Darby June comes home....to a lot of love and sleeps a ton

At Reston Hospital, they give Moms a really nice "you did it!" dinner after your baby is born.  Well, the kitchen was closed half the time I was there, so the food was even grosser than usual, but I really didn't mind so much (I actually like hospital food, haha).  Then, as a surprise, I got my special dinner at the end of my stay.  It was the best ever.  I was SO hungry that it was honestly the best meal I've ever had.  There was this really rich chocolate cake that totally hit the spot.  

Once Darby was home, life was crazy for a couple of weeks (and beyond really)!  She was sleepy, sleepy, but I was sick with mastitis and then a random kid virus.  I survived only through the tireless efforts of Joel, Zina, and Matt (who was going back and forth between work and holding down the fort here).  It was a full-time job for four people!  Beck and Ramsey had a blast of course.  We tried a new sleeping strategy at this new house, which included me sleeping in the baby's room (rather than Darby sleeping in our room), and it worked beautifully.  Darby has been a pretty good sleeper from the start, and around 8 in the morning once everyone else was up at at 'em, I could sleep in with Darby.  Matt was able to get a reasonable amount of rest at night so that he could go to work and function.  This is the most sleep Matt and I have gotten after having a baby by far.  It was still rough, but definitely an improvement.  Beck and Ramsey are so in love with Darby and fight over who gets to "spend time with Darby."  It's a privilege that they are really serious about.

This time around, I pretty much stayed with Darby constantly and let everyone else take care of Beck and Ramsey and household things.  It was different.  I was surprised to realize that I had barely let anyone hold Darby, and felt guilty when Zina sheepishly mentioned having a turn holding the baby!  She is so cuddly and I feel conscious of keeping her safe considering all of the chaos around here.  Beck has shown his love by constantly dancing and singing to Darby, as well as sharing his beloved "other blanket" and Baby Panda with her.  Ramsey loves to hold Darby, wants so badly to pick her up but always asks first, and reads to Darby all the time.  It is so beautiful.

Speaking of reading, Ramsey is on a roll!!!!  She really enjoys reading to Beck and Darby, and reading is becoming easier and easier for her.  She is amazing.