Six weeks and far from old

Harper is six weeks old this week which means a few things. The best thing is that we are now being graced with big baby smiles. The kind that make your heart explode with happiness in a way that you can't understand until you've experienced them for yourself. I wish I had a picture to add to the blog of these first social smiles but, unfortunately, I never know when they are going to happen and when they do I'm too busy basking in them to take a picture.

The other great thing about six weeks is that I no longer need to fear fever like the plague. Apparently if a baby gets a fever before six weeks of age, he or she ends up in the hospital enduring a battery of tests. I don't even know exactly what they test for, but the pediatrician made sure we understood that fever before six weeks = very, very bad. While still to be avoided, now it's closer to a normal level of bad if Harper gets a fever.

The last notable thing about the six week mark is that I have to start sleep training, which for me means following Dr. Weisbluth's "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child." Harper has actually been a decent sleeper for a baby. She already has at least one stretch of sleep every night around four hours, she sleeps well in her crib, and takes good naps throughout the day. But I am determined to keep her on the right path without having to do too much of the whole "cry it out" thing which hurts my heart.

Now I am going to bombard you with photos from the last four weeks since I haven't done a decent Harper blog post in a month.

The above were all professional shots from Harper's newborn session. Here are some candids that we took at home, including lots of Halloween pics:

I get a little crazy trying to protect Harper from the cold.

Robert Rabbit and Harper the carrot.

No costume for me this year. Lame.

Aidan and Abby

Mary, Abby, and Aidan

The whole Wilson crew

Out for a hike in Wasatch Creek

Aidan holding Harper while I make dinner.

I love our street in the fall.

Little Ute fan

I'm big and mean and tough! 

Just kidding, I'm really very nice.

 I'm still having a blast with the newest member of our family. The other day I took her with me to a data presentation at work, and someone actually asked me if I was bored at home on maternity leave. Nothing could be further from the truth. I am captivated by this little girl every moment that she is awake, and even when she's asleep -- which is often -- I get to keep my house super clean, watch HGTV, meet friends for coffee, blog, hang out with Aidan, and tend to all the details of my life that usually fall by the wayside. Maternity leave is heaven on earth. Don't get me wrong; I love my work. But I am so grateful I still have six more weeks to soak up every minute with this precious baby before I have to juggle my normal life with my care-taking duties.

Catch you on the flip side!