Whatever you had expected – bigger, smaller, quieter, less slippery – your newborn baby will surprise and delight you. Experienced parents discern a personality at birth, but first-time parents may think their newborns are insensitive top the world about them. Babies, however, rapidly build up a storehouse of sensory experiences from birth; when awake, she will be alert and listening. She responds when spoken to, recognizes you by smell, and has an intent gaze. At birth she can see a human face and she will move her head in response to noise. She is born wanting to communicate and will “converse” with you if you talk animatedly about 8-10 inches (20-25 centimeters) from her face where she can see you clearly. She will react to your smile by moving her mouth, nodding, protruding her tongue, or jerking her whole body.
