Four weeks.

You are closing in fast on one whole month of life on Earth! We're loving every day with its many ups, downs, and in betweens. You don't really like being swaddled or being out of arms. Your grip is getting stronger. You spend more time awake and longer stretches asleep. You follow us with your eyes. We sing you Ramones songs and you seem to like it. You're getting heavier by the minute. I'm tempted to take you to the grocery store and weigh you but we'll wait until February's trip to the Farm. I don't think the other shoppers would appreciate a baby on their produce scale!

Some highlights from your third week...

You pooped all over the couch and seemed pretty pleased about it.

You received your first piece of mail (from Uncle Walker).

You experienced the first of many visit from Aunts Olivia and Sophia, who loved your chubby cheeks and soft head.

You went on several successful restaurant outings during which you slept soundly and won over many admirers.

A smile.

Three weeks.

Whereas time seems to almost stand still during those final weeks of pregnancy, the first three weeks with a babe have proved the exact opposite.

41 weeks, hiking the Devil's Backbone

The days before giving birth were filled with very long hikes, nourishing meals, and long card games. It was an excellent exercise in patience as well as respect for the divine timing of a natural process. Sure enough, just when you think you'll be pregnant forever, baby decides now's as good a time as any.

Our first few days were spent catching up on the 36 hours of sleep and meals that we missed out on. Birdie slept and ate well and generally made the beginnings of parenthood about as easy as we could have ever hoped. 

    

 

Transitioning from the Farm to home has been exhausting yet rewarding. Finding a rhythm in the days comes more naturally all the time. Birdie communicates with us as best she can and we respond as intuitively as possible. We get good sleep, she is gaining weight by the minute, and she's pretty cute to boot.

Three weeks of Birdie seems like a lifetime yet hardly enough. How lucky we are for every day with this sweet girl. Emerging from the fog, a project is revealed- a portrait a week, every Sunday. Fifty two portraits at the end of a year. 

Cheers, Birdie!