What I Love about Grace...a.k.a. An Ode to Grace

I can't figure out how to put pictures with posts, so you'll just have to refer to the long line of Grace pictures I've already put up.  I know that mommies enjoy raving about how wonderful, talented, smart, and beautiful their children are.  I think it's about time that I join the adoring mommy club.  I love my baby.  I really had very little real experience with newborns before Grace (besides babysitting...which doesn't count) so I didn't know much about what to expect.  I read baby book after baby book hoping to be prepared for what I would feel and what I would need to know, but nothing could describe to me how much this little girl would get into my heart and how much she would mean to me.  Not to mention the special little quirks and abilities she would come with.  

From the beginning, it seemed like Grace had little insights into my emotional state and came knowing how to deal with me.  Interesting.  I thought it would be the other way around.  I will always remember one specific time when I was crying about something (could have been anything, really) and holding Grace in my arms facing me.  At first Grace was crying as well, but as my crying got more insistent, she stopped and started smiling at me.  It was as if she knew that I needed a little encouragement--that she needed to be happy for mommy.  There were other instances like this as well and Spencer has mentioned this happening to him, too.  Who knew that babies could cue into their parents' emotions and show a kind of empathy?

At this point (Grace is 11 weeks old), it takes so little to get her smiling.  All I have to do is look at her usually, and she smiles.  She smiles at me even when I've left her in her crib crying for a bit so that I could finish something I was working on.  She forgives so easily (or forgets).  She reminds me a little of our deceased family dog, Rita.  No matter how long we would leave Rita alone in the yard, as soon as we went out there again, she was overjoyed to see us.  Never reproachful; never bitter.  I feel that from Grace so often.  Sure, she has her grumpy days (she gets that from her mom...), but her happiness and excitement is contagious.  I didn't know she would be like that.    

And cooing!  I had no idea her little noises would make me melt so easily.  And they never get old.  

Other cute things about Grace: when the sun gets in her eyes, she bats at it and makes a face like she just ate something terribly disgusting.  She loves sucking on her hands.  For a long time, she hated swinging in her swing, but would happily sit stationary in it for long periods of time just watching Spencer and I do whatever we are doing.  She's just a very social little baby.  As long as she feels like she's being included (a glance and happy word thrown her way at random every few minutes), she's good to go.  

Well, I could probably go on, but I won't.  If anyone actually reads to the end of this, thanks for indulging me.  I guess if nothing else, this is good for my own records of my baby's first months.