Celia's Firsts

Ok.

We may be getting a hang on this parenting thing yet!

We are happy to report that in Celia's 6 weeks we have conquered a horrid diaper rash, a painful, oh so rough, eczema break out on Celia's face, seemingly excruciating gas troubles that has given us a new happy baby, and a car seat boycott. We have learned how to eat with one hand, that sleep deprevation causes a weird J, and that Celia is the boss. :) Here she is posing for a photo session in her new finery Tina and Joe sent her.

As you can see we have a Celia first! SMILES!! Every morning we look at her and say, "Good Morning Celia" softly in her ear and what do we get? The best and biggest toothless smile you've ever seen!! Yet, who got Celia to smile for the first time. Steve? Nope! J? Nope! It was none other than Grandma Char. Go Mom! But now, mom and dad are clearly the favorites.

We've found Celia is exquiste in purple. J told her this and she loved the word, "exquisite."

Celia loves our faces. She touches j's nose and mouth all the time and Steve's beard and cheeks. She thinks this is the most fun task of her day: Studying mom and dad.

Another Celia first! THE BEACH! On Labor Day we decided it was time to test out the cherry bathing suit Grandma Char bought Celia. Of course the beautiful Lake Michigan was much too cold for a 6 1/2 week old, but we got some great pics!

More to come! Celia finds that being held is most favorable and so we best tend to our little lady.

Almost 1 month down

Celia at 1 month ~ Our Favorite Things

We love how as you fall asleep, your face goes from a huge smile, to a grimace, to a frown, to one eyebrow raised up, to one half of a smile, to a pucker of your lips... so cute! We call this her mob boss face.




We love how you've already begun following us with your eyes.


We love how in the middle of the night if you are fussing, one of us just puts a hand by you and you reach out for it and calm right down.

We love how you fold your hands while you are nursing.

We love how you are in awe of the Tibetan Compassion book's pictures and even try to turn the pages yourself.

We love how much you love daddy. Some babies are all about mommy, but Daddy just straps you into the Bjorn and goes for a walk with his morning coffee, sending you into dreamland.

We love that if you are really unhappy that dancing to Jack Johnson is your favorite thing. We tried Paul Simon one day, but it just wasn't the same.

Don't get us wrong. This can be a very difficult time as well. J can only say how grateful she is to have had Steve at home for 2 1/2 weeks and then working from home for another 3 days. J can see how doing all of this on your own could be overwhelming and depressing as you try to find out what works best for your baby (books are great, but Celia is Celia -- not a book, we've come to find). It is such a relief to work out problems together. To ask each other what they think we should try next. To be up at night together sharing in the care of such a small and exquisite being. So blessed to have such a partner. J thanks her lucky stars daily.

That's as much of an update as we can muster right now. The other night J developed a fever and body aches that knocked her out. Come to find out, she has mastitis. Oh, the adventure never ends. We're in our 3rd day of fever and aches and Steve is, again, mostly in charge of all care of Celia, Elle, and the home, which continues after helping J heal from the C-section.

We'd also like to send out our eternal gratitude for the emails, calls, blessing, cards, meals, gifts, visits, and good ol' folk-hearted offers during this...ahem!...glorious "adjustment" period. :)

Oh yeah...here is a picture of Celia while nursing. This was SO hilarious! No kidding, her hand was just like this! We absolutely did NOT place it in this way. J cracked up so hard she thought her incision was going to pop out. We call this Celia's first try at profanity.