Being a New Mom

After almost 6 weeks of being a mom, life has sure changed. For one, it's so weird to not be working.  Even then, I feel like I have no time to get anything done, and at the same time feel like I do nothing all day. Where does the day go? Oh, I know. I hardly sleep at night, then I try to stimulate/entertain Ayden for the couple of hours she's awake in the morning. Then, I may get a total of an hour while she naps to clean up around the house before she's realized she's not being held or paid attention to so she cries. Sometimes I take a nap too. The evening brings another couple of hours that she's awake, which I may get to sneak a shower into (and get dinner going on a good day). She's actually pretty okay with being put on a blanket on the floor, but I feel like she's bored and that I need to be doing something with her. Is that a normal new mom feeling? It kind of sounds silly, but I almost feel like she's bored if I just leave her there to stare at the ceiling fan (which she does love looking at by the way). My new idea is to put her in the Baby Bjorn and carry her around with me while I get things done. On some days she'll do well in the swing for a half hour or so.
I think the biggest struggle with staying home with a newborn is being cooped up in the house. Other than the occasional trip to the store or a walk around the neighborhood, I don't get out of the house. I totally understand the post-partum depression thing. Who wouldn't get depressed when you're cut off from everything you used to do? It can get frustrating.
Aside from the sleepless nights and feeling of total isolation from the world, motherhood is pretty good. So far, there's not a better feeling than seeing my baby girl smile at me or snuggle up on my chest when she's tired. I'll commit the standard parental bias and say that Ayden is so smart! She's been able to see further than what most babies do and was following movement super early too. Now she's smiling as an emotional reaction (rather than it just being gas, haha). She's also been holding her head up very well for a few weeks now. She makes the cutest and funniest noises all the time!
Here are a few pictures of my beautiful baby girl, but there are a ton of pictures at this link: photobucket.com/aydenjeancarroll.

One day old

Ride home from the hospital

One week old

1st family picture

1st bath

One of my favorite pictures of Ayden