Sleeeeepy Heads

Well, it is no secret that the tired factor is part of being a new mom.  All that lack of sleep is definitely starting to catch up with me!  Recently little Harper has decided to be pretttty nocturnal.  Besides the breastfeeding around the clock, I have been up with her from about 2:30-5:30 - just a wide awake baby needing feeding and entertainment!  Good thing she's so cute and so sweet!  Sadly, I am not one of those people that can just snap back to sleep.  Josh is great at doing this-I am so jealous!  He can literally fall asleep in under 2 minutes any time, I'd say!  Lucky!!

Anyhow, we've been experimenting with sleeping arrangements this last week to try and give me a little extra snooze time.  I've been very stuck on the idea of co-sleeping and just wasn't ready to give up on it...the thought of Harper in her own room made me soooo sad...until this last week.  We had tried a bunch of different ways to co-sleep- in the bed, in the pack & play next to the bed, Josh bringing her in to sleep after a few hours, me sleeping on the couch and then coming to bed after Harper has fallen asleep...we tried everything!  But, Harper is just such a loud sleeper.  It's so funny, actually!  She sighs, laughs, grunts, coos, stretches, does raspberries in her sleep.  Too cute-but hard when you're a very tired mommy and a very light sleeper.  So, last night we put her in her crib in her own room... :-(  BUT, it was awesome.  She slept hard and went right back to sleep after her 3am feeding-hooray!!  I have not slept that hard either since before May 18th :-D  A good lesson to learn-do what works for you, and don't get stuck in these parenting ideals.

And now, a bunch of pictures Josh has captured of the sleepy heads since Harper's birth:

ZZZZzzzzZZZZ 

:-)

A Few Days Late...

But our gal is one month old!!!  Happy one month birthday, Harper Jane!

We think you're sooooo groovy baby, and we looooooove you!!!

Four Weeks!!!!!

Harper Jane Herbert at Four Weeks!

Beautiful, Healthy, and Sweet

9 lbs. 6.4 oz

Wow-this last four weeks has gone by in a blink!  When Harper was first born, I felt like she would be this tiny, delicate newborn forever.  Truthfully, I was looking forward to her growing a bit!  And now-POOF!  Four weeks has just wrapped up in a snap.  And, luckily, life is getting easier and easier. 

Since I have been off bed rest, I've tried to get out and about a little more to get used to wrangling a baby in the real world.  Let me tell you-it is no easy feat to get out of the house with a baby in tow!  Being on-time anywhere is pretty much impossible for me at this point...but I am working on it!  It's really funny-I feel like I am just in a constant "I Love Lucy" episode these days.  From unexpected leaky boobs, to baby poop blow-outs, mid-diaper-change pees, car seat malfunctions, and projectile vomit...it's always something RIGHT as we're about to walk out the door!  Stressful in the moment...but really hilarious looking back at it later!

But, this last week gave us a lot of practice getting out of the house due to a very bittersweet event.  Last Thursday my Granddad passed away.  So sad for my dad and aunts and uncle because they now have lost both parents-a sadness we'll all face one day, and one I cannot even imagine.  However, he was 94 and really LIVED his life.  It was FULL of happy memories-and he was very ready to move on to the next abyss.  In celebrating and honoring his life this last week there were numerous family functions to attend, including a trip to Santa Fe to lay him to rest next to my Granny at the National Cemetery.  Harper attended all of the functions-the Rosary, Funeral, Burial, and lots of big family meals.  She did so great!!!  Even on the long day in Santa Fe.  I was so relieved we made it through all the events with a sleepy/pleasant/sweet baby.

In addition to these bittersweet happenings, we also did lots of other things these last couple of weeks:

We went on a walk with Auntie Rachel, Kyle, Auntie Tara, and Declan.

Sweet Babes

Harper met Auntie Charlotte and Auntie KK.

I smell Baby Fever!

Our little family went to a restaurant for the first time with great success!

Peek-A-Boo!

We have accomplished a lot these last few weeks and we've all three grown leaps and bounds since day one.  Life is good.  It just keeps getting better and better! 

The Edge of Motherhood

Harper, Josh, and I have survived another week!  Our baby girl is two weeks old :-)    

Truthfully, I have had absolutely zero experience with actually caring for a baby before Harper’s arrival.  So, needless to say, these past two weeks has been a HUGE learning experience for me!  As I’ve said before, Josh is my rock.  My mom, too.  As a new mom, it’s hard not to jump at every little squeak and squirm.  I just want more than anything for our baby to be happy, comfortable, healthy, and content at all times.  I do my best not to stress over every little incident (i.e. “she hasn’t pooped in 12 hours!” or “did she just spit up everything she just ate?!”), but new mommyhood is...well...new!  My mom and Josh have been great about calming my neurosis, and assuring me everything is ‘normal.’  Thankfully, after two weeks of learning about baby, I am starting to relax a little more.  And, in all reality, Harper is a great baby!  She is starting to stay awake more during the day and becoming less nocturnal (yay!).  And when she is awake, she is generally very alert and relaxed.  She nurses well and is growing like a champ (she already weights 8 lbs. 3 oz!).  She rarely cries - she gets by with little grunts and squeaks to get her needs met!  I am VERY thankful for these things.  Also, we think she’s the cutest little thing we’ve ever laid eyes on.  Our love for her is just impossible!

As far as my recovery goes, I am feeling MUCH better than I was even a few days ago.  I am finally feeling up for visitors, and am ready to get out of the damn house!  I am officially off bed rest as of this past Friday, so I’ve been trying to make at least one outing a day to keep my sanity.  So far, I’ve gone for a drive with Josh, taken a trip to Target, and gotten a pedicure with mom.  Another note on new mommyhood-emotions post pregnancy are CRRRAZY!  I never really felt the out-of-control emotions everyone talks about DURING pregnancy, but I have definitely experienced them afterwards!  Happy or sad feelings can get the tears flowing.  Sometimes it just feels like my heart is going to burst, and I can’t even distinguish what emotion I’m feeling-happy or sad...it’s just love.  I think that’s motherhood :-)  But, as I am greatly recovered physically this second week, I also feel emotionally recovered as well.  My hormones have definitely started to level out and the crazy crying spells have begun to dwindle.

Although, Josh goes back to work tomorrow!  Not sure if I’ll be able to keep my emotions in check for that!  This last two weeks of pure family time has been so incredible.  I am seriously thankful for this time.  I know most families do not get the luxury of dad being home for such a long stint.  It really has been blissful and wonderful having him here, and I really will miss him after his return to work.  Hopefully we can manage alright for the 8 hours a day without his calm and loving energy-we love you, Josh!