Fussbudget

As they say, it is a good thing babies are so darn cute. Sometimes cute little Sonia gets some pretty blood-curdling wails going, usually in the afternoon and evening. This is colic. We are lucky because even though she gets awfully upset, we can always find or do something to soothe her. We use a pacifier a lot during these times, which works wonders. Although she used it occasionally in the NICU, I rediscovered the pacifier after spending about two hours one evening trying to nurse her. She would nurse for about five seconds then start screaming, then nurse again, then scream. Finally, I put the pacifier in and like magic, she calmed. It was like, "Whew, at last something that does not squirt milk." Dancing, with a lot of bouncing, is also a good remedy. Alan is her favorite bouncer. Hats off to all the single parents out there because I cannot imagine how difficult it is not to have a partner to take turns with a fretful baby.




Much of the time, she is not fretting. She stays awake more these days and likes to lie on the floor and move her arms and legs. Her limbs are a bit jumpy, so her movements are in little spurts. Adults are de facto stationary creatures, but babies are unconsciously in motion. She will lay there in endless motion until she either falls asleep or something surprises her. When she is surprised, her eyes get big, her hands splay and go to her chest, and her legs extend down. Often, her lips purse as well, somewhat like the picture below, taken with her Grandma Tammy in June.



While she is squirming, she is often smiling. She had great fun at her Grandma Tammy and Grandpa Jeff's house last night. We put her on the ground (on a blanket) while the four of us looked down at her. Wiggle, wiggle, smile, smile. She could not decide who to smile at first! We must have watched her for over half an hour. I feel such a deep connection to her, such love, when she looks into my eyes and grins. I want to tell her: even if you cry all night, honey, I will hold you in my arms and keep you safe and warm.