Smitten

Slowly coming out of my self-imposed hibernation… it’s hard to believe that Madeline arrived a full week ago already! The last seven days have definitely been a blur, with one day blending into the next, filled with lots of tender moments, love and genuine adoration (and a definite lack of sleep!).

It’s so easy to forget what it’s like having a baby in the house, and all the little quirks that they bring with them. After all, it’s been awhile since Nicholas was a baby.

We are all positively smitten with her, and everyone has been caught more than once just staring at her while she sleeps. I think Nicholas has surprised me the most. The first day she was home, he took a chair from his bedroom and dragged it into hers, placing it gently in front of her crib, just watching her sleep. For an hour. And a half. Dutifully reporting to me every time she blinked, moved or breathed. Every time he is near her, he’s talking to her, singing to her or gently stroking her hair or her face. It’s sure been something to watch, and I am so incredibly proud of him.

Tomorrow things will slowly go back into a routine and I’ll start easing my way into the kitchen. Aside from break-and-bake cookies and a quicker-than-quick lasagna*, my time in the kitchen lately has been minimal, and barely existent. Luckily The Husband has been making dinner, and we’ve become fast friends with local take-out places. And, of course, our friends and family have brought over food and groceries during the past week. The best present you could ever give someone when they have a baby? Food! In any form or fashion.

Thank you for all your wonderful comments and e-mails over the past week – each one more touching than the next, and we thoroughly loved reading them.

Until tomorrow…

* On a recent episode of Rachael Ray’s talk show, she made Mile High Lasagna. While I didn’t follow the recipe, I remembered that she layered everything in a loaf pan, which is what I did. I had a box of no cook noodles, which I layered with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and various meats I found while foraging in the fridge. Put it in a 350 oven for half an hour, covered, then 15 minutes uncovered, then rested it for 15 minutes and an easy-peasy dinner was born.

Print it!