Don't hate me.

I feel extraordinarily well-rested. I was getting a lot of rest at the end of my pregnancy - seems all I did was sleep. It's just that none of that sleep did me any good. I was exhausted constantly.

I am sleeping less now, naturally. However, I do not feel as though I am missing sleep at all. There were daily naps in the first week postpartum. Now, in the second week there has only been one nap - and this more of a midday lounge with Fatherbeast and cold beer in the direct path of an air conditioning unit, brought about by LA's grab-bag of freakish February weather.

I realize that this is not the common state of affairs for new parents. However, it seems we have an uncommonly placid child. I was expecting to be dazed with sleep deprivation, near tears, unable to even shower or prepare basic meals, at the mercy of an id-driven, wailing little stranger. Instead, the Fatherbeast and I are enjoying leisurely breakfasts at the table, a tidy nest, and an active social life. The possibility exists, I realize, that I may jinx this somehow. But even with my lack of experience I can tell that this is a Very Good Baby we have here.

We are co-sleeping, insofar as she sleeps in a bassinet next to our bed. Yes, she does wake up sporadically to eat. This does not involve crying. She just kind of squeeks. We call her Squeeky. We also call her Hedgehog. Or just Hog. Or Piglet. Or Milkface. Or Milkface Monkeypants. Or Her Excellency. She should learn her actual name by the time she's one.

At any rate, I am LOVING maternity leave. I could stare at this little girl all day long. And I do! I'm also relishing the unexpected energy and focus. Instead of wandering around zombiefied in my pajamas I am using this time to plan for the very interesting future that awaits our little family. All of my parts and pieces are coming back together (i.e., I can sit and ambulate comfortably now) and I'm overjoyed to have six more weeks of this bliss ahead of me.

I'll be ready to start working out fairly soon!

Breastfeeding is definitely a team sport. Nova and I are learning each others' patterns and habits. As of now, I am feeding her on demand. However, I might have to introduce more structure into our schedule. Her mealtimes are sporadic: an hour between feedings here, two and a half hours there, four hours the next time. The time she spends on the breast is correspondingly erratic: sometimes she spits out the Nip after five minutes, sometimes I have to wake her up to pry her off after a thirty minute tit-binge. I have a hard time telling whether I am feeding her enough. Additionally, I had hoped to start pumping and saving milk for when I return to work, but at this rate I cannot because she is nursing constantly and I can't edge in time for the Medela. Perhaps a regimen is what is needed. More on this as it develops.

Here is the requisite adorable baby picture: