Well, I'm happy to report that lil' Peanut is getting bigger. The past month or so has been super challenging but the rewards are priceless. Clusterfeeding happens c. weeks 3 & 6, coinciding with his growth spurts, and despite lack of sleep and D being a little fusspot, it has made us a lot closer. I know him so well and his sweet face even shows up in my dreams now.
Things I've learned from my son (so far):
1. patience. I knew T was patient, but patience is not one of my strong suits. I never thought it would be so enjoyable to learn.
2. unconditional love. duh! all the pooping, crying, spitting up, & general damage to my attractiveness level can not put a dent in this one. even when he cries, I adore him more than life.
3. just when you think you know all the tricks, they stop working. keep looking. keep searching. he is a dynamic creature and consistently challenges me to find new ways to entertain him and keep him satisfied.
4. a walk out in the fresh air can do you a world of good. put him in the sling & he'll fall fast asleep.
5. make time for mommy. enlist helpers; allow yourself to feel guilty. I need alone time for myself to feel "normal". this one is harder than it sounds. especially when nursing every hour.
6. skin-on-skin time for at least half an hour everyday (at least for the first few months) makes for a happy mommy & baby.
7. raising a child is a 25/8 job. totally harder but more rewarding than any other task or set of responsibilities. it never ends. there is really no "time off".
8. multi-tasking! it's the only way to get anything accomplished. I've learned you can do damn near anything with just one hand.
9. selflessness. that's the name of the game. I used to think deciding to bring a child into this world was the most selfish thing one could do. oh, how wrong I was...
10. being a mom is the best thing that ever happened to me. as awesome as my life was before Des, and as hard as it will continue to get, I have never felt so... fulfilled.
