Baker Family: January 2011

... is hard (continued from post title =)). It's also wonderful. McLayne is six weeks now and I feel myself slowly emerging from the fog. I feel like I can hardly remember what's gone on since she was born, which makes me sad. Of course, I don't mind forgetting a few things. Moms, you get me. Layne's tummy must be doing so much better because she seems so much happier and no longer has the intense bloody murder screaming every night from 8:30 pm to 12:30 am. It's still a fussy time, but soooo much better. I think I actually made it so much worse in my attempt to drop dairy. I think the soy was the culprit. Ironic.

Laynie (I'm trying to show her multiplicity of names, haha) is so adorable. So feminine and so sweet. She's just beautiful. It's amazing, the depth and vividness of a brand new baby's spirit. You don't really know too much about their personality, and yet you feel and know certain aspects of their spirit so strongly. She's a good one. =)

She's also quite a high needs baby! I enjoy it much of the time--always holding her and tending to her needs--but it's also quite tiring. Many mornings my arms, back and neck are sore from holding her all day. She just can't be by herself for more than two minutes, and that's not an exaggeration. She's still got quite a cry. Little pterodactyl. Her sleeping is getting much better. She's slept through the night a few times, and usually she's just up once to eat. Of course, that's with a midnight bedtime, usually.

"They" always say that every baby has their own personality, and there are huge differences between Cruise and McLayne. With McLayne I found a few weeks ago that it would be best to throw the whole attempt at a schedule out the window. I couldn't persuade or force her into one. Once I did that, everything became a lot less stressful and I think I started meeting her needs better. That helped her become a more contented baby. To me, the only purpose of a schedule is to make life easier for me, and if it doesn't, I don't need it. We'll get back to the schedule thing later.

Eric has been super-dad. I can't believe the things he does. I'm sure 95% of men out there wouldn't even think of helping out the way he does. He is definitely Joanna-savvy. He's making dinner, offering to go to the grocery store on the way home from a long day at clinic, doing the dishes, rocking the baby to sleep late at night, entertaining Cruise, and, as was pointed out to me recently, he NEVER asks me what's for dinner on his way home. I guess I put the "fear of Joanna" in him early on. =) No, he's just a wise man. I'm so grateful for him. Boy did I luck out.

It was Eric's birthday a few days ago. Mom and Dad Baker made a surprise visit and we got to spend the day with them. Cruise misses them so much already! So do the rest of us, even though we didn't get a huge puppy-pillow or a scooter. =) Grandma Baker's so funny; she always brings a huge piece of luggage when she comes, but it's full of toys! She lives out of a carry-on when she's here. She's so great.

Here are some pictures of the last few weeks. You can watch McLayne grow.