Opal's Second Month

At two months old, Opal is an integral part of our family.  She is smiling and cooing now, and when she looks into my eyes and smiles I swear her soul is shining directly into mine.  When Lucy was a newborn, I cried with every gained milestone, wishing she could stay my baby forever.  As sentimental as I still am, at least now I have the experience of what is to come, and that it just keeps getting better.  I love that Opal can smile and "talk" now.

Opal has an opinion of her own, just like her sisters.  I would be concerned at this point if she did not - I mean, how would she manage with three older sisters if she had no opinion of her own?  Her current opinions - baths are a terrible waste of time and doctor appointments aren't that great either.

She seems to enjoy walks and really prefers to sleep in her Rock and Play bassinet if she can't first sleep in her mom or dad's arms.  Some days she sleeps better than others, but it seems like lately, she goes for several day stretches where I can't even set her down for a nap.  In the bottom, right hand picture below, I am having a rare moment with hot tea and a sleeping baby that isn't in my arms.

 A friend of mine reminded me of the convenience of soft baby carriers for when I still need to get stuff done and Opal prefers to nap while held.  I don't know why I forgot about that, but am happy to say that it seems to be the perfect compromise for Opal and her mama.

Opal loves her daddy, and takes great naps snuggled on him.  And, just like her sisters, she already has Will pegged for the funny guy, and will stick out her belly and smile so big whenever she spots her dad.  

The sisters are still infatuated with their baby sister, and we are still discussing what the opposite of help entails.  Fighting over helping me with Opal is in fact, the opposite of help.  Lucy has been granted the responsibility of being able to hold Opal while walking around, and has even gotten Opal to sleep for me several times.  I think Opal may even regard Lucy as her second mommy, which fills Lucy with such pride.

Opal met her Uncle Tim and Uncle Chris on Easter, and even sprinkled her Uncle Tim with infant urine.  When he was holding her she also pooped crazy amounts, and we kept reassuring Tim that her poopy diaper wouldn't leak on him as he kept mentioning he felt "damp".  Sure enough, after he handed Opal back to me, he needed a shirt change.  This is the stuff family legends are made of.

 In the top, left two pictures below, Opal is sleeping through Easter in a vintage bouncer from when her daddy and Uncle Tim were babies, and also in a lamb dress that we bought after Luke told me in a dream we would have a healthy baby girl named Lucy.  It's been such a gift to see all four "healthy baby girls" wear it.

 Oh Opal, you look so much like your sisters, and despite our exhaustion, we are glad that you have opinions of your own - you will need them to hold your own as the youngest of four girls!