I don't know if I am going to do this monthly...my guess is not. BUT, this first month has been pretty incredible and I really feel like I have to get it down so it doesn't become even more of a blur.
Bringing Mary home from the hospital was the most terrifying, gratifying, proud, and bewildered car ride of my life. In the hospital it didn't feel permanent, like maybe they were going to see that we were clearly unfit to be Mary's parents and take her back (wherever "back" is). Once we got in the car though, with our teeny tiny baby in her teeny tiny snow suit, I knewshe was ours forever. It was, and still is, a glorious feeling.
I don't know why I even start these posts thinking it won't morph into yet another top ten. I think this will be the last post that isn't just a top ten. I'll have to think of a new title for this blog, but I really love the top ten thing.
1. This is huge. Living with Mary's gradparents. Four sets of hands to cuddle, comfort, change diapers, and carry are far better than two. And they provide me some time to eat (at least once day) and get a shower (usually once a day).
2. Patrick has been a natural from the beginning. Of course he is learning, as we both are, but Mary clearly loves him, and he clearly reciprocates.
3. Mary sleeps! We started out getting 3 2-3 hour stretches every night, then 2 4 hour stretches with the occasional 2 hour bonus, and now we routinely have 6-7 hours at a time with a 2 hour bonus round. Sometimes she even gives us 8 hours!!! And yet, the other morning I was so tired, I accidentally got a knife instead of a spoon for my yogurt, but I was already sitting down once I realized it and I just didn't have the energy to get up to exchange it. How am I getting more sleep than the average college student, but performing drastically below the standards set for modern man?
4. Mary eats well. She lets me know when it is time, take her fill, and moves on to the next part of her day: usually playing on her tummy time mat.
5. I LOVE breastfeeding. I feel so close to her, and feeling that needed can do wonderful things for a woman's heart. I love getting to spend that time with my baby that no one can take away from me.
6. She recognizes my voice, and has from day one. Towards the end of the month she would really turn her head when I spoke to her from across the room. That feels like we really have known each other longer than anybody else, and while that may seem trivial, I still enjoy it.
7. She loves bath time! the first two baths were awful, but we got a new bath tub with a sling and now it is the most relaxing thing for her. She is never fussing in her bath, and if she is unhappy, the sound of the tub filling calms her down. It is so fun to see her react to the water, and start to splash a little.
8. Dressing her in her adorable clothes is so much better than dressing any doll (although I don't remember ever playing with dolls, so this must be from my observations of other girls with theirs). She has great clothes and she just looks so cute in all of them. I love picking out what she will wear fro the day so much, that sometimes I pack an extra extra (the two extras are intentional) outfit because I can't decie what to put her in!
9. Her bum. It is just so cute and it fits in my one hand. Baby bums are the best.
10. She is already making me a better person. I want the world to be a better place for her. I want to be a better mom and woman and wife and friend and daughter and sister and aunt for her. I want to be more gentle, more patient, more fun, healtier, happier, and more selfless for her.
