happy baby

elenora really is a happy baby. today we all slept in (on and off) till eleven. then elenora fed (off the breast!) till she was full. and then she was awake and alert for three and a half hours. she's so good. just looks around happily listening to all of our songs and looking out the window behind the glider chair while we rock her and talk to her. i can see in her eyes how calm and thoughtful she is. just so smart, i know it.



someone at j.'s work told him that ella is an "old soul." j. thinks the guy is just new age-y, but i kind of agree. her eyes have such depth to them and she listens and thinks and scrunches her brow as if she's figuring out the entire world.

the breastfeeding is going better yesterday and today. and feedings that aren't so great aren't disasters because i pump milk and can always give her a bottle to fill her up. she's gaining weight, and her little tongue will be fixed on tuesday and then, i'm told, everything will probably get a lot easier.

j. is home for a three day weekend, and it's so nice to have the extra hands. he's so amazing with her. i sometimes just watch him with ella because he has strengths that i don't have with always having ways to amuse her when she's alert. i want to learn to be better at relating to her when there aren't tasks to be done. i'm so good at the tasks.

yesterday i had an outing by myself. just a walk downtown to Rite Aid for baby wipes and conditioner, but it felt good to be outside and away from the house for a little bit.

sometimes i call ella "little bit" as in "little bit of heaven."

tonight we're going to j.'s parents for a birthday celebration for his brother. i'm really looking forward to going someplace.

my mom comes back tomorrow afternoon to help me with all of the appointments i have this week while j. is at work. i feel good about this week.