New parenthood

Hello from the trenches! 

Well, at the risk of over-posting, I'm going to do it anyway. : )  Now that we're six days into the New World, I thought I'd share some observations.

1. Weight does come off!  I stepped on the scale today and have lost about 18 pounds since I was admitted to the hospital.  That's something! I will admit a few things: I have consumed 3 small glasses of beer, one a day over three days; my DW and MIL cooked (and then we all consumed) a full turkey dinner last night.  Like, a 14 lb turkey was cooked; and, yes, on my first jail-break from home/hospital I used the 45 minutes to buy sashimi (or poke, for those in the know) and shape-wear.

It was sweltering in our little Hawaii house.

I make these points to indicate that yes, I am a little bit vain.  But basically, I do what I feel like.  Shoot, I'm such a human.  I'm totally starting my post-baby work out today.  Planks and squats, here I come!  Fitness thread, anyone? : )

2. Our baby is the cutest thing ever.  All you other baby-mamas out there, I'm super sorry.  I know, you think YOUR baby is the cutest thing ever.  It's okay, I'll let you believe it.  Okay, really, in all honesty, I'm just dumb-founded that my body made this little thing.  I stare at him in wonder that he looks like A PERSON.  With PARTS that I recognize!  I am amazed.  My wife and I made this amazing person who is like no one before and no one will ever be like again.  But he is also just like everyone else! Wow! We are amazing! And it was dumb luck! Shoot!  He's like the best scratch it lotto ticket ever!

3. Our baby is the stinkiest ever.  If you were worried that your baby stunk, fear not; you can rest assured that some baby out there stinks worse than yours--ours! He just ripped a super poop.  It stinks like crazy now.  I'm avoiding doing anything by typing to you.

4. I am boobs with legs.  My DW gets all the "alert active" time.  The super cute snuggles, the love, the "oh, our baby is curled on my chest and look at his cute little open eyes that are looking at me!"  I get eye contact for half a second, then his eyes look at my boobs.  It is like some obnoxious man.  I get all the baby time, but it is really about my boobs.  I can't even comfort him well when he is gassy or tired or what-have-you.  DW, on the other hand, has the magic touch, and he knows it. He practically breathes a sigh of relief when she scoops him up.

4. He smiles! And laughs! Just now (preceding the poo), he burst into laughter.  I thought he was gagging a little, but no! His little face was split in a wide-mouth grin and he was chortling and laughing! Oh, again, CUTEST BABY EVER.

5. Co-sleeping rocks.  The first couple nights he was in bed with us and while the first night home was awful in the worst way (he was hungry and my milk had not come in), the last few nights have been sweeeeeet! He is sleeping in about 3 hour bunches.  He cluster feeds before bed and then I basically just give him the boob in the night and he is OUT. I love it.  We've cracked the bathroom door and left that light on so I can see his little mouth and my nipple and we are good to go.  Last night I started putting him in the bassinet next to our low bed after he came off or when he stopped sucking.  It worked a treat and I think I could sleep a little deeper. DW is getting a full nights sleep, though she wakes up if it takes me very long to get him latched on, or if I sit up.  But basically, she is well rested and can take him when I'm out of ideas, which has only happened a couple times.  Early this am, he had a huge, gassy poop and was awake and fussy, but wouldn't latch on.  She magic-him through it and we were back on track.

6. Good milk is RAD. Last baby, my production was low, my baby was loosing weight, I was depressed, and life generally sucked.  And that was just the first two weeks.  This time, I'm a first rate Jersey milk cow! We are heading to the doc this am for our weight check, but he is eating and pooping and peeing and getting fat I think.  Regardless, he is happy and satiated and that is very different than my last poor hungry infant.  

That's all!  I'm just super happy, wife is super happy, DD is super happy (she is on spring break this week, which has been a perfect chance for her to bond with brother and for us to spend special time with her and all together) and life is AWESOME.  

Oh, finally, TV was invented for new moms.  We never watch that much TV, mostly about 2 shows on hulu per week and work through a netflix dvd over the week, but I will tell you what, sitting on the couch with my MIL, my baby on my boob, my daughter wandering around the house and my wife puttering around is super cool.  TV is full of bizarre and fun stuff! MASH! Family Feud! Crazy movies! Good Morning America! Yeah, this is what I'm doing this week.  Next week, MIL goes home, DD goes back to school, and real life returns. But it's fun right now while I'm bleedy and baby is just supposed to gain weight and everyone is practicing their middle-American-ness.

So that's the news from this home front!  Hugs to you all. : )