Cute Little Schmidt: My growing girl

My sweet girl is now 5 1/2 weeks old. I am sadly counting down the days until I have to return to work. I am definitely NOT ready to go back. I LOVE staying at home with her. It amazes me each day the little changes in her. Sometimes it's hard to notice them because I'm with her all the time. But when I think back to a week ago, there are so many little things that she's learned to do. It truly is amazing how quickly they change!

We had a wonderful few days with Grandpa and Grandma Ginny. Our house is quiet now that the number of visitors has subsided a bit. We are getting into a general routine, and I'm now trying to figure out the best schedule for us when I return to work. We are working on being awake more often throughout the day so that she will go to sleep better at night. Overall, she does well at night and often sleeps for 6 or so hours before waking up. However, she fights going to sleep at night, which means I'm up later trying to get her to sleep. During the day she is very good about putting herself to sleep in her bassinette or Boppy pillow (although she doesn't stay asleep long), so I am hoping we can work toward doing the same thing at night.

She is definitely "talking" more. It is so, so cute! She doesn't generally do it when someone is talking to her, but when she's hanging out on her own, she will get going! She "talks" to the bears hanging on her bassinette and the doggies hanging on her swing. She is also smiling more often. It just makes my heart burst every time I see her precious smile. At church the other day she was smiling at her toy hanging on her car seat. She would look at it and smile, then look away. Then she'd look back and smile again. She did this 3 or 4 times, and I was just cracking up! She LOVES when people talk to her; that will get her smiling most times.

I have seen my doctor, and I have been cleared of all restrictions, so that's good for me. I am looking forward to doing some swimming before going back to work. I will also enjoy not being reprimanded every time I lift something heavier than Cora. :)

I cannot express how blessed we feel to have Cora. She is an amazing little girl already. I am eager to see the person she will become, but by the same token, I don't want her to grow up! She is just so precious right now. Here are some recent pictures of her.

Chillin' in the bassinette - I love the way she has her arms behind her head!