She's one week old.  We survived?  We made it?  We got through?  Not sure how to sum it up.

It's surreal.  I can't believe she has been here for a week.  I can't even remember a time without her now.  It seems like she has been here for so long.

I don't know how to sum up the week because honestly it wasn't too terrible.  **knock HARD on wood**  Sure there were moments where my emotions were OUT of this world.  There were moments when the baby woke up in the night and just couldn't go back to sleep.  There were moments where the pain from giving birth was absurd.

But when I look back I don't feel tired, stressed, unprepared.  I was blessed to have my parents here in Georgia for a week.  My mom helped by cooking for us and doing our laundry for a week.  Both my mom and my dad helped with Piston.  Plus grandparents make the absolute best baby holders and my daughter was not going to fight that.  They held her late a few nights so that Rob and I could rest.

They left this morning.  I'm sad, not going to lie.  It would be so nice to have my parents near us.  But unfortunately we have chosen the military life, which will often take us far away from our support system.

We are lucky nonetheless.  Grace is a beautiful baby.  In the last week, we figured out the breast feeding thing.  We learned she does not like wet diapers, at all.  We've both been peed on while changing a diaper.  We've cuddled.  She's enjoyed her swing.  We went to a restaurant for the first time.  We got out of the house on three other occasions with baby.  She sleeps well and hard.  She's spent time alert and awake staring at her surroundings.  She even has good head control.  She's gotten a sponge bath.  She's adjusted.

And Piston?  Was meant to be a big brother.  She cries? He runs.  He gives her the softest little kisses.  When he is away from her for any amount of time.. he runs to find her and check on her.  I don't know what I expected with him... I knew he'd adjust well, he is hands down the most easy going dog.. ever.  But I guess I didn't realize he would adjust so easily and well.

So back to summing up the first week?  We've soaked up every last second... and I thank God for this sweet little girl... there really are no other words.

written Saturday February first.