Listening

Right now I can think of a million other "better" uses for my time than this blog. There's the floor that hasn't been mopped, the laundry that needs to be folded, and the bathroom that hasn't been cleaned in...wait a minute, when was the last time we cleaned the bathroom? All that aside however, I want a chance to brag on my baby girl for a little bit. Of course, every parent thinks their child is the prettiest, smartest, most athletic, et cetera, and I am no different. So, you'll have to indulge me.

Since Emmie was born, every one who has met her says they can't believe how alert she is. Now she is seven weeks old and if you hold her and talk to her--when she's awake--she will stare at you and wrinkle up her forehead and listen to every word you say. She wrinkles up her forehead lots, like she is busy thinking hard about the world. I can't believe how much she loves to listen to everyone talk. She just learned how to smile, and she smiles alot, but it's hard to catch her at it, because there are so many other things that occupy her attention. As soon as we get the camera out to take a picture of it, she is fascinated by the camera. As soon as someone holds her and tries to get her to smile she won't do it because she's watching them, and listening to them talk. When Emmeline is like that, it makes me think of what Eudora Welty said: that every good writer must be a listener and an observer. Who knows, maybe one day Emmeline will be winning Pulitzer Prizes too!

"When at length we bought our first automobile, one of our neighbors was often invited to go with us on the family Sunday afternoon ride. In Jackson it was counted an affront to the neighbors to start out for anywhere with an empty seat in the car. My mother sat in the back with her friend, and I'm told that as a small child I would ask to sit in the middle, and say as we started off, 'Now talk.'"
--Eudora Welty, One Writer's Beginnings

Four week milestones

It's just no fun to post without pictures! This is our little princess in her bubble bath. She's all ready for trips to the spa now. Her actual first bath was slightly more traumatizing for the poor baby girl, because her silly parents didn't have the water hot enough and did not fill the tub up enough, so she was freezing the whole time. Then on top of that her mommy (me) hit her head (not hard) on the side of the tub. Our poor firstborn--we are going to make so many more mistakes on her!

Emmeline is four weeks old today. She loves snuggling and tummy time, and she likes listening Billy Joel and Taylor Swift. She is 9 lbs and 1 oz. She is very expressive and she wiggles alot for a newborn! She has quite the little personality. She's a good baby and doesn't fuss much. She even stays pretty happy in spite of her acid reflux.

Everyone in this house now has their days and nights confused, not just Emmeline. We sleep from about 2 in the morning until noon. The time when we used to go to bed (10-11) is when Emmeline is usually just waking up for the night. And, honestly, even if she does happen to be asleep before 2 am, at this point I'm so used to going to bed in the wee hours of the morning, sometimes I'm not tired before 1. Everyone in this house needs to work on their sleeping schedule I suppose.

And because I love to show her off, here is a four week old birthday picture:

The blanket and the outfit were a present from her Auntie Ashley.