Bonding

Daddy and Piper have had a rough start. Piper was a very good nurser and took to the Mommy Baby bond really well and got Mommyish earlier than any of our other kids. She has never been a snuggler and even though Daddy has fed her bottles, changed her diapers and gotten up countless nights with her in attempts to soothe her; Daddy has felt a little sad that Piper and and him haven't really found their groove yet. It has been very important to Daddy that he be really involved in their little lives. Daddy has been gone the most with Piper and has worked many days where Piper woke after he left and went to sleep many times before he came home. So since she wouldn't see Daddy for days, some times she would act so distant with him, it hurt Daddy a little and he really struggled with her Mommyish moods. Honestly they still played and he could get her to laugh and smile all the time and he loved watching each new stage and is her biggest cheerleader. But he can't help but compare her to the other kids who he had a lot more time with at this age, so it has been a bit of an inner battle for Daddy.
Finally though Daddy has declared they are bonding! She has started to get a bit more cuddly and has started to get a bit more playful, so that she is interested in playing with Daddy. Daddy finds all her most ticklish spots and gets the best giggles. They love to grunt back to eachother, or hum sometimes.
This sweet encounter shows how anti-cuddly she is, since we are so shocked by it. But when she is cuddly or rests her head on our shoulder it makes the moment all the sweeter and we just want it to last forever, especially Shea!

"Quick Kay-Marie take a picture
she is actually leaning her head on me."

"Oh, you stinker! That was only 2 seconds." 

"Now I'm gonna getcha!"