In my short 8 1/2 weeks as a mom I have learned a lot of things - some of them about my son, some about my marriage, some about myself - all valuable lessons. Here are a few tidbits of my newfound knowledge...
* I have learned that while I didn't believe it when friends told me...the memory of the pain of pregnancy and labor really do disappear the minute you hold your new baby in your arms.
* I have learned that being a mom is a lot of work - it is the most rewarding and satisfying job I've ever had, but it's work just the same.
* I have learned that the bond Ryan and I have is stronger than ever. We have this amazing little person that's truly part of me and part of him - and while it really doesn't matter which traits he gets from me and which he gets from Ryan, I do hope he has Ryan's metabolism and not mine.
* I have learned that while Babywise and Becoming a Baby Whisperer were good resources, my own mother is the most valuable resource on motherhood that's out there - but if you'd told me when I was a teenager that I would one day make this confession, I would have thought you were nuts.
* I have learned that it is possible to wash, dry, fold and put away an entire load of laundry with only one hand...and I give myself extra credit for doing the items that go on hangers.
* I have learned that getting up in the middle of the night to feed and then sit and rock my crying child is quite possibly the most precious time I have ever spent doing anything.
* I have learned to quickly tell the difference between a good disposable diaper and a bad one.
* I have learned that I don't have all the answers and that I often don't have any idea what I am doing, but that I am trying to be the best mom I can be and that's all I can do.
* I have learned that while my child may sleep all day, I still manage to get nothing accomplished and be completely exhausted at the end of the day.
* I have learned that people are way less interested in me than they are in my baby - while I was pregnant it was all about me - I got all the attention. But, since Camden has arrived, all the attention is on him. And that's the way it should be...even I am more focused on him than I am on myself...which also the way it should be...at least for now.
* I have learned that one night of sleeping through the night doesn't necessarily mean that you aren't going to be up several times the following night...and the next...and the next...and the next...
* I have learned that watching the evening news makes me worry for my child and all children - can they really be okay in this crazy world?
* I have learned that my husband is quite possibly the most tender-hearted person on the planet. Just watching him comfort, talk to, or even just change the diaper of our child makes me melt. And when they take a nap on the couch with Camden asleep on his chest...I come completely unraveled.
* I have learned that it's okay if the majority of my conversations with other moms revolve around breasts, poop and sleeping.
* I have learned that sitting on the couch watching your baby make faces and coo at you is far more entertaining than anything on television.
* I have learned that while I didn't think I could love Ryan more than I already did, when he got the title of "dad" my love for him grew exponentially.
* I have learned that when you say "I may go to bed early tonight"...it's pretty much a guarantee that you won't.
* I have learned that nothing is better than a baby just after a bath - all warm, cuddly and they smell sooooo good. I have also learned that babies are really slippery when they get that bath and that we must need more practice...I am sure that much water isn't supposed to end up on the counter and on the floor.
* I have learned that my child knows me and loves me - even if it is almost 9 weeks out and I am no where near back to my pre-baby weight.
* I have learned that I love someone with a love so deep and intense - I never knew I could love like this - and I have learned that I would not hesitate for a moment to give my life for his if the need ever presented itself.
* I have learned that I still have a lot to learn and that it's okay if I never know it all.
I have learned that I love being a mom.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Long time...no post
So it's been a while since we've updated you all on our lives with "little man" - but we'll get you all caught up now...
My parents came to Omaha for a week just as Granna was wrapping up her visit. My Dad (aka Pap
a) spent the week lovin' up on his first grandson and my mom (aka Oma - who had already been here for a visit) spent the week helping me around the house. Both of these activities were greatly appreciated. My mom also spent the nights getting up and rocking Camden and putting him back to bed after every nighttime feeding - which I REALLY appreciated. After getting up each day at the crack of noon, we spent most of our time awake just hanging out. We did manage to eat at a couple of my parent's favorite places in Omaha and they both got massages while they were here. I guess you could say it was a pretty good visit for them.
On the day they left to head back to NC, we (Ryan, Camden and I) also left for Seattle. Ryan had
a conference to go to for his job and we love tagging along. So - another first for the scrapbook...this was Camden's first trip in an airplane. He did wonderfully - I nursed him during take-off and landing so that his ears would pop and the hum of the engines kept him asleep during most of the flight itself. We spent our time in Seattle just sightseeing and eating at some fabulous restaurants. I even broke down and had a couple of glasses of this amazing wine that one of the members of our dinner party had ordered. I don't know if it was the wine or just the exhaustion from traveling, but Camden slept 8 hours that night...so if he has trouble sleeping in the future, I may have myself another glass...or 12. =)
I've tried to make all of these "events" learning experiences for me - learning about myself, about my son, about my relationship with Ryan...What I learned about myself on this trip is that I have totally changed my view of nursing in public. Granted, there are those that just flop it out for the world to see and I tend to be more on the discreet side...but now that he's eaten on a plane (we kept joking that there was in-flight meal service for some on our flight), on a ferry, in a car and in the women's lounge at Nordstrom's...there aren't many places left for us to try out. We're looking for a train so that we can say we've hit the trifecta - planes, trains and automobiles...
The biggest new thing for us now is that for the first time in his 6 weeks of life, we are totally on our own. Until now, I've had someone (Ryan, my good friend Judy, my parents, Jane...) here at the house with me and now it's just me and little man all day together. In some ways it's really nice...I actually get to hold my child during the day. I was teasing my parents and Jane that it was a good thing I was nursing or I'd never get to hold my child. In some ways though, it's really a challenge. I am learning a lot about him and myself right now and I will post some of those revelations soon.
My parents came to Omaha for a week just as Granna was wrapping up her visit. My Dad (aka Pap
a) spent the week lovin' up on his first grandson and my mom (aka Oma - who had already been here for a visit) spent the week helping me around the house. Both of these activities were greatly appreciated. My mom also spent the nights getting up and rocking Camden and putting him back to bed after every nighttime feeding - which I REALLY appreciated. After getting up each day at the crack of noon, we spent most of our time awake just hanging out. We did manage to eat at a couple of my parent's favorite places in Omaha and they both got massages while they were here. I guess you could say it was a pretty good visit for them.On the day they left to head back to NC, we (Ryan, Camden and I) also left for Seattle. Ryan had
a conference to go to for his job and we love tagging along. So - another first for the scrapbook...this was Camden's first trip in an airplane. He did wonderfully - I nursed him during take-off and landing so that his ears would pop and the hum of the engines kept him asleep during most of the flight itself. We spent our time in Seattle just sightseeing and eating at some fabulous restaurants. I even broke down and had a couple of glasses of this amazing wine that one of the members of our dinner party had ordered. I don't know if it was the wine or just the exhaustion from traveling, but Camden slept 8 hours that night...so if he has trouble sleeping in the future, I may have myself another glass...or 12. =)
I've tried to make all of these "events" learning experiences for me - learning about myself, about my son, about my relationship with Ryan...What I learned about myself on this trip is that I have totally changed my view of nursing in public. Granted, there are those that just flop it out for the world to see and I tend to be more on the discreet side...but now that he's eaten on a plane (we kept joking that there was in-flight meal service for some on our flight), on a ferry, in a car and in the women's lounge at Nordstrom's...there aren't many places left for us to try out. We're looking for a train so that we can say we've hit the trifecta - planes, trains and automobiles...
The biggest new thing for us now is that for the first time in his 6 weeks of life, we are totally on our own. Until now, I've had someone (Ryan, my good friend Judy, my parents, Jane...) here at the house with me and now it's just me and little man all day together. In some ways it's really nice...I actually get to hold my child during the day. I was teasing my parents and Jane that it was a good thing I was nursing or I'd never get to hold my child. In some ways though, it's really a challenge. I am learning a lot about him and myself right now and I will post some of those revelations soon.
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