only 5 1/2 months old

and already

this

is a rare occurrence

~

She barely left my arms in the hospital

and even then
it was to go to someone else's.

Our first weeks were spent snuggled together;

I held her about 20 hours a day.

"Don't hold the baby all the time,"

they say,

"You'll spoil her."

Here we are

just a few short months later

and

it dawns on me

I hardly ever get to hold my sleeping baby anymore.

So

when she fell asleep on my chest this evening

I held her

just a little longer.

To remember.

Then I laid her gently on her pillow,

right next to mine.

So I can snuggle her all night long.

'cause

she just ain't spoiled yet.

~

The long sleeves are because we have to keep the bedroom quite chilly;

if Lily gets too warm (and she is hot-natured!)

she'll break out in hives.

horribly itchy hives.

Most likely part of a viral infection she picked up

and passed around.