Learning

Alice is learning how to love her sling:


And that's making it possible for Michael & I to enjoy these:

Spaz

Last night was a rough one in the Dunn household. Alice was in no mood for sweet, angelic moments. She was very excited to scream and cry. Hard. With tears.

Managing my emotions while Alice has tears streaming down her face is more difficult than I imagined it would be. I do my best to stay calm and relaxed, knowing that she will respond to whatever Michael & I are experiencing. I think we're both learning how to keep ourselves from feeling responsible for her irritation and to remain patient in the face of obvious, demanding need for something we don't know. Sometimes we are able to laugh at her adorable face all worked up over nothing at all. Other times I fight back tears and frustration.

In any event, today she has been sleeping much better. Our little spaz, asleep in her crib with the blanket Aunt Jess made for her keeping her warm, her arms high above her head - that's our girl!

Also, this morning I attempted to put her into one of the outfits we got for her (rather than her standard adorable onsie). She's still a little bit too tiny:

Who can stand it?

She's just too adorable!

Alice - 3 Weeks Old!

Celebrations

Well, yesterday I turned 30 years old! Obviously the best present I've ever received is this little bug:


She amused me all day with great faces, like these:



And then, after a full day of love from Alice, Michael took over. He ran home after work to bake me a delicious cake - his first ever! - butter cake with chocolate frosting. Look how beautiful!:

But I must admit, the highlight of the entire day came after the cake was prepared (but before it was consumed). Our kind friend John came over to babysit for us and Michael and I went out on a date!

Just before John's arrival, Michael and I hemmed and hawed about going. We felt bad leaving our little one in our friend's care, fretting that she would scream and shout the whole time we were gone. But John pushed back when we gave him a way out, and Michael and I went for it.

Let me tell you, I am so glad we did. Michael's and my best dates have always been the ones that end with us sitting across a table from one another - preferably one littered with candles and wine and good tiramisu. That is indeed how last night ended. We ventured from our apartment southward to a new wine bar in the neighborhood. We ordered a half carafe of the Savignon Blanc, some mestizos, a salad and a burger. We talked and ate and enjoyed one another. We ordered another half carafe of wine. And then - truly joy of joys - we returned home to our beautiful baby girl, our Alice.

And, of course, our chocolate cake! John, Michael and I dove in, enjoying the fruits of Michael's labor, and just savoring the evening.

I look tired and 4 months pregnant, but this is me, feeling utter joy.

She's a Looker!

Getting to Know You

Here are five things I've learned about my daughter:

1. She doesn't like hiccups. Even though she gets them after every feeding.
2. She has zero control over her long arms and legs. She'll be nearly asleep and spaz out, hitting herself in the head with a stray fist and wake up.
3. She likes the mornings, particularly the 9 - 11 AM hours.
4. She LOVES warm water. She is as happy as a clam during her baths.
   
5. She is a true New Yorker - her favorite activity is walks around the neighborhood.

How We Are Feeling

Beat! But happy!

Fun with Alice

Alice - 2 Weeks Old!

A Side Note

On a side note... Nicholas Kristof's article in the Times today about the news coming from the Catholic Church was outstanding. Michael and I have discussed this tension on many occasions - the hierarchy of the Church discouraging its faithful, overshadowing the truly honorable and charitable work the Church provides at the local level. His piece is worth the read.

Maureen Dowd also had an excellent piece a few days ago, one I've thought about quite a bit since. The other day, the CBS Evening News did a story on a nun who runs a home for adults with special needs. It was so touching - this woman raising her own flock, giving her life over to serve these communities, providing a maternal love to those who need it. I thought a lot about how spot on Maureen's article was. Again, worth the read.

And that's about as coherent as I get these days...

Burping Alice

Happy

Sure

I may keep Mom and Dad up all night, but at least I look good doing it!

Laying on of Hands

As you know, last week we had a baby! It's been an amazing few days - utterly inexplicable ones, full of cuddle time, breastfeeding, sleepless nights, overwhelming, heart-stopping joy. I am mesmerized by my little girl and by the love that my husband and I have for her. Watching Michael care for her, soothe her and dote on her, watching him love her as I do further solidifies the reasons why I am with this man, and why I am so grateful to be sharing a life and raising a family with him.

There have been a lot of hazy reflections rumbling around in my brain since Alice was born. One phrase keeps coming back to me: the laying on of hands. In Christian theology, this act confers blessings and calls on the Holy Spirit to be physically present. From Alice's unexpectedly natural birth with our utterly supurb midwife, to the compassionate care of the fabulous nurses at St. Vincent's, to the food prepared for and delivered by friends and family, to girlfriends willing to bring me supplies to help my healing body, Michael, Alice and I have experienced our community reaching out and laying their hands on our little family of three. These acts of love embrace us with blessings and, yes, the Holy Spirit.

Thankful!

It's almost asparagus season!!! Which means we can go to the market and buy vegetables again! Hooray!

Check this out.

Early Morning

Alice - 1 Week Old!

Alice's First Bath!

Sweet Dreams