A girl of a million faces

As mom and I were discussing today on the phone, Elisa continues to change and amaze us with her variety of facial expressions. I know we're only talking about a 6 wk. old, but I swear she has so much emotion in those eyes and her little quivering chin. As you can see, the expressions range from surprise to fear to sheer contentment. It's a wide range for someone so small. But we love watching all the faces and getting to see her add news ones to the repertoire. I even managed to get these captured on film the other morning and I have to admit that she was a very compliant baby--holding still while I snapped away without using a flash (didn't want to blind the poor thing). So, we'll see how the faces change once she meets her aunties (Stacey and Barbara) and cousins (Mia and Jordan). We're flying down on Wednesday, so there will be lots of new people to make faces at, and I'm pretty sure she'll manage a smile for them if they're lucky.

Morning Time

Just as we were beginning to really lament the whole newborn sleep thing, something strange happened this week--Elisa started to take a hint and sleep more from midnight on. Now I won't say this is going to be an everyday occurrence, but for the past 3 or 4 nights, she has gone down sometime after her late feeding (between 10pm and 12am) and stayed down for a good 4 hours. Without interruption! This is exactly what we were looking for earlier last week when it seemed she just couldn't calm down at night. I don't know whether it's magically making it to the 6 week mark today or just lucky for us, but she's also been able to stay sleeping after a brief awake time in the morning between 8-10am. It's like a gift from the gods...Today I even had lunch at 1pm which felt almost, dare I say it, normal.

So here's a video of her with Nacho waking up...and watching some quality soccer on the Internet. Don't say daddy didn't take good care of her--he's already starting the "futbol" education. Soon there will be two of them screaming "G-O-L!"

Gorda! Gordita!

Today was our 5 wk. checkup with "Dr. Julie" (a little too bubbly, if you ask me) and lo and behold our little Elisa has packed on quite a few pounds. Yes, pounds...as in plural. She weighed in today at a whopping 9 lbs. 10 oz! Considering she was barely at her birth weight (7 lbs. 7.5 oz.) at her last check in only 3 weeks ago, it's a pretty big jump. But then we knew all along she was getting some pretty good "groceries" as Grandma likes to say.

Now the only challenge left is the one that seems the most elusive--yes, SLEEP. Elisa has decided that she really can't be bothered to sleep her 3 and 4 hour stretches at night any more. And in fact, most nights this week she has opted to stay awake between feedings, alternating between quiet and awake to all out screaming. Sometimes it's gas, which is easy to detect. The girl farts louder than her father. But sometimes, she just doesn't want to be put down and even holding her isn't always comforting. Nacho and I have been staying awake in shifts and doing our best to console one another, let alone this baby who can only communicate with her variety of wails. But as we near the 6-8 week period, I am hopeful (maybe naively so) that there will be sort of change for her and some kind of day/night distinction will come into focus. Until then, I am trying to keep up with her and "sleep when she sleeps." Of course tonight we hung out with friends in the city for a few hours after her doctor's appointment and since feeding in the park at around 5:30pm, she has been asleep the ENTIRE evening. And it's 11:30pm now. The mantra of sleep when she does would be more useful, if only I knew when that would be.

Elisa is satisfied

Somehow there is nothing cuter than Elisa after a feeding. She's so satisfied and sassy with the arm waving and dopey smiles. Even when she looks a little stunned, she seems totally content.

One month down

So, here we are one month later and Elisa is continuing to change and amaze us on a regular basis. We've had our families visit and leave and the reality of being first time parents with no instruction manual has finally set in. I think for both of us, it was crucial to have our initial baby questions answered by the women we love and trust the most. Seeing them in action was also a god send in ways you just can't explain. Was it their rocking hips or cozy bosoms that soothed so well? Who knows, but it worked. We've stolen a few moves from all and tried a few of our own and somehow this first month has flown by.

Now with the apartment all to ourselves, the evenings are starting to take on a little bit more of a routine. I've been taking an early nap and waking sometime between 11pm and 1am to feed. Then I take over and let Nacho sleep til 5 or 6am when I hand her off and doze in the bedroom in peace. Sometimes, she even sleeps a few hours in between and I lie on the couch praying she will stay down long enough for me to get a little more rest. But all in all, it seems to be working out and I'm definitely getting caught up on my Project Runway and Top Design marathons, as well as checking out some quality movies on Lifetime and WE (yes, I really did watch most of "Only You" with Marisa Tomei--so what?!).

We've also been experimenting with the various modes of transport available with this newbie, and have finally found her real pacifier--the Baby Bjorn. It's like baby gold. You take Elisa from a state of wakeful rebellion and strap her in to this harness and she's O-U-T. Of course, at first I thought we were just cutting off her air/blood supply with her head at some crazy angle, but after checking with another neighborhood mom (whom I accosted on the street to ask), we have her sitting in it the right way and she really seems content. Of course, now I'm also content since Nacho finds it equally pleasing to carry her around in. I told him he can have her these first 9 months out of the womb (to make up for lost time). So, it's a win-win. We even went in to the city yesterday for a long walk, ate dumplings, breastfed and changed an exploding diaper, then came home on the bus. All in the Baby Bjorn. It was just like old times to be so carefree...ah, yes, the old times...

Waking up is hard to do

Yes, Elisa loves to nap and nap and then nap some more. Usually this is a good thing...unless we are heading out the door and then it's SO hard to wake her up. Here she was just before Abuela Mercedes was set to leave, so we were trying to get out the door to the airport. But the princess just couldn't be bothered. I think the Daily Show with Jon Stewart playing in the background helped rouse her.

Amazing Night

I knew we'd get some real overnight rest eventually, but considering how fussy Elisa was at dinner last night, I wasn't expecting it so soon. She slept 4 HOURS IN A ROW! Which completely amazed me and helped both Nacho and I feel like victors this morning. She went down around 3:15am and didn't rouse til 7:15am on the dot! It was great. And after that feeding, she slept another 2 hours without a peep. I know we probably won't keep it up completely, but just the idea of her sleeping 4 or 5 hours straight has me giddy with excitement. I know Martha Stewart gets by on less shut-eye, but for the rest of us humans, having those hours together in the middle of the night is precious. And so what if I had to rig her paci a little so it wouldn't fall out of her mouth. If the trick worked, it worked, okay?

Our first goodbyes

Well, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. Tomorrow morning Elisa's grandparents, Jean and Greg, will be heading back home to North Carolina. It's been almost three weeks with her grandma and 5 days with grandpa and yet there is never enough time to enjoy them...you just want it to last. Somehow, having my own daughter has transformed my understanding of my parents and of the relationships that mean the most to me.

Months ago when my mom asked about what I needed from her and how soon I wanted her to come here, I felt a bit confused and apprehensive. I had no idea what I wanted or expected of her during the birth and after, and it seemed like one more thing I had to worry about. As the time grew closer, though, I felt more anxious about getting her here before Elisa's arrival, but still unsure how exactly to predict that. Considering that mom was flying here the day my water happened to break, I guess things worked out the way they did for a reason. I definitely don't think I could have made it through labor, as difficult as it was, without her guidance and support. She validated all of my concerns and helped me communicate with the myriad of doctors and nurses when I couldn't make myself understood. She also helped Nacho through this whole process, and though we both know he has the mother-in-law voice block occasionally, I know he was as grateful as I was to have her here these first few trying weeks.

Now that Nacho's family is here and mine is leaving, I feel a sort of bittersweet emotion. There is so much to share with them and yet, I know my parents will be missing out on the next little changes in Elisa's life. I'm planning to visit North Carolina in early October to see my sister and my niece and nephew for the first time, and my Aunt Barbara who will be in town. Hopefully, mom and dad can last until then without their baby "fix." And if I'm lucky, I'll get through these next few weeks on my own without resorting to midnight phone calls to a sleepy grandma. Of course, I'm pretty sure she wouldn't mind.

The Spaniards are coming!

Today marks the arrival of the Spanish delegation from Nacho's family. His mom, Aunt Pauli, Aunt Kiki, Uncle Ignacio, and cousin Amaia will be flying into Newark from Madrid at 2pm. Nacho is planning to collect them by car service and bring them this way, hopefully making it here around 4pm or so. Considering they bought their tickets in the middle of the summer--planning on a September trip--I was most anxious that we wouldn't be waiting for Elisa to arrive when they did. Luckily, it's worked out well and we've had 2 weeks already to get acclimated to the new routine. I know it's been hard for Nacho to contain his excitement of sharing her with his family, but his almost daily phonecalls home have helped a lot during this time. Of course, there's nothing like seeing her, but in the meantime we've been posting videos and photos for everyone to get a sneak peek. Now today they'll finally get to meet this little wonder of ours.