Six Weeks

When did this happen?...  It's hard to believe, but our little boy is now working through his sixth week of existence.  Crazy talk.


I'll be honest, the first month was incredible and overwhelming--a combination of wonder and adjustments.  


I spent the first week of our son's life convinced that he couldn't sleep safely unless I was hovering over him, monitoring his breathing.  This is what happens when you're a neurotic new mom whose baby spent his first 24 hours choking on remnant amniotic fluid in his lungs.  Fortunately, I have a very patient and helpful husband, and we eventually got used to his little sleep sounds.  Really, during the first week I ebbed and flowed emotionally between thankfulness and vulnerability:

• Would Jon get drafted as one of the students who would have to spend their third year of med school at a campus four hours away?
• Was I feeding our baby enough?
• Would we have to take out more student loans just to offset the energy costs associated with the mountains of laundry this tiny person generates?
• How long would it take for me to feel like I did, physically, before our son was born?  
• How quickly would Jon figure out that I had no idea what I was doing as a mother and that my ultimate failure to swaddle our kiddo properly would eventually lead him to turn to a life of drugs and violence???   

The last several weeks have been much less anxiety riddled than the first.  We've had the chance to get to know our son more and adjust to life with a new little person.  Jon wasn't drafted to go to the NW campus next year.  Our baby is gaining weight like a champ, and our doctor has assured us that he's nice and healthy.  I've recovered faster than anticipated, and Jon and I are now swaddling masters.  Seriously, we can swaddle anything.  And faithful as He is, God has reminded me that David is His baby and that He will continue to take care of him and guide us as parents.  Exhale.  


Reservations aside, being parents has been the best experience for Jon and I since becoming husband and wife.  It's been so fun to watch our boy reach little milestones, to play with him, to comfort him at night, to watch his little personality develop (looking like we're going to have a mellow, contemplative kid on our hands:).  We feel love for him that we never knew existed--sometimes it's almost too much.  That may sound cliche, but it is very much true.  


Also, we're so thankful that we had family (Dave, Debbie and Joy) out to visit and help with the baby, housework, meals, etc.  We're also fortunate enough to have an incredible community of friends who have dropped in over the past several weeks with food and words of encouragement.  Family and friends, please know how much we appreciate you.  Really.  You have made our lives so much easier over the past month.

Post-milk smiles:) 

 Happy alert time in the morning

The cutest bear ever

Playing with dad

Exploring different textures