8 weeks

8 weeks.  8 weeks ago I met my daughter.  Mark became a father.  We became a family, rather than a couple.  Our parents became grandparents for the first time.  8 whole weeks.  So many people have told me to make sure I enjoy every minute of it, because it goes by so fast.  And trust me, I'm treasuring each and every minute with this little munchkin.  Before she was born, I thought I wanted her to stay small forever.  I thought I would be sad when she was no longer considered a "newborn."  But things change.  I LOVED having a newborn.  But even more, I love seeing how she changes every day.  I love it.  I love when we weigh her and see she's gotten bigger.  I love when she all of a sudden realizes she can hit her toys on her playmat, as if her hands are the coolest toys she never knew she had.  I love seeing her eyes get as big as saucers, little windows into her growing brain trying so hard to take in the world around her.  I love it.  I love how she's changing, acquiring new skills and getting bigger every day.  I can't wait to see what the next day brings. 

And speaking of her skills...

• Is sleeping a bit longer at night, although not totally regularly.  She might sleep 4-5 hours, wake to eat, then sleep 3 more hours, wake to eat, and sleep anywhere from 1-3 more hours before getting up for the day.
• Takes pretty good naps in the morning, but it takes a bit of work to get her to sleep in the afternoon.
• Has some days where she is rather high maintenance, usually when she doesn't nap well.  On days like that, she is only content if I walk her around the house 43498394 times until she falls asleep. 
  
• Loves going for walks in her stroller (when it's not raining)
• Loves looking at colorful toys.  I hung a toy on the handle of her car seat, and she no longer cries when I get her strapped in because she is so fascinated with the toy.
• Loves to look at herself in the mirror.  If she's fussy, we sometimes head into the bathroom to stare in the mirror, and it usually keeps her quiet for at least a few minutes!
• Enjoys her playmat quite a bit, and is starting to hit the toys with her hands (although not totally deliberately yet)

Oh yeah, AND, apparently she enjoys play station with daddy while mommy tries to get housework done...

And a video for you.  Sorry for the grossness of the beginning, just a part of our daily life.  But if you can hang on, we caught a little smile about a minute and a half in...