Monday, November 30, 2009

Perfection

Okay here's the deal. I have this amazing 4 month old baby who I just love to pieces. I have been meaning to write about her for awhile, but just haven't felt like blogging much. I don't know how to properly put into words how awesome she is, without making it sound like I love her 10 times more than I did Easton when he was a baby.

It took me a long time to come around to the idea of having another baby. Newborn number one was kind of a nightmare and turned me into a crazy person. Good thing he turned into the sweetest 1 year old, happiest 2 year old, and...a 3 year old.

Then Carly was born and I got to experience the real joy of a newborn. From the second she was born (after the shaking stopped) I didn't want to stop holding her, touching her, looking at her. I think it had a lot to do with the fact that my labor, delivery and recovery were all easier this time around. We brought her home and she slept for 2 straight weeks, giving me plenty of time to snuggle her, get some rest myself, and recover from the horrific act of breastfeeding. I kept waiting for her to start the crazy sleep cycle, but she never did. She woke up at night to eat and then went right back to sleep. Every time. What? Babies do this? This was new to me. I got all kinds of sleep when she was a newborn, and now she has been sleeping through the night for over a month. She's 4 months old and I have yet to have a moment where I want to scream in frustration at her. She has just restored my faith in babies, and has brought me so much happiness, this post doesn't even begin to describe it. I was afraid of having a girl...didn't really want one. But she is just the most amazing little person. Easton loves her so much too, which is so sweet to watch. It sounds so corny, but on a good day, when everyone is happy and Easton is loving on Carly, that I love to think about how this is why we're here.

Here are a few pics from recent days. I don't take nearly enough pictures of her.
Hanging with Dad. Between his work schedule and her sleep schedule, these two don't get to see each other very often. I thought this picture was super cute.

Her favorite activity...eating her fist.

This is her when she wakes up in the morning. We usually have to work hard for smiles and giggles, except in the morning when she is practically giddy. So cute.

I'm teaching Easton to use the camera. I never get to be in the pictures and Steve is basically useless in that area. Why don't photo ops occur to husbands as quickly as they occur to wives?

I think we have a situation on our hands. I have never seen anything cuter, but it only took Easton one day to be done with his pacifier at 16 months, and I sucked my thumb until I was 6.

Does this post make any grandmas want to come and visit???


32 comments:

LeAnn said...

I can't believe how much she has changed since you were here! What a beauty! And what a beautiful family!!

Lizzy said...

Oh, she is adorable. I love her eyes! And she sucks her thumb?! That is the cutest thing I've ever seen. She sounds like such a dream baby.

Jake and John don't get to spend as much time together as Ben and John did/do. I get sad sometimes because I think John is going to love Ben more than Jake. He assures me that won't happen. It better not!

Jenni said...

Em, thanks alot. I've got tears coming down. She is so beautiful and I wish I was back there right now holding her. That picture of her sucking her thumb is perfect. Please, let her do it. It's too tender!!

And I think Easton did a pretty great job of taking pictures because that's a really cute pic of you and carly.

I love your children so much and you and steve are fantastic parents. I miss you guys seriously realll bad.

love you!

Teresa said...

It makes me so happy to hear how much you adore your baby girl! It really is a lot of fun. No boys here yet . . . well, we don't know what this one is yet but yeah. She is super cute!!!

Melanie said...

Emily!! I am so happy for you! I'm so glad Carly is showing you how good it can be! This is how it was for me with Bethany too, although I think all my babies have been good. Don't feel bad, about Easton, I have a feeling that they'll switch rolls when they are older. ( Easton will be easy, Carly will be hard--just a guess). She has changed so much! I love 4 month old babies! You could move to California, ya know. We have lots of sunshine too!

Christi said...

I can't believe that Easton took that picture!!!! I love that picture of her smiling with Steve. She is soooo precious. She can join the ranks with over here with the thumb sucking.

Matt and Shannon said...

Look at those big eyes! She is so cute! Carly is your reward for surviving Easton. And I'm not sure what to think about your thumb sucking Em... you better break Carly of that habit if it's hereditary :)

Teresa, mom, Deitz, Aunt Dee Dee said...

She's beautiful!!!! If Grandma's don't want to visit, it sure makes me want to. There is a chance Jeff and I might drive down Sat. night to watch Ethan ride Sun. morning. I know, what a stupid idea, but isn't that what "mini-vacations" are all about? Stupidity? We'll let you know, but if we do, can we share your house?

Kricket said...

I'm so glad you have such a wonderful baby. I think the thumb might actually help in that regard. Jenna was my easiest baby and loved her thumb. She stopped using it when she was 3 1/2. It was well worth it!

Emily said...

Dee Dee, you can absolutely share our house with us!!!

AMY AND MIKEY said...

Emily- I hardly look at other people's blogs since cancer- but I am so glad I stopped by your blog because Carly is so cute!!!!! You just make these knock out children! my goodness! I mean- I really didn't think you could top Easton, and then you did! You just make adorable children! And I'm so glad that carly is being an easier baby! Glad things are going well- and also- I hope I look like you after I have babies- holy cow Emily, do you eat? You are so skinny!

Courtenay Beth said...

Oh my beautiful!!! I don't know if Grandma's want to come visit but I definitely do! What a tender mercy to have such a fantastic baby! She is so adorable Em, her eyes are SO beautiful! And she looks so much like you when she smiles! So much fun!!! So I LOVE that you are teaching Easton how tp take pictures, I want my future kids to have pictures of me with them, I want to be in pictures with my babies, so perfect, train the kid to take em, LOVE it!! Love YOU!!!!

Megan and Greg said...

Ah, that was really sweet!

Aimee said...

I love your kids! They are so cute and I wish we could see them more often. Carly is adorable, so I'll let you keep her but I'll take Easton off your hands any day of the week.

Carol and Bruce said...

Oh, this grandma is ready any day. She is so adorable and I hope you enjoy evey minute of this stage because they change so fast. Take lots of pictures, it's easy to do with the first child and then slack off after that. Those eyes are so beautiful and I just want to hold her.

I remember Easton at that age and all the fun we had playing on the floor every day and I wish I could do that with Carly, could you just ship her up here? We think Easton was a perfect baby, it must be that you had to take him home at night and then be at work every day with little sleep. They are all so different though so enjoy this perfect one. I think she will stay the same as she grows up, that has been my experience, they stay the way they come:)

Miriam said...

She is adorable. I knew you'd like girls once you had one! :) I on the other hand am scared to have a boy. About another month and we'll see what our next little rugrat will be. Such a beautiful baby! I have to admit that I am a little jealous right now. I am not enjoying parenthood nearly that much right now. My 3 year old is going to be the death of me. Hope Carly always stays sweet!

Ben & Diane said...

She is pretty darn cute, Emily. I will have to say that I am anti-thumb sucking but she does look pretty cute doing it. It does not look cute on a 6 year old though. Forgive me. I think you do have a problem. How old was Darren when he stopped?....HAHA....JK. I have a siser who did it for a long time too.

Margaret said...

Are you for real?! Are you really getting an animal print snuggie? Inquiring minds want to know!

Alifinale said...

I love her. I want to come steal her for a little bit. I am so glad she restored your faith in babies. She is the cutest and I want to eat her thighs.

Is that too morbid?

Lara said...

Just thinking about not seeing you guys all the time, makes me want to cry!!!
I love the pictures of Carly!!
Kir and I have you bet on the the Thumb sucking!!!

Jill said...

Oh my goodness!!! It makes her Aunt Jill REALLY want to come. I WILL be coming in 2010. Those pictures are killing me because I don't even recognize her!! Thanks for posting. What a beauty!

LOVE the thumbsucking! I didn't know she did that! It makes for great sleepers and self-calmers. We'll just see if Justin can stop on his own before he's 4 like Joseph did.

And seriously, I have SO much respect for you for keeping up with that "horrific breastfeeding!"

Margaret said...

I do heart Jakob. I will have to do a post about that soon. He and Russell are my fav guys!

Kara said...

Holy Comments! I guess that's what you get when you write such a great post that makes me want to come home from the "happiest place on Earth" just to give that cute girl some kisses! I think the reason she's such a good baby is because she has such a good Mom!

WASHINGTON SOUTHWORTHS said...

Emily! I am SO BEHIND on commenting!! I've had something to say about your last couple of posts. Cursed laptop!
Anyway... I am so happy that Carly is such a good baby for you. :) That gives me hope for whenever we have #2. Those first weeks are just so hard. I think it makes a difference, too, staying home or having to go back to work.
She is a doll and I think Easton took a great picture!

Danielle said...

Carly is sooo cute. Everyone is right, your kids are adorable! Isn't it crazy how each kid is so different? I'm glad she is so good for you.

Jessett said...

She is beautiful Emily!! I would want to hold her all the time too. You have such a gorgeous family. I am glad that she as restored your faith in babies. :)

rose said...

jeez.... she is BEAUTIFUL!
those big blues are going to be heartbreakers! :)
and i have to agree with the breastfeeding thing. not exactly my favorite.
so glad it has been easier this time around!

Lani said...

This post make me want to drop everything and WALK, RUN, DRIVE, FLY, WIGGLE MY NOSE to get to see her and Easton!!! It is so hard to be so far away!!! Carly has such an incredible smile. She just radiates happiness and contentment!

Lani said...

A word of warning about the thumb sucking...Rogers' get a terrible case. Steve was sucking his thumb the day he was born!

Ilene said...

So so sweet. It's okay, you can admit that you love your baby ten times more than the other.

Babies just get better and better.

Rebecca and Nick said...

Ok, I could just copy paragraph 2 and 3 and paste it on my blog. I had the same hard experiences with Owen as a baby, and things are much better this time around! I am loving my little girl baby too, and I hope she sleeps through the night at 4 months like yours! She's sooo cute!

Kim said...

She is sooooo cute! I'm so glad she is a good baby for you! That's how Shailey was for me and (so far) how Olivia has been. Girls rock!! :o) That pic of her sucking her thumb is precious! Eli sucked his thumb, too, until he finally quit around age 3 or 4 (all on his own, too!). I think it's adorable. :o)