Tonight after her bath Julie was falling asleep on her changing table so we put her straight to bed. Apparently she wasn't really ready to sleep so I eventually brought her back downstairs with me where she promptly fell asleep on the couch.

Today came with the realization that this is the last week that we have together in this routine we have created during my leave. I was supposed to go back to work this week, however, due to circumstances out of my control I've been awarded an extra week at home! Everything is fine with us, there is just some stuff going on at work and it is apparently easier if I wait until next week to come back. When it was first mentioned I said no, I didn't want to use my vacation time right now. Then they offered to pay me for the week ... um, sure! Today was like so many others ... we got up around 6:30 and were awake until about 8:00 then we napped until 11:00. This is where I've gotten into trouble, it is going to be hard to break these nap cycles next week! We then got up and ran some errands. I will miss our sweet mornings on the couch together.

Julie is spending more time awake these days which is wonderful, although I am quickly learning her cues that she is tired and it is time for a nap! (From what I hear she is a little like her mama when she is tired or hungry) At this point she needs a nap after being awake for an hour and a half or two hours. She sure is packing a lot into those hours. Lots of big grins for us. In addition, she is starting to coo and gurgle at us. Steve was also privy to the volume at which she can scream tonight when I was out. We definitely have to work on the volume because at this rate neither of us will have ear drums left when she is 6 months old. Man that girl can scream! When I was sympathizing with him (really, I was trying) he pointed out the distinct advantage I have in being able to feed her almost instantaneously while he has to wait for a bottle to warm and try to reason with a thrashing screaming sack of flour for those four minutes. Nothing like trying to convince a two month old that the world is not going to end if she has to wait 5 minutes to eat!