Raelyn

I feel like time flies by so quickly.  Raelyn changes daily and there are so many things I don't want to forget.  I used to be of the opinion that all newborns were the same.  I thought personality didn't come into  play for at least a few months.  Having a second child proved me wrong.  This little girl definitely has a personality.  My favorite thing is when she is content and sighs/sings with every breath.  She does it when I lay her down in her bassinet after I feed her at night.  She does it on my shoulder as I rub her back.  It's the sweetest sound and I'm soaking it all in a loving every minute of it.  

She likes making noises while she's being burped.  I think it's because she likes hearing how it sounds as we pat her.  She's also a growler.  If I'm not feeding her fast enough and she has to wait a millisecond or I pause feeding her to burp her she's growling at me.  She doesn't like laying down on my shoulder, she thinks she's bigger than she is.  She cries if I ever try to coax into it. This can be difficult when trying to get her to burp.  I've had to be creative with burping her in other ways.  It can be frustrating but also sweet when she stares at me for as long as she can hold her head up.  She is like a clock, she's always on time.  Sometimes she's right down to the minute from feeding to feeding.  

She has the cutest gummy smile and with it comes one tiny dimple on the right side if her face.  

She is the sweetest bright eyed baby and I consider myself lucky to be called her mom.  

A lot of people have asked me how Audrey is doing.  She's doing well.  Watching her become a big sister has been the sweetest and most rewarding experience for me.  She is fiercely protective of her baby sister and loves her so much.  The day after we arrived home I put Raelyn in her arms and pulled out the camera to take video of what was sure to be a perfect moment between sisters.  She looked up at me with the biggest smile and said "Mom this is so special!"  It was so special that I wasn't allowed to video it because she said it was a personal moment between her and her sister....something she'd been waiting a long time for.  

Every morning Audrey gives Rae a kiss for everyday that she's been alive.  I thought it would be short lived but she hasn't missed a day.   She's a self proclaimed baby hog and has already started sharing secrets with her sister that she says no one else will ever hear.  When Audrey holds her sister its like no one else exists.  She chats Rae's ear off and Rae stares admiringly up at her.  Audrey is a rock star helper and is always willing to take Rae when she's crying to comfort her.  

 The first month of Raelyn's life hasn't been the easiest.  I had mastitis twice and and then after recovering from that I was in bed with so much pain in my back and neck that I could hardly move.  Paul couldn't go back to work when he had planned and is now trying to crawl his way out of the load of work that piled up while he was away.  He was the only thing holding things together over a couple weeks.  He hasn't stopped doing laundry, doing dishes, making food, helping with the baby, and taking care of all of Audrey's needs.  I don't deserve him...full stop.  Now that I'm out of the woods and feeling normal again he's been able to go back to work and I've been able to more fully enjoy these two little munchkins. I'm loving this new crazy beautiful life of mine and still feeling like it's all a dream that I'm going to wake up from at any moment.