Involuntary Smiles

The first month is such a special time for bonding but a frustrating month for the baby. She can only communicate through her cries and if we cannot figure out what she needs she can only cry more. There are also the moments when she is content though, and we catch her in a smile. Each time we see her smile it makes us excited, even though we know it is probably just because she has gas or is feeling satisfied from a good feeding and not because she wants to smile at Mommy or Daddy. This first month we have to wait until she is able to control her emotions a little more and can respond to us with a big grin. I am so excited for that day but also enjoying these last few weeks of watching her grow from my little pod to my little infant.
She is two weeks and three days old today. Has she really only been here that long? She can lift her head 45 degrees off my chest, can control her arms and hands, and can stretch her legs almost perfectly straight. Although when Ben is changing her she likes to keep her legs in frog like position so he cannot get the diaper on and off. :) Right now she is curled up like a little pod on my chest sleeping. This is my favorite time of day with her. I just want to hold her and never let go, and sneak kisses onto her soft cheeks. My heart.
The other type of involuntary smiles happening around here are coming from me. I realized last night while laying in bed that ever since she got here I have begun smiling in my sleep. From the first moment I lay down to sleep post-delivery I thought of her and smiled. Every time I hear her make a noise or think of her sweet face I smile. It is not a smile I do consciously because she just makes me smile from a place I never knew existed. As my friend Erin says, no matter what is going on in a day when you see your baby girl's face it all fades away.