Wow...it really is better

Thanks to all those who reassured me that things will get easier with time. Thank God.

The transition back to work and putting Noelle in daycare went pretty smoothly. Noelle is not old enough to have separation anxiety (although she does still watch me like a hawk when I'm in the room) so she went to daycare without a hitch. And I am gosh darn happy to be back at work. Seriously! I appreciate the daily contact with the real world and my friends again. I miss Noelle a lot (as my co-workers will attest to since I will sometimes just stare at her photo on my desk) but being away from her during the day makes me appreciate her more and more patient with her when I'm finally with her. So, going back to work is great all around- I get to have adult contact again, I'm getting a paycheck again, and I am a better mother for Eli (my nickname for her...in addition to "Stinker"- for when she cries and cries until we pick her up at which she will instantly switch off the crying; "Fussy" when she's her grumpy self and crying off and on no matter what we do). Heh.

In terms of how she has changed in the past month...wow. She's now 13lbs and some change and 2 feet in length. She just started rolling over yesterday after a few weeks of constant rolling to her side. She was taking a nap and then she started crying but it sounded muffled. So we went to take a look and there she was, on her belly (even though we placed her on her back). She was crying into the mattress even though she can (when she wants to) push up on her forearms. Nice indignant cry she got there.

She has also started actively grabbing at things- our hands, toys, etc. She is also starting to try to get to her feet, even if it means jack-knifing herself forward to get to them. When she is sleepy, she sucks on just her right middle and ring fingers, thereby making a rocker sign. Hmmm...maybe listening to all that Rock Band in utero DID have an effect. She is also even more social- cooing and shrieking and talking to those she is familiar with. She also started laughing which we of course love and try our hardest to get on videotape. However, switching the video camcorder on is the surefire way so far to make her freeze and DO NOTHING. Bleah.

And what's making me happiest: she typically sleeps from ~9:30PM till ~6AM in the morning!! WHOOHOOOOOO!!!! She also goes down to sleep at night without the crazy screaming/crying for 4 hours that she used to do. It makes for a much more tranquil evening. Course, I'm still going to sleep as early as I can since I now need to get up at 5:30 every morning to pump and take care of stuff before leaving with her for the day. Great...I now have the hours that my grandparents did- what an exciting life I lead. =P Still, life is pretty good. And she is 16 weeks old today! Wow. Weird.