She is so very beautiful.

When I make a brazillion dollars doing my event planning, I'm getting this apartment. [link]

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Aimée, I was just about to send out a fashion page in your direction (and possibly Jilli's too):

This dress has just two hours to go. Black lace over burgundy fabric, 40" bust, 33" waist, big poofy skirt, price not crazy high just yet. Definitely worth a look.

eta: Possibly also this, too (definitely more Aims than Jilli, this one).

And this 40-30-free hips velvet and taffeta gorgeosity.

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I know the flickr was for flea, JZ, but thanks!!

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JZ, Matilda is so beautiful. I subscribed to your photo feed, so I don't miss any. She really knows her mother, too, doesn't she. I can tell by the expression on her face that she's just captivated by you. That sort of expression is one of my most treasured memories of my children's infancy.

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That's so kind of you to say, Cindy, but today she has been wailing every time I hold her in my arms (except when feeding). It's very discouraging -- suddenly I am Do Nothing Right Gal and it's All About Dad And Big Bro, who are bringing in the love and contentment by the bucketful. Which makes me personally extra-discouraged, but happy for Matilda. My own dad and I have had a much better relationship since I grew up than ever during my childhood, and I always wanted any children I had to have a really-truly Daddy kind of father, whom they could cuddle and climb on and collapse into and trust utterly. And Matilda has that, with a bonus big brother who is just like his father in that way. It's of the good.

Also, big wet smooches to libkitty and Aims and WS and Gris and everyone else who's being all baby-admiring.

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Not to be all gooey, but personally, I think one of the best things about Matilda is how much she looks like her gorgeous mommy.

And no, the big wet smooches have nothing to do with that statement. Nothing at all.

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I would like to note that even just yesterday Matilda was gazing up at her mommy during breast feeding and making googly eyes of love and adoration at her.

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suddenly I am Do Nothing Right Gal and it's All About Dad And Big Bro

It may very well be the smell of the breastmilk. She may just be associating you with feeding time at the moment and this might be her way of telling you she's not hungry at the moment.

Babies are weird.

Their communication skills are also pretty craptastic at first.

I would like to say that the gift of that digital camera has been the one that keeps on giving to buffistas. I'm all about the Matilda feed right now.

Mom, Dad and Bro are here helping out with the kids tonight. My brother just asked me to make an entire pot of coffee which he seems to assume he's going to consume by himself tonight. It's 9:30. Drug addicts are also weird.

They're all having a great time with the kids, though. And being extra special helpful. My mom trying to wrestle Owen into his jammies was pure comedy gold.

Me taking over an hour to figure out Olivia's uncontrolled crying was a raging baboon-ass diaper rash made me feel like ass, though.

Mom and Dad are already asleep on the futon downstairs and Bro is watching recorded eps of My Name is Earl.

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I would like to note that even just yesterday Matilda was gazing up at her mommy during breast feeding and making googly eyes of love and adoration at her.

Yeah. In the tub pictures JZ (and I'm not just being kind, I felt kind of jealous when I looked at them), she is your fangurlie.

Her expression is all, "DUDE! IT'S MOMMY! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT'S HER? MOMMY! HERE! THE MOMMY! EXCUSE ME, I HAVE TO CALL EVERYONE I EVER MET."

Babies have those fussy stages. They're so hard to live though for you. I know you know it will pass and I don't want to patronize. I remember their affections switching from me to Scott and back again, too. It could be a little disgruntle making. Maybe try to look at it as a game of tag-you're-it. Take on a "I can't keep her happy anyhow, so I'll be napping while you get adored," attitude.

The best advice I can give you right now, is to try to keep her busy in the day, and wear her little self out, so she'll sleep at night. Figure out what stimulates her, and what calms her (e.g. a bath might stimulate some babies, and zonk others out). Don't be afraid to try out putting her to bed when she is content, and fed/dry, but it's sleep time. It might not work, but it's worth a shot, and gets them used to being in bed when they're wake.

You almost can't go wrong getting her outside during the day, if the weather is anything less than horrid. The fresh air seems to tire them. Mostly, just spot each other, whenever you can, to ride it out. I'm so sorry you're having a rough patch with her. She's utterly lovely, though.

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Me taking over an hour to figure out Olivia's uncontrolled crying was a raging baboon-ass diaper rash made me feel like ass, though.

Aw, ow. I cannot count the number of times I have been brought to tears by Matilda's uncontrolled crying only to find after eons of failed attempts to pacify her that the problem was the one perfectly obvious, simple thing I'd ruled out at the very beginning and consequently never tested again. Hunger; cold wet stenchy diaper; foot or hand caught in some weird pinchy space inside a too-big onesie -- behold, I too am Ass Mom.

But you've got back worries to contend with. You really should be exempt from anything else right now.

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