making tons of eye contact. She even pushes up on her elbows a bit when lying on her tummy. I am really enjoying these short times of "play," and can't wait till we can go for walks this spring.