Things are moving slow in our little nest. The days are an endless cycle of feeding, burping, changing, feeding, rocking, soothing, bouncing, and napping; no one has had more than a couple of hours of sleep at a stretch in weeks. A parent friend once described this newborn stage as not knowing which way "up" is; although I do think I know which way "up" is, I simply don't care except when I am trying to help the Little One burp.
The Little One is a champion eater and has regained her birth weight and then some, which I am proud of as breastfeeding has been quite a feat even after reading every breastfeeding resource I could get my hands on and seeing every lactation consultant possible while at the hospital. She leaves plenty of presents for Daddy in the diaper (he's been able to stay home these first weeks, and put himself in charge of diaper duty - who am I to complain ;)
Yet I never knew how painful it could be to hear the Little One cry. Her poor little belly is sensitive to all the air bubbles, and every so often she cries and cries in our arms. She likes us to bounce while holding her upright, and the ssshing sound calms her a little bit, but nothing is a real fix until the air escapes from one end or the other. Mylicon has helped us some with getting her to burp, but it is not a complete fix. I've been really careful with what I eat, but I do have to eat something and we have not yet had enough time to figure out all the culprits. And she is just so sad when her tummy is bothering her :(
When air bubbles are not a problem, though, the Little One is a happy little baby, and we can't take in enough of her. We love the way she stares at us with those big eyes up close, how she sleeps with her arms up just like daddy, her strong little legs and the cutest feetsies, how she tries to suck on her tiny hands, the way her hair smells... We still can't believe they let us take this perfect little human home with us from the hospital, that she is all ours to care for and enjoy, and all ours to spoil! We are simply smitten with our little girl, and wouldn't trade this time with her for anything!
The perverse incentives of academia
6 years ago
8 comments:
Awww...what a wonderful description of those first few weeks. Glad to hear y'all are adjusting so well to the new presence in your lives!
Congratulations!
I'm smiling away as I read this. Lovely! I'm glad you're enjoying this time!
Ah, how nice.... Re: crying: it will be over one day. This is just a phase. Give it a couple weeks, and she'll be fine.
We had a similar thing, and the worst was the feeling that it won't get better, but it will. That's what made having a second easier, - nothing seemed endless anymore and we knew it won't be long until that phase or that other one would be over again.
Ahhhh. I've got four more weeks to go and I'll be there, too... Ahh, the hormones..
Rebecca - thanks, I think we are adjusting better than I myself expected!
Jennie - thanks!
Cath - thanks, I too am glad that we are enjoying this time despite the lack of sleep!
Fia - so what happens in 4 weeks? ;) I do hope crying is a phase, as it is heartbreaking to not be able to help her; at least we have the reassurance of our pediatrician that nothing is wrong and she just needs to grow a bit to be more comfortable.
Awww. I am so glad to read this.I'm glad you are enjoying this time.
I can't wait for this baby to be born. The time seems to fly by and creep along all at the same time.
aw, this is so sweet. Congratulations again!
M_XX - I hear you on the time creeping and flying all at once. It was good to hear the good news from you awhile back!
Amelie - thank you! And she sure loves those pacifiers you sent us! (And I love that they glow in the dark!)
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