Amelia Joy's 1 month update

Dear Amelia Joy,

Time is flying, and as I write this you're already over 5 weeks old.  You can go ahead and stop growing, because you as a newborn?  Just delightful.  Even though there are two older kids running around, and even though I trailed off a bit on your brother's monthly updates, I'm determined to at least halfway document these first months with you, because halfway is better than none.

You were born at 6:06pm on a Friday evening, 3 days before your due date.  As my cousin remarked, "what a considerate little girl, to be born early in the evening!", and you've continued in your considerate ways since then.  Everyone told me about the "adaptable third child" and so far, that has been true!

because you have to snap a pic before you leave for the hospital - even if it's 3am.

proud, proud daddy of his third mini-me

super candid, but one of my favorite pictures of the 5 of us so far

At birth you were 8 pounds, 3 ounces (71%) and 22 inches long (99%).  At your 1 month checkup you were 10 pounds, 3 ounces (77%) and 23 inches (97%).  The VERY first thing I noticed about you was your the size of your hands, followed soon after by the size of your feet and length of your toes.

aren't those toes like fingers??

some serious flippers on this girl

this is a 0-3 month sock.  Notice how far beyond the allotted foot area your heel goes.  

You sleep a lot.  Newborns are awesome like that .  Mornings can be a little unpredictable, but I realized that I'm almost always waking you up to leave for something, and toting you around to your siblings' morning activities, so it's no wonder - there's no chance to settle in for a nice long nap.  By 1 or 2pm when all the activities are mostly done and we're (usually) home, you typically pass out for a really long stretch - over 3 hours if I'd let you.  I have to say this is a real mercy with three kids, since everyone is down (though big sister doesn't sleep anymore) at the same time and I have some time to attack the tornado of a house, which, no matter HOW clean it is in the evening, is an absolute disaster by approximately 7:22am.  At night you're usually down around 8pm (but have been known to go on food binges til nearly 10), sleep a 4-5 hour stretch, eat for 10 minutes then back down for another 3-4 hour stretch, then back asleep until around 8am.  Really good stuff.

this makes me laugh - looks like you're breaking it down on the dance floor

You are for the most part so easy-going.  You are passed back and forth between two very energetic kids all. day. long, and seem to actually enjoy it.  As mentioned above, you get carted around to all their stuff, which usually requires waking you multiple times every day when you're sleeping peacefully. :-/  You deal with Will coming in to check on you every nap 18 times while talking extra loud even though I've told him 19 times not to.  A day before turning a month, you gave us your first social smile and surprise!  It was at your big brother and sister, not at me.  (not bitter)  You cry when you're hungry or tired or if someone accidentally kicks you, but otherwise you just quietly look around, taking it all in.

first smile - March 18

Likes so far: being swaddled, stroller rides, being worn in the carrier, brother and sister, funny faces, sleeping and eating.

Dislikes: 11am-1pm when you'd rather be sleeping and/or eating but instead we're running all over the place.

Sweet Amelia, it is so wonderful to have a baby in our home again.  You remind us all to stop rushing, to slow down, to be a little quieter, a little more considerate, to notice a little bit more.  You also remind us all to give a bit more of ourselves, to sacrifice a few more of our own desires for the well being of another.  I'm learning that again as I wake up multiple times during the night, as I give of myself physically, and as I have to say "no" to social things I'd rather say "yes" to.  Your dad and siblings are learning these lessons too in their own ways.  But it is good.  I'm learning that with each child, there isn't less to go around, but quite the opposite - there is so much more.  You are a gift to each one of us.

We love you so very much and are SO happy you are here.