I seem to be in a reflective and slightly maudlin mood tonight…
… The biggest thing is this: a child completely takes over your life. You will always think about the baby. You will always know where it is at all times. You will recognize when the smiling(?) child you are holding in your arms is also shitting in your arms. You will always have food within 25 feet and 3 minutes of preparation. You will notice other babies and compare yours (favorably) to them.
… They weren’t kidding: a newborn is a LOT of work! It is literally like getting a second career, one that can call on you at all hours of the day and night with no idea of how long you will have to “work.” Laura says that she has no idea why anyone would choose to do this alone because without my help she wouldn’t be able to get but 5 hours sleep at most. But it really isn’t that bad when it is your child.
… Because Laura has to stay with the child all day, it only makes sense that I relieve her when I get home from work around 6:00 so that she can do the things that she wants/needs to do - believe it or not, I have the easier daytime job. I make 5-8 bottles every night, complete with boiling the water for five minutes (Laura hasn’t had to make a bottle since day 3), and cover all diaper changes/feedings (except the 10:00 pm nursing) until 1:00am or so.
… Your relationship between each other is going to change, and drastically. She’s going to feel like crap for about 3 weeks to 6 months after the pregnancy, all of your attention will have to be focused on the child, and you both will suffer from sleep deprivation - a lethal combination to say the least! The solution to this problem is simple: do as much of the physical work of taking care of the baby as possible, and don’t forget to tell her you love her.
… As I’ve mentioned in other threads, I’m a pretty damn good masseuse and Laura probably gets 3-5 massages a week (long ones, from 30min-1.5hours each). When Sophia arrived, however, massages on our bed became difficult because Laura had to hold the baby while I was massaging her, and Laura would be too tired and achy to sit up for long periods. So I came up with a massage position that would enable for Laura to fall asleep in my arms and for the baby to fall asleep in hers.
… At 3 weeks of age Sophie met her first celebrity, B-movie/TV actor Bruce Campbell (Briscoe County Jr., Evil Dead). How many kids can say that? She absolutely loves riding in the car, the bustle of crowds, and movement. She absolutely hates getting baths, air bubbles, and being hungry - one day she ate 42 ounces of formula while being nursed 3 times. Doesn’t sound like much but that is the equivalent of me eating 65 pounds of food! She gained 3 pounds in her first month and is a freakin’ eating machine.
… The pets get ignored big time, which is especially bad with us because we doted on the dogs in pre-Sophia days. The basset hound is taking it particularly hard as they are a needy breed anyway. The scottish terrier, otoh, loves Sophie and was immediately aware that there was a new member of the pack to protect - and I think he is aware and accepting that his place in the hierarchy has dropped down a notch, while the basset was having trouble adjusting to that notion.
… I really love my daughter. I mean, those of you without children have no idea how this feels but a rough equivalent is the emotion you felt at 8 years of age the day before you went to Disney World - you are that excited, that joyful, that full of hope. She is so pretty and smart and right now she is the most interesting person on Earth. This is a special time in our lives and every minute needs to be cherished as much as possible.
