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2015, March: A Happy Post

This one is for my Dad, who requested that the next blog post be happy. I didn't intend for my last two posts to be tear-jerkers, but I wanted to share my experiences for two reasons - one, so I wouldn't forget those initial days and feelings, and two, so that other struggling mothers might find some reassurance in the fact that they are not alone. But now for some happy!

Declan has been breastfeeding well for almost two weeks now, and is consistently gaining weight. Today, he actually latched without the nipple shield for the first time, which should make my life easier. Just as we celebrate the boob success, however, he has forgotten how to sleep for more than 40 minutes at a time, so there are certainly still some tears from me in the wee hours. But that at least is something I fully expected as part of this adventure. Most of the time we're feeling pretty good about life, even if we do both have greasy hair and smell of sour milk. Here are some happy observations that prove we're not always crying!
  • Declan looks scared when I sing to him, particularly when I sing songs from Joseph, but it does usually distract him from fussing. Christian is thoroughly unimpressed by my song choice, and by the fact that I am singing in general (I'm a terrible singer), which just makes me do it even more.
  • Changing his diaper often makes him sneeze several times in a row and then sigh, which is adorable.
  • He has probably eaten his own weight in cat hair since coming home.
  • Lying him face down on my chest usually soothes him instantly. This doesn't help me get any sleep, but it does make me feel immensely loved.
  • His hair is ridonkulous (and yes, he looks like a hipster in this photo).
  • It is already easy to see his development as he focuses more on people and is increasingly aware of his surroundings.
  • He sometimes extends his arms in very thespian-like gestures, as if exclaiming dramatically about the hardships of life as a baby.
  • He likes to headbutt Christian in the face. This is likely due to reflux, but it's pretty hilarious.
  • When he's swaddled and sleeping, we can just prop him up anywhere and leave him.
There is nothing that anyone could have said that would have prepared me for life with a newborn, but most of the time I do feel that progress is being made! We took him to visit the office yesterday (I put on real clothes!), and today we have plans to take him for a walk around the neighborhood. It feels like this has been my life forever and that each achievement has taken ages - I have to remind myself often that he's only three weeks old (tomorrow) and has only been home for just over two weeks. Crazy.

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