My funny Valentine indeed

Dear Maya,

You're seven weeks old now--must be lucky seven for us since you've really been progressing this week.

We celebrated Valentine's Day a little early with daddy.  On Saturday, two days ahead, we made a couple little treats for him while he was out of the house.  Mommy made him some apple cake with crushed candied pecans on top.  You made him a sweet Valentine's Day card--mommy traced your feet and cut the shapes out of pink card stock, then glued them to the front of the card in the shape of a heart.  Who knew that babies automatically come with a symbol of love like that?

On Sunday night, you gave mommy and daddy the greatest Valentine's gift we could have hoped for--six straight hours of sleep!  You went to bed around eleven as usual, and when you fussed, mommy couldn't believe her eyes at the sight of "5:08" on the clock.  You were so rested that we just stared at each other for a little while after you nursed, then mommy called your great-grandma to report.  After daddy got up, we made sure to compare notes to see if we could recreate this schedule miracle.

Monday was Valentine's Day, so we went to take some cookies over to grandma and Papa Stan.  They had the cutest card for you and a couple of sweet outfits for you to grow into.  Aunt Bobbie and Kelsie weren't there, but we left them these Valentine cards that we had sent out to everyone else.  After grandma's house we went to show you off at mommy's old office.  All that visiting must've worn you out because you gave us another good night--not quite six hours but mommy'll take 4:45 over the alternative.

Another gift you've given us this week is your newfound sense of humor.  You have been smiling here and there since the beginning, so much so that we don't even know when your "first smile" really happened.  This week, though, you are actually laughing.  Sometimes when we say something in a silly voice or give a laugh (real or fake), you join us with a rattling inhaling laugh.  It's so funny and so cute.  One of your favorite times to laugh is during a diaper change, making an unpleasant job all that more bearable for mommy and daddy.

Speaking of daddy, you've definitely got him wrapped around your long little finger these days.  He loves watching you work hard to the point of grunting during your daily tummy time.  He loves admiring your growing eyelashes while you sleep.  He even loves that when you cry he knows about how long it will take you to settle down if he holds you.  And have I mentioned that he loves the shape of your head?  Daddy's a sculptor so he's pretty particular about bone structure--I guess you pass the test.  :)

Well, mommy's going to go get some housework done while daddy's keeping you busy.  Love you!