Being a mother

I can't beleive that it has been five weeks since Olivia arrived in my life.  She is already almost 11 pounds.  She gained a whole pound last week alone.  She has been a handful lately.  She started off being a pretty easy baby, but over the last week, she's definitely become far more collicky.  She has been doing this crazy cluster nursing from around 7 at night until bed.  All she wants to do is nurse non-stop during this period.  I can't get anything done and she is extremely fussy during this period.  Aparently, cluster feeding is supposed to diminish by six weeks.  Thus, we shouldn't have to deal with this for to much longer.  Sometimes I wish that I had decided not to breastfeed, because this has been the most challenging part of being a new mother.  However, I remind myself that it is absolutely the best thing to do for her.  All the research suggests that breastfeeding has so many beneficial effects.   I know that I will survive, but it is a challenge.  Nonetheless, I love Olivia (even when she is melting down).  On the bright side, Olivia has been sleeping a little better at night.  Last night she slept for two nice stretches, but we had to take her on a car ride to get her to go to sleep.