Los Grovers: One month old

This has been a very healing month for our family, having welcomed Willow safely into this world; our sweet baby girl is finally in our arms to love and snuggle. It's also been bittersweet. When your four year old enthusiastically says, "isn't it so great that Willow didn't die when she was born?!?!" And your seven year old announces how much she enjoys having a baby sister *who lives*, we all miss our baby Simone a little extra.

Willow gets so many snuggles from both Gabriela and Easton. They always want to love on her. Gabriela is learning how to settle down a fussy baby, and Easton is convinced that Willow stops crying when she sees him or hears his voice.

Willow and the rest of her family are so lucky that Lane was able to stay home with us for three whole weeks. She had a lot of Daddy Moby time during those three weeks.

This baby sleeps a lot, much to Gabriela's dismay. In three weeks, Willow grew two whole inches! She is a champion nurser. and doesn't really cry at night.

Willow has had some fussy days though. We think it's because she's gassy. I got some gripe water for her, and she seems to be doing better. Her favorite though is being wrapped in the moby or a sling. She will sleep for hours all tucked in tight next to mama or daddy.

Willow has given us a few awake smiles, but most of her smiles have happened while she's been sleeping. She even giggles in her sleep, which is strange, since she doesn't giggle or laugh when she's awake yet. But we can't wait to see that!

At her two week pediatrician visit we were referred to a cardiologist because they think she has a slight heart murmur.

After an EKG, and an ultrasound in which they captured more than 70 images of her sweet heart, the pediatric cardiologist confirmed that Willow has a tiny hole in her heart. He believes it may close up in the next six to twelve months. But, even if it never closes, it's so tiny that she wouldn't ever need medication or surgery for it, and it would have no impact on her physical activity or quality of life. So we are very grateful for that.

In addition to being our tiniest baby yet (at two weeks, she had Easton's birth weight), and having the most hair, Willow also has the lightest eyes. Right now, they look almost blue. They are definitely lighter than our other kids' eyes, but of course we know her final eye color won't show for another few months. Lane says her eyes will be brown, but I'm wondering if she will surprise us. We have also spotted some dimples on this girl, just like her brother and sister's dimples. Her toes are so long. In fact, her second toes are mich longer than her big toes.