Cha-Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes and a Quick Recap - Blogged by JME

"Life will never be the same."  I can't tell you how many people said something like that to me while I was pregnant, and to be honest, it's not the same.  Sometimes in not so great ways, like me not having a solid night sleep since our June Bug was born, doing everything I can to soothe her but she keeps crying,  dealing with nipple confusion and latching difficulties and a stubborn rash that won't go away no matter what I do.  I think I can definitely deal with anything this baby dishes out as long as I have had sleep, but when I'm sleep deprived, it sure makes things hard.  The other thing that makes adjusting difficult is having a million different strong opinions from a million different sources and people telling me what I should do to be a good parent but everything I'm told contradicts what the last person told me. 

 

"You shouldn't let your baby cry.  It will socially destroy them.  They will grow up insecure if you let them cry."  "Oh, you should let your baby cry.  It is good for them.  It helps them learn problem solving skills and patience."  

 

"Make sure you feed your baby every 2-3 hours or their blood sugars can drop significantly.  That is 2-3 hours from the time you start feeding her."  "You feed your baby every 2-3 hours after you finish feeding her." 

 

"Don't give her a bottle or a binkie because you can cause nipple confusion."  "It is good to let other people feed your baby.  It helps her feel more love from so many other sources and she becomes more secure in the world." 

"The 'football' hold is the best way to hold your baby when you feed her."  "Don't put your baby in a carseat or swing to sleep.  They will come to depend on the motion and never sleep in a crib . . . EVER!" "Don't let your child comfort feed."  "Don't ever, for any reason, do anything to your child, for any reason, ever, no matter what, no matter where. Or who, or who you are with, or where you are going, or where you've been, ever, for any reason whatsoever.''  

 

STOP TELLING ME CONFLICTING THINGS!!!  I'M SO CONFUSED!!!  BLAAAAAHHHH!!! 

 

Some of the opinions people have shared are so strong, it would give me the impression that it had to be this way or I would be destroying my child in ways I couldn't comprehend until she was older and in prison for murder.  I've stressed so much about being a good parent that I think our little June Bug has sensed my stress and it's made her stressed as well.  Poor N8 has had to tell me to chill out.  The best advice I get is from people who have said, "This worked for my child but who knows what will work for yours," helping me realize that every child is different and if the only place my child will sleep well at first is in her car seat . . . so be it.  Luckily, we are starting to figure things out that work for us and it is helping us adjust more and more everyday. 

 

Things are still hard, but they are getting easier, and there are some things that make it all worth it.  Like when I walk into a room and she welcomes me with her toothless grin, or when I hear her coo and talk to me, or when we overcome some big hurdle together that brings her and I closer. 

 

"Life will never be the same."  It really isn't, but I look at that sweet baby girl and think of how much I love her and know that I don't need life to be the same.  I've done a lot of things in my life, but the things that required the hardest work always had the best rewards.

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Due to lack of time in my life all of a sudden, I've had a hard time posting very often and I realize that this little one is changing so fast.  It is hard to keep up.  Here is a short recap of the last few months and some pictures of when she was born that I never got a chance to post:

 

Here is our little June Bug shortly after she was born, swollen eyes and everything.  We had quite a rough labor with a few scares, and although we ended up having a c-section, we are so happy to have a healthy little girl. 

 

 

 Baby's first bath.  She's not very happy.  What happened to that warm womb where every meal came right when it was needed and there was never any bright lights or baths that aren't the right temperature?  And what is this scratching thing that they are rubbing on my head?  Not fun at all!!!

 

 

Mommy and baby having a nap after delivery. Being born (or giving birth) can really wear a person out. Love the cuddle time.   

We had so many family members come to the hospital to meet our little girl for the first time.  Here she is with Bapa.  I have a small suspicion he will spoil her as she is the first granddaughter for him.

 



Here are some of baby's first gifts.  Grandma C. brought her a cute little plant.  We had the best experience at the hospital we delivered at and the most amazing nurses.  One of our nurses make us an elephant made out of towels and brought us chocolate mints to go with it.  It seriously made us feel like we were on a cruise. 

Here is the nurse that made us the elephant.  She was one of our very favorites.  I got to have her twice as my nurse.  She helped me a lot with getting June Bug to latch on and also brought me 'Soothies' to help with soreness that comes with nursing.  I never felt like a number with her.  She always gave us as much time as we needed and never made us feel like she was too busy. 

 

 On our way home from the hospital.  This is baby's first car ride.  N8 and I were so nervous driving home with her for the first time. 

The hospital has a rule now that they don't let kids in to see the babies anymore unless they are siblings so none of our nieces and nephews got to come to the hospital to meet their new cousin.  However, we had them over to see her as soon as we got home.  Here is Skunk holding June Bug for the first time.  He was so weirded out by my pregnancy, I was sure he wouldn't want much to do with her when we brought her home, but he has loved holding her and helping with her.  He has so many questions too, especially when I change her diaper.  There have been a few times I've had to refer him to his mom, specifically on these two:  "How does she pee?"  and "How do you feed her?"

Here she is meeting her other cousins.  Pooh Bear wasn't too sure about holding her, but Jocy sure liked touching her hair and kissing her on the forehead.  I'm excited for June Bug to be old enough to run around with Jocy and Pooh Bear.  It will be fun having some girls close to her age. 

Here she is taking a bath.  She sure likes it a lot better than the first one she got at the hospital.  

 

 Nap time with dad is always the best.  He knows just how to rock her and he's so comfy to cuddle with, especially in his papa bear chair.