One Month

Violet is one month old as of yesterday. We're still waiting for consistent "real" smiles. I think I've seen a few, but for the most part, she only smiles in her sleep or at my chest when she's breastfeeding. Yesterday, she rolled over from her back to her front twice by herself.

It's hard to believe a month has gone by already. We are all getting to know each other much better. We've learned that Violet likes to eat every two to three hours. She doesn't like having a dirty diaper, which is a tall order because she poops about every five minutes. She is learning that life in our family is a never-ending excursion. In her first month of life, this baby has been out to eat many, many times, to Sea World, the zoo, the fair, the aquarium, to the drive-in twice, on many shopping trips, walks, and on and on. She fits in very well and likes to be on the go as much as we do.

Tonight is the first night Neil and I are going out alone. Violet and Hayden are staying with Neil's Mom while we go to the Radiohead concert. I have been pumping like a madwoman to make sure there is enough breastmilk to get her through the six hours we'll be away. When Neil talked me into buying these tickets when I was still pregnant, I thought he was crazy. I had mentioned it to him only to point out how unlucky it was that they were playing when we wouldn't be able to go. Of course, I wanted to go to the show, but I thought there would be no way I would be up to it with such a young baby, and especially after having a c-section. But, he was right. Life just goes on. The kids will have a great time with Grandma and we will see our favorite band in the world. And by the time we get home, my boobs will be exploding. Hmmm...I think I may be the only woman manually expressing breastmilk in a porta-potty in the middle of the show.

2 Days Old

Violet's newborn picture from the hospital. 36 hours old!

Our Beauty





Violet Josephine was born on May 25th at 3:01 pm. She was seven pounds five ounces and eighteen inches long. I am in awe of her. She is so beautiful. I tried to imagine what she would look like for nine months, and I still imagine what she will end up looking like. But, right now, her black, black hair and blue eyes and super long eyelashes take my breath away. She's only a week old, but her personality is starting to show and we have never been happier in our lives. We feel like such a family. Hayden is incredible. He loves her so much and there hasn't been a single display of jealousy or regression or acting out for attention. Violet is breastfeeding really well and is starting to gain back the weight she lost in the hospital. She was down to about six pounds nine ounces when we were discharged about 48 hours after the surgery, and back up to six pounds eleven ounces at her first check up yesterday.

So, things are good. Things are very, very good. I had forgotten how hard the first few days are after having a c-section, but now that it has been a week, I am getting back to normal. Neil is off for another week, so we are just enjoying our time together...our new and improved little family.