Kangaroo Kid

I'm at home, enjoying the maternity leave I didn't think I was getting!! I'll be returning to school on Oct 6, so they gave me a very nice 7 weeks of paid leave. I couldn't feel more fortunate!

I thought I'd share these pics because I'm walking around the apartment with Sienna in a bag (courtesy of Mindy Morris-Totaro - thank you!!) around my shoulders and she's loving it! It's warm and dark, like being in the womb - I think she could sleep all day in here.

The reason I have to have her attached to me is she's started to insist on being held...constantly. I may have created this monster, along with my nanny Reina, as we're almost constantly holding her. I even have her sleeping in my bed - there's plenty of room and it's so cute and cozy having her right next to me.

Sienna was an EXCELLENT baby the first 3 weeks of life - eating, burping, pooping and sleeping just as she should. Then, she took a bit of a colicky road during week 3 and really got crazy this past weekend screaming for no apparent reason, but we have things figured out for now. I got a book from a former co-worker titled The Happiest Baby on the Block and it states that many babies who are colicky (although to be considered this she'll need to keep up the screaming behavior for 3 hours a day, 3 times a week for 3 weeks - we'll see) are really just wanting a fourth trimester.

Having said that, you're supposed to create a womb-like state for them for several weeks until they grow out of it...hence the kangaroo pouch. When she starts to freak, I wrap her tight in a blanket, pinning her arms to her sides, shhhh in her ear over and over again and either walk or bounce holding her very close to me until she mellows out. So far, so good - we'll see how long it lasts and how long that works.

This motherhood gig is a bit like playing golf - one day you're feeling like a pro and the next day you suck again, but who doesn't like a challenge??! Actually, I don't really like challenges at 3 am!