Jesus loves me this I know, for my baby slept during the entire composition of this entry

Holy crap, has it really been seven days since I posted here? I'd like to apologize for the lack of updates, but I always hate it when bloggers do that, like, do you think I've got nothing better to do than refresh your site? But then again, before Kara, I really didn't have anything better to do than refresh your site, and what the hell was going on in your life that you couldn't take five seconds out of your precious day to let me know you're still alive? You can appreciate the dilemma, no?

Anyway, things are going much better. In my last entry, I talked about how Kara had suddenly altered her schedule to accommodate less sleeping and more crying, to the point that her mother was crying because oh my God, if you aren't hungry and aren't wet and don't like your bouncy seat or transportable swing or the rocking chair or just bouncing around with Momma throughout the apartment, that's it, kid. There's nothing more I can do.

Now, though? I can take her restlessness in stride without taking it personally, and I've even figured out a few more things we can do together, like looking at blocks dressed in primary colors and reading picture books and paying more attention to tummy time. Don't get me wrong, half the time she fusses through those things, too, but there are moments in which I can see her actually paying attention, reaching for one of her blocks or following the duckie rattle with her eyes. She turned four weeks old yesterday, and I already feel like she's a completely different person from the one Luke and I brought home from the hospital. She's so much more expressive now, experimenting with various smirks and (gassy) smiles and working her hands together while she takes everything in. She also sleeps more predictably through the night, albeit in patches, but it's still enough that between ten and six I can hoard about five hours of sleep, which is more than enough for me to get through the day. This may sound silly, but I almost feel like the newborn stage is over, that she's already taking the appropriate steps to become her own little person and shift into some sort of routine. Time really is flying by.

Things on the pumping front are...almost nonexistent. My quality time with the Ameda is down to just once or twice a day, and I'm only producing embarrassingly tiny amounts of milk each time. I have a feeling that by the end of the week, Thelma and Louise will be all dried up and we'll be solely dependent on the makers of Similac and other formulas for Kara's nutrition. Oh, well. I'm proud that she received the benefits of breastmilk for four whole weeks and that I gave the whole boob thing my very best shot. Maybe my best wasn't as good as some of yours, but we all do what we can.

This past weekend was crazy for us, as we celebrated Kara's baptism at the Episcopal church we've been attending intermittently for the last year and my family was finally able to make it to Indianapolis and love on the baby. There was much chaos as Luke and I frantically tried to clean our apartment and get our daughter ready for her longest trip away from home. Sundy morning, we left the complex armed with individually packaged amounts of formula, two bottles of water, six diapers, two back-up outfits, a pacifier, and prayers to God that Kara would make it through the ceremony and luncheon without waking up the dead. And she did! She was a perfect angel, sleeping through almost the whole service and all of the pizza party we had afterwards. Auntie Samantha and Uncle Dan, her godparents, bought her a beautiful christening dress, and as Luke and I changed her into it minutes before Mass, I couldn't help but tear up because she looked so lovely and grown up and I was so proud of her for not pooping in her pretty new clothes. Also, she's not even a full month yet and already I'm losing my baby and thank you, God for blessing us with such a wonderful gift waaaaaah hiccup sob.

But enough from me. It's picture time! Hopefully they'll hold you all over until I'm able to post here again. (At least you've got my Parents blog to tide you over, though, right? In case you haven't been keeping up, I posted my birth story there. All four parts of it. You're quite welcome.)

(Also, thank you for the birthday wishes. My January 9th introduction to the ripe old age of 28 was marked with presents from Luke, wailing from the baby, and an episode of Deal or No Deal. I swear, NBC must've aired it just for me.)

I know I'm her mother, but honestly, this child is the most photogenic baby on the planet. For real.

Kara with three of the four members of the Lost A Sock family. No, Molly, you may not take her home.

Grandma and Grandpa Ma'Ayteh checking out their first grandbaby.

Auntie Samantha, Uncle Dan with Kara in tow, Momma, and Daddy. Now would be a good time to tell you that my sister is pregnant with her own bundle of joy, who's due in August. How awesome is that?! Everyone's got the baby fevah!

Kara getting smooshed by her fabulous aunties.

"I don't care what the law says, love is not limited by gender!" (Or: Kara with Uncle Geo and Uncle Dan.)

Look! Kara and Grandma Dunscombe match! Also, if I were just two inches taller, I totally could've captured the smile she flashed at Daddy D.

The guest of honor with her grandmas and grandpas. How lucky she is that all four are around to spoil her.

Kara giving that creepy girl from The Grudge a run for her money. Atta girl, sweetheart.

Comments

[Kayte]

What a beautiful baby and what a beautiful family and OHMYGOSH another one on the way!! You all are so wonderful. You are such a wonderful mother! :) (Also, Since you have my email can you please send me Sam's address at home? She sent it to me awhile back, but I can't seem to find it.)Congrats again!!! God Bless!

[Erika]

I'm so glad she did well!!! And I am so, so glad you do tummy time. I'm not sure if you read my blog "way back when" but E hated it so I never made him do it, and he ended up with a flat spot, helmet, woe and strife, etc. I remember telling the pediatrician's nurse "but he hates it!" and she said "well he's not going to like going to school or brushing his teeth, either, but he has to do that, right?"

[Rachel C]

I love that last picture! So cute! I'm glad things are starting to get easier for you :)And congrats to your sister! How fun that the cousins will be close in age.

[cpa mom]

Thanks for the update - I don't know how you do it! The pictures are lovely!! How wonderful you have all four parents to spoil and cherish your daughter. How Jealous I am that Molly gets to visit...

[Marriage-101]

Hooray for cute pics! Also, that is SO COOL that she'll have a cousin around her age to play with.

[Virginia Gal]

Ohh, so cute. And it sounds like a great family time for everyone. Yay for babies!

[Christina]

The pictures are precious! As is that baby of yours but that is old news.
Id like to add a HUGE BS to that comment about some one elses best being better than yours on the nursing front. You DID everything right and you still are, this is no fault of your own, you shouldnt downplay your effort. Four weeks is excellent, those four weeks will keep her very healthy. Pat yourself on the back, damnit you are to be proud.
Sorry kara is growing up so darn fast, if I knew how to stop that I would, Nathan's growth is killing me.

[Liza]

Blog when you can. All your readers who have BTDT understand what life with an infant is like. Especially at first.

By the way, especially in that first pic, Kara looks just like you!

[ali]

gah. she's delish!

[Becca]

Another great post and more great pictures! Thank you!

[alyndabear]

I'm laughing my arse off at her last pic --- and hearing those scary noises too. Cheeky Kara!

[Stacey]

Oooh, what fabulous pics! I love getting to see all of your family pics - thanks for sharing. Kara's hair just gets better and better, and I think she looks lots like you! Enjoyed your birth story at Parents!

[Rachel]

If I were Molly, I'd be wanting to take her home too! I absolutely love that first pic of her. It is so cute!

[kerrianne]

I love the way babies can so comfortably sleep in all situations, especially when being passed around to family members. My little cousin likes to lick fingers whenever he's passed around.

[daddy d]

A great time was had by all. She did a really good job the whole time. Such a joy. Nice church service also.

[Kristabella]

I love that first photo! She’s all “yay! I’m four weeks old!”

Glad to hear things are going well!

[carrster]

Great pics. I love that last one. :) Congrats on the Baptism! You're a brave woman to do it so young (meaning: I am terrified to yet go out in public/public (ie: not the clinic) with my 4 week old!).

[ambitiousmrs]

Sounds like you're already getting the hang of it mama! Getting through that... "what the heck do I do with this crying baby" phase is sooooo hard. But you've already made it through the hardest part in my opinion.

[Erica]

Congratulations on the baptism. We just had our children baptized this fall at the Episcopal church we attend. It is such a beautiful ceremony. Your daughter is adorable. You look great too!

[Molly]

I would TOTALLY take her home if you'd let me. I'd return her at night, of course, and pick her up in the morning. Wink wink

We had a great time this weekend. Thanks for having us over practically unanounced. I owe you comments over at Parents, but your house was perfect. You'll find in time that you move from "Clean Mode" to "Keeping at Bay Mode," haha.

[wilddreemer]

I just love her hair. Codi has hair (my first son didn't so baby hair is new to me)almost liek hers. I'm wondering, after you give her a bath does it fuzz up into a sort of full head mohawk? Codi's does that, I call it a fuzzhawk, I loooove the fuzzhawk. Her face in that last picture is so sweet and cute! I'm glad we finally got pics of her.

[Valeta]

Kara is gorgeous with all her hair. :D Congrats on such an awesome baby!

[Hilary]

I don't even know where to start! Your family is just so adorable...all of them! I can really see where you and Luke both get some of your wonderful features. And I can also see that you two have passed them onto Kara. She's just such a doll. It's still so funny to me that I have never met either one of you but I can so see Molly wanting to run off with Kara and you just laughing at her...loving that you have a friend who is so fond of the life you created. Feels good, doesn't it?
So, first a mom, now an aunt! Congratulations to your sister.
Last thing...I have a pic of Mia when she was about that age, just after she got done with her bath, making that same face Kara is making in the last picture. It's one of my favorite pictures of her from that time.
Keep up the good work, dear.

[Christar]

She looks so much like you! Is it too early to tell? Because seriously, I think she does. :) Too cute!

[Steph T]

Kara is just the cutest thing ever! Nothing to do with bias...she is very photogenic.

[Isabel]

Kara IS beautiful. And sweetie, so are your families. It's no wonder Kara turned out to be so perfect!! (And would it be wrong to say that your dad is a very handsome man?)

Congrats to Sam to Dan. That is exciting news.

The baby fever is all around.

Congrats on the baptism and no poop on her christening outfit. (Of course Babboo pooped on his.)

[Grandma Molly]

I have printed and placed in frames the making a fist picture and the surprised during my baptism picture.