And so it begins... life with the perfect baby.

Many of you have followed our story via our adoption blog and after the arrival of our daughter (Riley) we took a little time off from blogging. In all honesty, being new parents we just didn't have the time, energy, or even the want to login and write about our lives. Alas, the blogging bug has finally returned and here I am to continue the chronicles of our lives (now with a beautiful baby girl) on the internet.

Riley is now twelve weeks old, and boy has it been an exciting ride. I should start out by saying that John and I are lucky.. very, very lucky. Not just lucky to have been chosen by an amazing birthmother with an amazing, supportive family. Not just lucky that Riley was born in perfect health. Very, very lucky because Riley is the perfect baby. I know, I know. Right now you're thinking "Oh, how cute. The doting dads think their baby girl is prefect." I understand that thought process, I'd think that two if I weren't the father of the worlds most perfect child. Let's go down the high level list of her perfection. As I already mentioned she's in perfect health, so that's clearly the most important thing - BUT beyond that she's literally text book on schedule or ahead of every physical and mental milestone. She enjoys tummy time, and has the strongest neck around (as she has had since the day she was born). If you hold her up, she can easily support herself with her legs and keep her head in an upright position. She reaches for things that are placed within her general path of sight, and if you oblige will have long conversations with you (in baby talk responses to your words). She is stunningly beautiful. Her smile could easily stop all war and violence in the world. I've sent several pictures to the Obama administration and although I haven't received a response, I'm basically giving her credit for the recent economic advances the US has made with China. She is in the 90th percentile for her height and weight - so she's essentially perfectly proportioned. The list goes on.. I mean on and on and on and on... :)

The second best part of her perfection is her demeanor and sleeping habits. She is a happy baby and although she has some of the most powerful lungs of any creature on the planet she only cries to signal that she needs food, a diaper change, or attention. Otherwise, she just smiles and coos. She can keep herself amused if need be, and - wait for it - she SLEEPS THROUGH THE NIGHT! Yes, you read that correctly. In fact, she's been sleeping through the night since she was about four weeks old. Every night we put her to sleep at about nine in the evening, and she wakes up promptly at six am, has a bottle and then goes back to bed until nine am. Totally amazing. She sleeps so well, and people are so surprised that I actually asked the doctor if she was okay. (Being a new parent one of the ways that I determine how things are with my little one is through the reactions of our many other parent friends. Even if I see something as good, if other parents are really surprised I do some follow up.)

So - I'll spare you the rest, as I'm sure by now you realize that she is truly perfection. Of course, she does come with millions of diaper changes, but that's a small price to pay for perfection.

~W