Our baby Anthony is 6-weeks old today. Big brother Joey is still as happy as can be. And Mom and Dad are still speaking. Can I get a round of applause please?! In all seriousness, these past 6-weeks have been trying to say the least. Life with a newborn baby is one of the most rewarding, exhausting, emotionally driven experiences you’ll ever go through. Add a toddler to the mix and you might just want to drink wine instead of coffee. Oh, but then you might get sleepy… and we all know sleep ain’t happening…
I’ve decided to break down the feelings and experiences I’ve had through Anthony’s newborn stage for a variety of reasons:
- I’ve been awake his entire infancy period, so I can record it! Memories for the baby book people!
- I napped when Joey napped when he was a newborn/infant- and I think my deep slumber had me forgetting what life is really like with a newborn!
- I’m all about keeping it real. Who would have thought the smallest person in your life could bring you to tears and belly laughs in the same hour?
Life with a Newborn Physically:
Tired is an understatement. If you’ve been around a baby for an extended period of time I don’t have to tell you that. I will say that Joey [our first] slept all the time. All the time! So Ted and I could nap, do laundry, workout, etc. etc. But guess what? Mr. Anthony thinks sleep is a waste of time. I’m guessing when he hits 13 he’ll be my sleeper… Some days I’m so tired there’s not enough coffee in the world to pull me through. Other days I prep meals, do 3 loads of laundry, and get a blog post done. Now will someone please explain THAT to me?! Ted and I have this rule that I think has made a world of difference in our limited adult conversation. We are not allowed to say things like “I’m tired” or “I’m SO tired.” Nothing with tired in it! We know we are both tired and proclaiming it to one another does NOT do either one of us any good.
Life with a Newborn Mentally:
You’ll doubt yourself, your spouse, your mother or mother-in-law who have raised healthy children when it comes to everyday decisions you make for your newborn. It’s only natural when a “sniffle” can be Googled to be 100 different things! Thank God for Google, right? Or for the friends that are pediatric nurses and physician’s assistants. They have been my lifesavers— and I’m sure the nurse’s line at the doctor’s office is thankful for them too. Otherwise I’d be calling all of the time! My advice here would be to take a chill pill and have some faith in you and your best judgment, which is clearly easier said than done. I was BFF with the nurse’s line during Joey’s first 3 months of life, but I have yet to call with Anthony. Google on the other hand…
Life with a Newborn Financially:
Formula = lots of money. Diapers = lots of money. You do the math.
Life with a Newborn Emotionally:
Anthony smiles, coos, hiccups, cuddles; all that amazing baby stuff you see in movies! But he’s a crier. And he cries in the evening when it’s just about time for Mom and Dad to go to bed. This usually leads to a stressful 2-hour period, which we just have to wait out. Why the crying? Who knows? It’s likely gas or reflux [which most babies have] or he’s just trying to tell us something and the only way he knows how to share it is with crying! I will say that no matter how hard the nights are, I wake up looking at my bright eyed, smiley boy and forget all about it.
There’s no doubt we are blessed with yet another healthy, sweet baby boy. But the first few weeks of life are trying for new or veteran parents. The key to getting through them is to enjoy the moment and know the tough times will pass. Look for something positive each day AND say it out loud! And when in doubt, phone a friend, especially another new mom. They. Get. It.
