Erin's Professional Picture

This is just a preview of what's to come! I don't get to see the rest till next week, and I'll post the link when it happens.

Erin Says "hi"

It honestly sounds like she says hi... this isn't a great video of it, but you can get the point... I wanted to share her cooing.
She's been really cooing for about a week now, and it's so cute. These last few days she's been really working that tounge. It's too cute. Just wanted to share. Enjoy. :)

Berette

With the sun out, I want to go out... but can't leave little Erin all to her own devices! So I wrap her in the Moby and stick a hat on her... isn't she cute!!

It's the hat Grandpa Tim got her a while back. So I showed off how cute she looks in it when he came over.

Brains and Beauty

Josh came over and gave Erin some really cool nerd gifts! He gave her a Star Trek onsie, "zombie snack" bib, and some "young mad scientist" alphabet blocks. She's still a bit small for the onsie and bib, but here are some pictures of her admiring the craftsmanship on the blocks.

Announcements

Finally! I got the announcements out... just in time, too. Everything I read on sending them out said I shouldn't wait longer than 6 weeks... so "whew!" I'm glad you got the announcement I sent you, but please beware of what you read. I'll try to be a little bit more PG on this. Enjoy!

Snow Angel

So it had been snowing all day yesterday and a bit of today. After this morning, though, it stopped... so Chris and I took the opportunity to take pictures of Erin's first snow (in spite of the fact that there was snow on the ground when we brought her home from the hospital). Enjoy the video we made as well!

Tummy Time with Erin Rich

Signing "My" name

Erin signing her name for Mimi's (Patty Rich) birthday card.

Baby Blogging

I want people to realize I haven’t been blogging as much (a) because with Erin I haven’t had as much time, and (b) also because I have a lot in the journal where I’m documenting (mainly complaints about the breastfeeding). Not a lot. But emotionally a lot is there. And I don’t want to look back and remember those feelings… and I don’t want Erin to look at this later and go “wow, she really hated me.” Because I don’t. I don’t ever want her to feel that way. I feel like our bond is growing, I just wish I was able to be better at it and not in so much pain when we spend time together. I feel like a bad mother. I know I’m not but just let me vent it out. I don't feel like holding her close all the time, even though I really want to, because my nipples hurt so much it hurts to wear shirts sometimes. I haven't been talking to her like I should, because I'm sort of on auto-pilot. I want to be in the moment, but I'm always thinking ahead, like I always have.
I can’t tell when she’s hungry or just crying. I keep thinking that every time she cries I should just pop her on my boob, but I know that’s not the only reason she cries, so I don’t. It makes me want to cry. It seems like I can’t be around her without her being suddenly overcome with hunger. I am not a bad mother but it feels like I can’t be around her unless she’s hungry, and so she’s always in other people’s arms. That’s what makes me a bad mother. I’m not passing her off, but it feels like I am. I’m just the food source, but I want that bond that other people are getting. I want to spend time with my baby, and not just the feeding machine. I want to be able to hold her and have fun with her. I get so jealous of everyone else that gets to come and visit because she’s fine and fun with them. With me it seems all business “come on, lets eat.” I don’t want these early moments to slip away, and I don’t want to behoove everyone else the joy of holding and being around her. But I want my time to do it too when I’m not just holding her to feed her. Let’s face it, when the mother refers to it as feeding instead of nursing, there are some issues; Because you feed an animal, but you nurse your child. It's too business-y and I don't want that. This is my child and I love her... so very very much. I hate how these feelings creep in. I just need some "us" time, I guess.

Picture Perfect Parent?

I've realized how many pictures I’m not in with her. It’s not because I feel fat, because I don’t. I know that that is a common complaint from mothers and why they didn’t take pictures with their children so soon after childbirth. It’s because I’m always the one taking the pictures. But I really miss not being in the pictures with her. I hope she doesn’t look back on them and go “Mommy who?”

ERIN IS HERE!!!

OK, so by now you probably already know that Erin is here. But due to that fact I've been super busy. I have been journaling day to day things with her, but have not gotten them posted. It will happen... just might be a couple of months before it does.
Anyway:
ERIN ELIZABETH ROSE RICH
born on 2-10-2010 (mathmatically wonderful)
weighing 7.9 lbs and 20.5 inches in length.

We are so proud of her and totally in love.

Will update soon... I think.

Young Yoda

Chris decided to put Erin in her Bumbo and lo-and-behold she looked like Yoda as she fell asleep in it... so Chris had some fun with her... poor dear.