So many theories, so little time.

There are WAY too many books on childrearing available. Not to mention the almighty internet. What's a girl to do? Honestly - one book says feed your baby every two hours, another says feed her when she's hungry. One article says put your baby to bed at 7pm and let her wail until she falls asleep, another says let her make her own sleep schedule. Pacifier or no pacifier?

I just don't want to Create A Monster. Ya know? Things are fine now, but what about in a month or two? What we're doing now could totally have a bad, really bad, rebound affect. It's mind boggling to think that my decision to Let Her Cry or Let Her Sleep could affect how well she learns or sleeps when she's a high schooler. However, I think we've taken the best approach - just cross our fingers and hope for the best. That's responsible parenting, isn't it?

Here's something that one book frowns upon and another grins:

LadyBug loves to fall asleep in her swing. Especially outside in the shade with the warm breeze while her parents work diligently pulling weeds and drink cool refreshing beer.

But one thing we do know, a good nap for her produces these kinds of smiles:

Let there be smiles and rolls in the hay

Went to see FancyOB yesterday - she gave me the green flag for exercise and sex. Not that they have to be mutually exclusive, I suppose. That exam HURT like hell! FancyOB said that hormones (its always the hormones, isn't it?) are causing the lining of the vagina to be really thin and thus ultra sensitive. Sex will probably be uncomfortable at best until I stop breastfeeding. I've been holding BigB back, using the C-section green flag as an excuse - really I just have no energy or desire to whooop it up in the sack. I thought perhaps the mojo would return in those magic six weeks after birth, but it continues to evade. Now I'm scared. More pain! I'm going to have to just go for it and hope for the best. BigB has been a very patient man but I can't string him along like a 16 year-old virgin forever.

LadyBug is now smiling - dang I'm glad. When she busts out that ear-to-ear grin, it makes all the puke on my clothes/furniture/hair and that ever-present curdled milk smell worth it. She's also found her fist and loves to suck on it. Super cute. At what point does your fist outgrow your mouth? I've seen a few adults who can cram their hand inside their yapper, but it doesn't look comfortable or natural. LadyBug just slurps away, happy as can be.

She's grown out of her newborn clothes and onesies. And has even grown out of most of her 0-3 month stuff. She seems to be pretty big for a six week old, but what do I know? I have nothing to compare her to. Her cheeks are getting nice and puffy, and the rolls on her thighs are cavernous. FancyOB says a pudgy baby is best - all that extra fat (that we as adults abhor) really help her brain development - she's going to be one smart little girl!

Still having a hard time believing that she's not going anywhere. That she's here to stay for at least another 18 years. When does it start to feel permanent and not just a temporary thing?