The simplicity of a baby is wonderful. They sleep, eat, poop, wiggle, repeat, and we are soaking up that simpleness in large amounts. The first week Aliya was home she slept practically all the time which was exactly what we all needed. Starting about a week ago, she’s begun to have more wakeful times, but still sleeps quite a bit. When she is awake, she either looks around the room, maybe looking for the origins of all those crazy sounds around her, or maybe just to get the lay of the land. Sometimes she just stares at your face for long moments, with the intensity and seriousness that only a newborn can have. And when she sleeps, it’s not merely heavy, peaceful slumber (though there is that too), but it’s somewhat active sleep. I think all babies have this, and Keana and Maia certainly had their versions of it, but sometimes when Aliya sleeps she frowns with a whimper or raises her eyebrows as if to stretch to an enlightened place with her eyes closed. Other times she actually laughs or giggles in her sleep followed by the sweetest little smile you ever saw. Sarah and I have never seen a laughing, sleeping baby and we think it’s something amazing. My other favorite is when she stretches her arms straight up with raised eyebrows and closed eyes, her arms still just barely longer than the top of her head.

Her eyes are actually lighter today too and we believe we may have our third blue-eyed-quarter-Japanese princess. When she’s hungry or just exercising, she wiggles quite briskly and throws her arms straight up or out in quick, brisk movements. Then her legs will go from their fetal curled up state, straight out in the blink of an eye. She’s fast. She might give Maia a run for her money. It’s amazing how well she holds her head up already too. We remember Maia doing this early on, but Aliya may already be a little more adept at it than Maia was. When you have her up to your shoulder, upright for burping, she holds her head right up to see the world around her and can even move it around, though the movement is still a little wobbly.

So overall, yes, she’s just being a baby. But she’s our baby and we are beyond thankful for every moment we’ve spent with her and for every moment to come.