Three Weeks.

"Look at my killer neck strength Mom! Pay no attention to those folds in my neck and try to focus on how darn cute my chubster cheeks are!"

Today, the husband said "This has been a long 3 weeks." To my own surprise, I feel the exact opposite. I can't believe time has gone so quickly since Brooke has been in our lives. Maybe it's because we were there so long, but it feels like we just left the hospital with her. She definitely seems older to me already - much more alert and animated these days. I've joked from the beginning that she came out thinking she was already 3 weeks old. True to form, she's exhibiting behaviors that you wouldn't expect of a 3-week-old but a much older baby, like smiling that isn't gas-induced, following images with her eyes, and the aforementioned neck strength (she's been holding her head up on her own since, like, day 2.) When I look at my baby girl in pictures, I can't believe how different she is already. So in awe!

The Big Lady has managed to surprise her parents and family yet again. She has gained 2 lbs since birth. Yes, that's right. Rather than losing weight as most infants do and fighting to get back to their birth weight, our "little" girl is now 11.5 lbs. I repeat, 11 and a half at 3 weeks! No wonder our backs hurt! I was slightly worried that she wasn't eating long enough at each feeding and therefore not getting enough nutrition. Clearly, I was worrying needlessly :) She really is a Big Lady (Don't worry, I won't call her this when she's older and give her a complex or send her to therapy...) Being in her bed is one of the few times she looks tiny to me (even with the big sleep sack on.) I love seeing her all snuggled in the crib, sleeping peacefully - melts my heart :) (She's not really asleep here. I went to grab my camera, but she woke up before I got back in the room. She typically sleeps on her side up against the back bumper, but when she slides more onto her back - like this - she gets angry and wakes up.)