One month.

This is late, since Bennett was one month old all the way back on August 11th... but I'm pretty pleased with the fact that I'm getting this done before he's TWO months old, so please don't rain on my parade, ok? :)

Bennett will actually be six weeks old in two days, which I find almost unbelievable. It seems like we just came home from the hospital with him yesterday. And yet, it also seems like he has always been a part of our family, always been with us. We can't imagine our Bennett-boy not being here.

Life with a newborn passes in a sort of a haze, I think. The sleeplessness and exhaustion, the countless diaper changes, the constant rounds of feedings, trying to cram everything else that must be done somewhere in there-- it all comes together to turn one's brain to mush and put a mama in "survival mode", just trying to get through each day without losing it or forgetting to brush one's teeth or falling asleep during dinner. It's a time like no other, so difficult and challenging in so many ways, but also so sweet. Every time that little baby snuggles up to your chest with a tiny sigh and squeak, and that soft head rests itself under your chin where you can just brush your lips across it, and those squishy lips smile in their sleep, it is completely and totally worth it.

And then, before you know it, the haze begins to lift, the baby begins to sleep for longer stretches at night, the feedings begin to settle into a noticeable pattern, and you find yourself with time to actually fold the laundry, put on makeup, and cook a decent meal. One starts to feel like a human being again! Being a part of the outside world actually feels possible!

That is where we're at right now-- settling into life again with our new normal and feeling like we're really doing it, this whole four kids thing. Life is still crazy-busy and there are not nearly enough moments in the day for me to accomplish every thing that should be done, and I'm still tired. There are days when I flounder and feel like I'm drowning a little bit, but those are the days where I am also most aware of God's grace and goodness towards me and my little brood. And I am thankful.

Enough about all of that, though! Let's talk about the baby, this sweet nugget of a child who has turned our lives upside down and stolen our hearts completely.

First of all, he is cute. Adorably, heart-meltingly cute.

Obviously.

He makes the most wonderful and funny faces and noises, and we can't help but just stare at him, enthralled. I love that he's starting to respond to us more, cooing and sometimes even smiling as we talk to him.

His first real bath happened just a little after he was two weeks old, and he liked it. Until I washed his face, and then he was highly offended and screamed at me. Poor child.


Weeks 2 and 3 were really rough when it came to nursing, but after lots of prayers and tears, I'm happy to report that the kid's a champ eater now, and I'm SO glad. There's nothing more frustrating than not being able to feed your child and spending hours upon hours just trying to get them to eat.

Another thing at which he is getting to be a champ: riding in the car. We've already made the two-hour drive to LA and back twice with him, and he did great, for the most part!


Baby hands are the best, so tiny and dimpled, always up by their faces.

(also, it looks like he's throwin' down some gang signs here. I promise he's not, we haven't taught him how to be gangsta.)

"How's my hair, mom?"


For the past week he hasn't been sleeping much at all throughout the day, preferring to be held instead. But he took a nice long nap in his bassinet yesterday, so I'm hopeful that maybe it was just a growth spurt or something, and I do have a child who likes to nap after all! At night, he sleeps a four or five-hour stretch (usually), for which I am very thankful. (Sometimes that's all the sleep I get, but it's amazing what one can accomplish on only five hours of sleep!)


Now, almost six weeks in, I'm figuring out his moods and what he wants when he acts or cries a certain way. I'm learning how he best likes to be rocked to sleep, what soothes him the most. It's so amazing getting to know this tiny person, watching him grow and become more and more aware and alert everyday. My heart nearly bursts when I watch him with his daddy (I think he looks like him) and with his sisters, who absolutely adore him. To see him with sweet cousins and aunts and uncles and grandparents, with our best friends, all the many dear people who love our son, makes me smile every time.


All in all, Bennett is usually a very sweet and happy babe. How we love this little guy!