2 Weeks Old

So, today is our anniversary, and also the 2 week "birthday" of our Lila Grace. As of now, the anniversary is moot. :( Ben's in Iraq, and this 5th year goes stacking up on the shelf with the others.....yes, now it's been 5 years since our wedding. It hardly feels like we've been married that long because of some 29-odd months of separation in there. Still, our love is deep, and we experience more "honeymoons" than most people who've been married 5 years. Every homecoming is sheer bliss.

Lila Grace is a pretty easy baby--all round. She sleeps quite soundly at her "naptimes" all day, which are beginning to take shape into the Classic Trio already. She gets drowsy right at Violet's bedtime, 8 PM, and though she's hard to keep quiet, and must be held and kissed (yes, that's thanks to Ben) till we go to bed together, I'm still thankful that she's already got some form of "schedule." She sleeps in our [modified] bed all night, with only brief feedings--maybe 3-4 a night (long night, though...starting at 9:30 PM, waking up for good at 8AM). I should knock on wood, I suppose, since they're apt to change so quickly.

Still, even doing this parenting alone, I'm managing to keep my head above water ok. Healing up from the birth (bleeding, that is, since there were no tears) has been slow, just because I've had to do everything--EVERYTHING--since Ben left. My High Hills to Conquer so far have been:

• A breast infection (high fever, too)
• Laundry (Postpartum night sweats have been unREAL, and the sheets have to be washed every morning)
• Cooking real meals (I'm SO HUNGRY, but have little time to cook)
• Troubleshooting diaper issues. (the homemade ones I invested in are giving me a lot of trouble. Something I could TOTALLY do without right now. But that's another story)

Violet is a joyful, eager helper. She does EVERYTHING I ask, and is such an agile, coordinated little creature, she accomplishes so much more than I imagined possible.

I'm blessed by our family of girls....something I never saw in our future, but something I'm just incredibly excited about. I think it comes from having such a deep love for my husband. Having my femininity multiplied by having girls, each beautiful little creature reflecting that same love and adoration for my man......well, it's just like a dream come true. He deserves it, above all others in the world, in my opinion. And I'm happy to keep delivering more little adoring girls into his care. Ben, you're the King. :)

One last little nugget (er, brag): At 2 weeks post partum, I'm 7 pounds away from my pre-preg. weight. More exciting, though, is that I am already into about half of my regular wardrobe! This is totally thanks to a dedication to pregnancy workouts...mostly SWIMMING. It was a totally awesome thing to give birth and watch my OWN FIGURE pop out from under that belly. What a blessing! It's especially exciting since I'm looking forward to another "Honeymoon" with my husband in another 10 or so weeks.

P.S. Happy Anniversary to Us. Ben, you're the love of my life....Hand-picked for me by God...outstanding among ten-thousand.....altogether lovely....my lover, my friend.