There was a time when eight weeks were easily counted on two hands and in a glance at a calendar that time would seem no more than a scattering of days on a page. These eight weeks, now, stretch out like a long cat in the sun. My memory is warm and slightly faint, the struggle of the early days blunted and fading, her giggles and smiles blanket them comfortingly.

Watching her awaken to the world is a wondrous experience. Her joy at discovering the smallest of things from the soft touch of a stuffed animal to the piercing shriek of a cry unfolding into a laugh coming up short at her own wide-eyed amazement that the sound slipped out from between her own lips. Legs stretching and pushing as hard as they can to support her weight, you can see her determination and intent to stand as tall as everyone else so that she will not miss a single thing and the frustration that crosses her face when her strength falters and her bottom plunges back down unto the lap of her parents.

My life before Gabriella is quickly receding into the past and I find it increasingly difficult to remember a life without her snuggling deep into my chest or exploring my face with her slender fingers. She is a beautiful person possessed by an uncanny ability to wash away old regrets and bring purpose to my hours.  If this is what eight weeks has brought I can only imagine the gifts to come in time.

Gabriella is amazing. Certainly that is something that every parent states but she has thrown my world into disarray with her coos, giggles, smiles, cries, and snuggles. All the things I once did have been swept aside; I’m taking longer to read a book, letting server projects gather dust, even my walks with Peri are shorter and quicker. Expected yet surprising at the same time.

Gabriella is determined to set her own schedule and now is regularly sleeping seven to eight hours a night. She clearly distinguishes night from day, though she loathes to go to bed, even at six weeks, if there is still socializing to be had so the whole house needs to be quickly approaching slumber before she will sleep. Intensely curious and wakeful is this little girl.

She is possessed of an appetite that we never planned for as she now tosses back some five to six ounces a sitting. Oddly enough, she is not ballooning up like a mini-Michelin man rather she is stretching out as if made of rubber. All the food has emboldened and strengthened her as she is making an incredible effort to push herself up with her legs. Able to stand, with a hand at her back and tummy for balance, for longer and longer stretches of time we chew our lips in worry that she will be careening through the house on two legs before any of us, including her, are really ready.

She is growing up fast, these scant weeks have seen so many changes in her and I feel barely able to keep up with them.  I can only guess at what will come and hope that my memory is not too slippery to hold on to them.