The Real Napster

Dear Little Zoe,

I miss you when you nap.  I want to wake you to see your cute little squinty eyes that match your daddy's.  I want to snuggle close to you and smell your baby smell.  But when you sleep you are comfortable.  You are happy.  Some times when you are awake you are cranky and not very content. So I let you nap.  And you are quite a napper.  At night time you only wake up once at about 5 am and that makes this mama very happy.  Your brothers were not cranky or colicky but they woke up every 2 hours at night.  You let mama sleep and sleep... Sometimes you don't wake up all night. What's that about?  Are you some kind of amazing baby or what?

I really want you to not have tummy aches so mama started doing some research to see what could be hurting your tummy and causing you grief.  One culprit could be the protein found in cow's milk. You aren't drinking cow's milk, of course - you're not even 2 months old yet.  But mama is.  Lots of it!  And the protein gets in the breast milk and your tummy doesn't like it one bit.  So, for you, I cut it out of my diet.  I am drinking only goat milk.  Which I've come to like.  Your grandparents are also drinking goat milk and they are saying it's the best milk in the land.  You are doing a bit better since mama stopped chugging the cow's milk, but you are still pretty fussy sometimes.  Your daddy and I have also purchased some gripe water for you.  We call it "Pickle Juice" because it smells like a jar of dill pickles since one of the ingredients is dill.  I am on the hunt for what else helps.

You also like to nurse laying down.  You are such a little goose! When mama lays down with you to nurse, you get sleepy and mama gets sleepy.  I wish I could sleep every time you sleep.  But that's just not the way it works.  Your brothers need mama's constant attention (and Super Vision) and the chores around the house certainly won't take care of themselves.  I know when you'll be older you'll be a big helper to mama.  The boys are too, but if mama is napping with you then the chores are napping too.  When I nurse you sitting down your tummy complains and you cry.  I don't want to cause you pain so I lay down with you every chance we get.  We snuggle and nap together... but often our nursing is interrupted and you are woken up by two very loud and bouncy brothers.  In time we'll get this, you and I.  Another month or so and you'll be better, I'm sure of it.  

I love you Zoe.  You make mama and daddy very happy.  We are over-the-moon excited to have you join our little family. 

Love,

Your mama