Jaclyn's Jabberings: 1 Month Old!

Wow, this has been the longest ~~day~~ month of my life. The days and nights seemed to have blurred together with all the feedings, changings, laundry, and not sleeping, but everyone keeps saying "it gets easier."

What does that REALLY mean?

I suppose it's sort of like when you get pregnant and everyone tells you "your life is going to change forever."

No one really tells you HOW.

Everyone also says that the first few months are hard, but that they are "worth it" and become "funny stories and memories" before you know it. I am starting to see this now and feel it's already worth it, but it's still a long road before these times will be "funny."

I would like to document what exactly my life has become so that anyone planning to welcome a little miracle into their life (or me in a few years) can know what they are getting themselves into.

First off, I would like to say that I am completely in love with my little boy and could stare at him all day. Babies blow my mind...such an incredible miracle. I can't believe we are so lucky to have our very own beautiful, perfect little boy.

That being said, the first four weeks of his life have been, at the risk of being vague, "life changing."

I had anticipated less sleep, less showers, and less going out.

Some of the "life changes" I wasn't expecting...
1. taking a shower has become a luxury
2. drying my hair has become flat out fancy (I have done it 4 times in the last 4 weeks)
3. wearing makeup/ perfume has lost its glamour as the perfume makes H sneeze and who the hell is going to see my makeup? Instead I smell like sour milk all the time and look ridiculously tired-- always :)
4. going somewhere like Target or the grocery store is not only terrifying, it's nearly impossible
5. my diaper bag is bigger (and infinitely more important) than my purse
6. 3 hours of sleep in a row is not only enough to get by, it's actually refreshing.
7. "sleeping when he sleeps" is a cruel thing to say as it is almost impossible
8. doing laundry every day is necessary...and somehow ends up being the same things every day that get washed (burp clothes, onesies, and the 3 things that fit me)
9. nursing bras and tops are awesome and all I wear...if I wear clothes. I have a bit of a nudist thing happening.
10. the baby blues are real!!! the first week was so intimidating and filled with anxiety for me I barely slept a wink or ate anything (kind of a positive- I lost 20 pounds in the first few days of being home...but not a pound more since then!).
11. the linea negra doesn't go away immediately- I read up and it can last up to a year! mine is starting to fade, but it's weird to still have this little stripe on my tummy.
12. I really, really miss Chris and the first two weeks I cried when he went to work.
13. 9pm feedings
14. 11pm feedings
15. 1am feedings
16. 3am feedings
17. 5am feedings
18. 7am feedings...just get up at this point.
19. poopy diapers have actually been something I've been excited about.
20. the DVR is my best friend :)
21. A new born baby can fart like a grown man! hehehe

There are some other little gems, but that pretty much summed up my life for the first 4 weeks.

Now we're onto 5 weeks and things are getting a little better. I'm much more emotionally stable (which everyone appreciates). We went to Jon and Ally's wedding this past weekend and had to leave Harrison overnight with my mom and Pete. It was nerve racking for all, but little man survived and I didn't have a stroke like I thought I was going to :) AAAAAAAND it was VERY nice to go out with my husband for a grown up night out.

Here's a few pix...a lot changes in a month!!