4 weeks

Ellaree Rose is 4 weeks old today.  It seems that time is flying by but at the same time it feels like she has always been with us.  We are settled in and spend our days feeding, changing, holding, and sleeping.  Each day seems to run into the next, but we are learning how to get some things done in between.  Everyone was right when they said that you should sleep when she sleeps, but I fall in the category of most people that don't. 

Ellaree has grown a lot in the past 2 weeks.  We don't know how much she weighs, but we tried to measure her length and we think she is 19 inches.  She doesn't go back to the pediatrician until August 5 which will be her 2 month check-up.  Ellaree is such a good baby and we have not experienced any of the hard times that others talk about.  She has learned to cry when she is hungry, sleepy, or needs changing but its only a short cry or two and she is done.  She makes a lot of noise at night and we are having a hard time sleeping through that even though she isn't.  We are also learning that she doesn't need to be fed every time she wakes up. 

This afternoon for the first time I fed her, swaddled her, and laid her down in the crib and shut the door to let her sleep in complete peace.  I am trying to find out how long she will sleep on her own if we don't interrupt her.  I have to admit most days I will hold her while she sleeps or put her in her bouncer seat near me and whatever I am doing.  I am assuming that she may sleep more soundly and longer in the crib, so this is my test.  I laid her down at 2:45 and it is now 4:15 and she is still sleeping soundly.  However, there is nothing more I would rather be doing than holding her.