9 weeks and 1 day to be exact.
I can't believe how time has flown by.
I can't believe that she's only been here for 1527 hours (give or take about 10 minutes).
Charlie, who captivates everyone who sees her with her spectacular blue eyes, and enchants everyone who holds her with her perfect, loving smile.
Charlie, who loves to sleep soundly, especially when snuggled up close in the arms of someone she loves, and has the sweetest baby snore known to man.
Charlie, whose beautiful red hair catches the light of the sun and looks like soft strands of fire.
Charlie, whose perfect little upturned nose grimaces with annoyance when she's put down or when I leave her sight.
Charlie, my dear sweet angel of a daughter...
It may sound crazy to some, but in many ways Charlie is my first real "newborn" love. With Sammie's birth, I was so overwhelmed by fear and by pain that I had a very difficult time establishing a newborn bond. First of all, we weren't allowed to see each other for almost twelve hours after he was born. Then, being premature, Sammie had problems breastfeeding from the get go and had to be syringe fed by his father. When we finally did get him home, over a week after his birth (and against medical orders), I was so overwhelmed by post partum blues that I couldn't shake the feeling of perpetual "sadness". And then, by the time he was two weeks old, colic had set in with a vengeance and lasted the entirety of his "newborn" period, lessening up only after three months.
Charlie has been the opposite experience. Her birth was clockwork, the only glitch being a one-hour delay while we waited for lab results. My healing was spectacular, so much so that I was released a day earlier. Charlie was a rockstar nurser from the minute I placed her at the breast. She slept for hours at a time from the day she was born (though never more than a few hours if she isn't right beside me). She naps on a schedule, seldom cries, nurses like a dream. She smiled a three weeks and coos lovingly almost every time she sees me. She rarely fusses (unless she's in her car seat) and appears to adore every person she comes in contact with.
Where Sammie was 'night', Charlie has been 'day'.
Perhaps their only similarity lies in their beautiful looks. There are moments where she takes my breath away. She is the definition of perfection.
Charlie has already taught me lessons that will last a lifetime:
I didn't know I could ever find a baby to be as beautiful as my son.
I didn't know that my heart would grow to love another human being as much as I loved him.
I didn't know that I could love having a newborn.
And as I prepare to say goodbye to this neonatal period of her life, I am so grateful to her for this gift. Her gentleness made the last nine weeks memorable in a way that I could never have predicted, never have known. My newborn-period with her was, in no uncertain terms, blissful.
And for that, I will be forever grateful.
Charlize, a weekly gallery:
Charlie, the day she was born, all pretty, pink and perfect!
Her one-week birthday, fresh from a nap.
One her second-week birthday, dressed up as The Very Hungry Caterpillar!
Sticking her tongue out and being silly on her third-week birthday.
Snuggled up with her polar bear on her fourth-week birthday!
Giving us little smile at week 5!
Also, sleeping like a little angel...
It's Easter Time on week 6! We are SO excited!
Pretty in pink and ready to welcome spring on Week 7.
Taking a bath in a bucket on week on 7. :)
TUMMY TIME on Week 8!
Well hello there!
Taking a nap on her pillow on Week 9...(yes, yes, I know...she's not supposed to sleep on a pillow...but I was in the room the whole time, and she fell asleep on it.)
Photographic evidence of the worst parenting ever on Week 9: A pillow, an arm through the rung, AND a stuffie!!! ;)
(Again, I was IN the room the whole time, and fixed her sleep position as soon as I took the picture :P)
Charlie, it's been an amazing two months, and I'm so proud to be your Momma! Thanks for making every day better than it would have been without you. <3
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