Things I've learned in the past 4 weeks

I haven't been up here in the blogosphere (I feel douchey just typing that word) for the past few weeks because I've been busy learning about my little nugget Noelle, about mommy-hood, and a whole new part of myself. Here's a few of the things I've discovered:

1. It is totally possible to sit and gaze at Noelle for hours and be completely content doing it.
2. When changing diapers, you have to do it fast and keep clothing (both yours and the baby's) out of the way. 
3. When going on outings with the baby, people will want to touch and coo over your nugget. A lot of these people will be strangers. DO NOT LET STRANGERS TOUCH YOUR BABY. Learn to dodge and weave while still being polite to these people. People are dirty and carry germs.
4. I don't like Tobasco sauce nearly as much as I thought I did while I was pregnant.
5. Noelle can be well fed, changed, and absolutely exhausted and she will refuse to go to sleep. This can lead to Noelle being awake well into the night and drifting into sleep and then almost immediately waking herself up. This leads to me cuddling her and rocking her and crying all over her while praying for her to go to sleep.
6. In that same time, while I'm in tears, Noelle can look up at me with her big eyes and coo and then smile that makes it all ok. I may still be exhausted and crying, but that overwhelming feeling of love makes it ok.
7. But when the husband offers to take her and cuddle her to sleep on the couch, let him. LET HIM. 
8. Being a parent is a lot harder than I ever thought it would be. It's also a lot easier than I thought it would be. It's a strange dynamic.
9. Being a human buffet is hard.  
10. It's easy to lose your sense of independence and important to find some time to get out for some alone time or you will go crazy. As much as I absolutely adore my nugget, I have to have me time too. 
11. I'm an incredibly lucky woman. I have a gorgeous, smart, sweet little girl and I have a wonderful husband who is more than willing to help me any way that he can. He's happy to get up during the night, he encourages me to get out of the house from time to time, and he's a solid support system for me. When I was in the midst of my "baby blues" and my hormones were all out of whack, he was supportive and encouraging and patient with me.

And here's some Thanksgiving pictures.