Four months down...212 to go

But I guess that is only if I can get her out of the house when she turns 18! ;)

Yes, all of you mothers were right...things are soooooo much better now. My mental capacity is still diminished, and I have never been more forgetful or clumsy, but I am getting more sleep and that makes me really happy.

Anabella is doing wonderfully. The doctor said she is "one of the strongest babies" she has ever seen, and Dan proudly told her that Anabella "works out" every day. (Head slap goes here!) I am constantly reminding him that she is a little girl and not a Marine in boot camp. :)

She is a very, very happy baby and finds joy in all the simple things. (Burps, farts and sneezes are all VERY amusing...so I know she is for sure Dan's baby! HA.) She is sitting up, with a little assistance, and rolls, rolls, rolls all the time (right off the couch one day, so I definitely lost my "Mother of 2005" award). It is so fun to watch her develop!

Other things I find fascinating about Anabella:
- She holds her pinky finger in the air when she takes a bottle and when she nurses...she has also started to cross her legs at the ankles. Such a little lady!
- She loves Ellen Degeneres (she coos, smiles and giggles whenever we watch her show)!
- 99% of the time, when you smile at her, she totally lights up and smiles right back.

In case you are still counting...
- Pounds to pre-pregnancy weight: 5.5
- Number of items bought after watching infomercials: 4 (ask me about the Paint Buddy or my new Magic Bullet!)

Week 8 -- The Fog is Lifting

According to those who have gone before me, I am two-thirds of the way there...to more sleep that is. (And I am counting the days!) So far, motherhood has been quite a rollercoaster of experiences! Anabella is a super sweet baby...Dan and I are both totally wrapped. She finally has us on a schedule that we like to call "do what I want, when I want."

So, we are sleeping in shifts and doing the best we can to meet her needs. She has started smiling, without the assistance of gas, and had her first belly laugh a week ago...although we had no clue what she was laughing about. Probably just thinking about how she makes us jump through hoops. :) She also said her first word last week..."Ga"...which is the periodic symbol for gallium. I guess she is going to be a scientist.

Current counts:
- Severe headbutts (meaning those that draw blood): Rhonda - 1
- Times we have been "shat" on: Rhonda - 1; Dan - 1
- Pounds to pre-pregnancy weight: Rhonda - 13; Dan - ?
- Average hours of sleep per night: Rhonda - 4.5; Dan - 7 (ARGH!)
- Items bought after watching infomercials and/or Home Shopping Network in the middle of the night: Rhonda - 2