Almost One Week Old!

How hard

to believe that less than a week ago we had no idea how this little man would look or sound, no idea how totally in love we would all be with everything about him--his button nose, his almond eyes, his silky black hair already perfectly coiffed, his sweet little mouth and great big yawns! Not to mention his tiny, but long, fingers and toes.

His first two nights home, he challenged us all to a contest of endurance. He apparently disliked something about being put into his crib, so whenever Esperanza finished feeding him and tried to put him down he would wake and cry. This went on about every 20 minutes or so, because he was eating that often. So, Grandma and Grandpa took turns holding him between feedings so that he would sleep, and Mom could, too! Grandpa said his two shifts (of 2 and 3 hours each) were some of the most delightful moments he's ever experienced. Grandma was thrilled to sing lullabies ad infinitum, and even began making up some after the umpteenth chorus of "Too-ra-loo-ra" and "Hush, Little Baby."

On the third night at home, Frankie seemed to settle into a bit of a routine with Mom. He would nurse about every 2 hours, and then let her put him in his crib beside her bed while he continued to sleep. This worked much better for everyone--the adults have caught up on their sleep and Frankie seems to be figuring out his nights and days. He has begun to have a kind of alert play-time in the middle of the afternoon, and again in early evening when he coos and smiles and entertains just by being who he is!