Mom powers, activate!

Our little girl seems to be getting more and more used to life outside the womb.  Feedings are still really rough on mommy, but she is the champion of her pain and I couldn't be more proud of her.  The help of God and her family has been precious to me.  I am so proud of her!

My heart goes out to her in her pain.  To me the experience is reminiscent of her labor in that I am fairly useless except as an emotional prop.  I wish I could do so much more.  We've been doing some research online and have found a few helpful tips for getting a proper latch and reducing pain, so it seems like there is light at the end of the tunnel.  Unfortunately, we still have to travel the tunnel.  To you mom's who are reading this, do you have any tips?  Any help will be welcome. 

I mentioned in my last blog post that there was a chance for getting a decent amount of sleep due to the cluster feeding yesterday, and that hope was realized!  I got enough sleep to feel rested today and put that extra energy and awareness into nesting.  Our bedroom is now completely clean and all of our baby stuff is unpacked and organized.  It's a nice feeling to know where everything is and to be ready to meet my baby's needs. 

Lydia and I had some nice snuggles today.  Skin to skin contact is intensely fulfilling.  As wonky as this will sound, I almost feel like I can see our bond growing from it.  I love my little girl.  I love her facial expressions!  She is full of wonderment at her world and I count it as a blessing to help prepare her to experience it.  

On a slightly funny note, I feel like I am becoming more like a baby.  I'm being more vocal with my aches/pains/efforts/feelings, but instead of words it often is expressed in noises not unlike the ones my daughter frequently makes (except an octave or two lower, depending on the noise.  I'm not that much of a tenor!)  I've heard it said that you're an amalgamation of the 5 people you spend the most time with.  With how close the surface my emotions have been lately, and with the baby-like noises mentioned above, I think there may be some validity to the saying.  

Silly daddy didn't take any pictures today and Lydia is already asleep.  I'll try to remember this and take more pictures tomorrow.  

As an aside, it is one of Lydia's namesake's birthday today.  My Grandmother, Joy Layton, is 77 today.  She fell in the shower a few days ago and seems to have suffered a mini-stroke as a result.  Joy doesn't get to meet Lydia Joy until December when we fly out for Christmas.  With this in mind, please send some prayers her way.  I would love few things more than to see Lydia held by her Great Grandma.  

Since I didn't get any pictures of Lydia today, have a picture of snuggling kitties instead.