When we were sick...

(Charlotte smiling pretty for the camera, 6 weeks)

Now that Charlotte is six weeks old, I can tell the difference between her gassy smiles and her happy smiles. It's so rewarding to see her smiling up at me because she's happy. This past week has been kind of difficult on us because little Charlotte has been sick, and so have the rest of us. It all started when Craig brought home a sinus infection. Yes, these are not contagious, you're right, but somehow Craig's sinus infection turned into congestion in Charlotte and strep throat for me. Don't ask me how, but we were all sick together like a good family!

(Craig making Charlotte smile while she lays in Grandma Debbie's baby bouncer)

It's been especially difficult for little Charlotte, though. Because babies are obligatory nose breathers, and she doesn't know how to blow her nose, she's had a hard time sleeping because she can't breathe. What we do to help her breathe is spray her nose with saline and then suck out all the boogers with a suction bulb. She hates it, and we hate seeing her struggle with it, but she does always breathe so much better after we do it. I like it when Craig does it because she always smiles at him when he does it - I guess I don't do it well enough to merit a smile.

(Laila, left, inciting Shiner, right, to run around the yard - Shiner refuses to chase and must always be chased...)

Shiner's friend Laila came over to entertain him yesterday, which was really nice of Katy to do! As everybody knows, Shiner is a spoiled boxer who demands all attention. With a new baby in the house, he's just not going to get all that attention. So, luckily, Laila came to play and she wore him out. I know he appreciated that!