I love the way

Is she really 11 weeks already? The early days it seemed like a day would never end; we were purely exhausted, both physically and emotionally yet also overwhelmed with the outpour of love and support by those around us, even those we don't know by name. As much as I enjoyed each waking minute with Baby J, and trust me, there were plenty, I look back with a grateful heart that we are getting a bit more sleep which hopefully leads to a little more sanity.

In the early days with our great gift, I would say to D, "I honestly don't think I could love her any more than I do right now." Sometimes minutes...other times hours later, I turn to him and say "I know I said I couldn't love her anymore, but sincerely, I love her more right now than an hour ago...or yesterday." Just being with her and around her has grown my heart. Observing and learning all the things she does that makes her uniquely her has made my heart forever falling for hers.

I love the way she on cue will sneeze 2-3 times and the last one is not quite a sneeze but more of sigh. She works herself up as if she's going to sneeze only to have a great let down of no sneeze and the most adorable baby noise. I love the way she's made a hobby into getting her fist into her mouth, and has become quite particular about which one. No matter how much we try to 'trick' her to go for her left, she really only likes her right fist. Quirks I guess. I love the way she kicks me when she is on my lap. I'll say "Baby J can you kick me?" and she gets a big smile on her face and  kicks as if she is trying to put out a small fire. She's got that move down!

I love that way her eye brows borrow up, as if she is pensively thinking about something when she sees something new, bright, or unfamiliar. For her, thats frequently and good thing, because its classic Baby J and worth visiting just for that! I love that way she requires a 'clean pallet' of a diaper, in order to make a dirty diaper, as in a dirrrty diaper. If I see her struggling and she has a wet diaper, the normal thing would be let it ride, she's almost done. Not this diva. She likes it to be dry and clean before giving it her best effort. I love that way she rediscovers herself every time you put her in front of a mirror, bats at herself and seems to think she is playing with another baby. Looks like she won't have any trouble making friends.

I love the way she fake sleeps (well most of the time I love that) when there are new people around. She likes to know who is in the room and meet anyone with a new voice. Occasionally this requires her to fake sleep, by closing her eyes and I'll catch her peeking one eye open. I see you Baby J, but shhh, I won't tell your secret. Speaking of new people, she loves new people which I just love. This potential extrovert might wear her introverted mom out, but I love every bit of it. I love the way she plays hard and sleeps hard. She loves her rattles, books, and other baby toys and I'll often find her asleep in the midst of a play session. She gave it her all.

I love the way she plays with her daddy and is always trying to figure him out. He tickles her and she tries to catch his hand on the approach. I love the way her eyes will follow him when he walks in the room and when he's left her sight, she looks back at me as if to say 'where'd he go?' I love the way she cuddles up in my arms and sometimes, even with a long list of 'to do's' she just wants to be held. She's a snuggler, and Baby J, I'll drop anything at anytime to snuggle with you! I love the way her deep brown eyes find the TV no matter how hard I try to shield her from it. We could be snuggling on the couch, and I shift her to the other side, and her neck will twist and turn until she sees the action. I guess its generational.

I love the way she knows me and my voice. We chat together all day and she loves to repeat things. She is great at mimicking me, which means as she gets older I'll have a true platform. I'm her biggest fan and the way she seems to want to be around us, it seems like she's our biggest fan. I love the way she loves us back, I love the way our stories collided, and I love that little girl more today and I did yesterday and guessing tomorrow I'll feel the same way!