On the mend...I think...

Monica seems to be doing better today, but it's hard to tell since it's still pretty early. Yesterday, by noon, she was going downhill quickly. I think one indication of her feeling unwell is screaming in the bathtub. Normally, this is her favorite time of the day, the great equalizer. No matter what was happening pre-bath, even getting her undressed in the bath routine makes her start to smile and coo. The past couple nights, bathtime has not been happy time.

Being a brand new mom and not knowing a whole lot of infants in my time, I tend to get stuck in her phases, thinking that she will always fuss about this or be moody about that. I think some of that is being at home and not getting out much either. But, at this point in her life, Monica needs to be at home a lot because she takes a lot of naps, and if she misses a nap, it's really rough for the rest of the day. Sleep and routine are really important, and Monica has a temperament that thrives on routine and predictability. I suppose many babies are like this.

However, I am finding that balance needs to be pursued. If I just fall into taking care of Monica's needs and not making a concerted effort to take care of myself-praying, showering, exercising, eating well, engaging in some enjoyable activities-I am definitely not the mom I aspire to be.

Here are a couple of pictures I took today. It is really tough to capture her precious little smile on the camera. I think it's the flash. She usually just ends up looking surprised or completely freaked out.