By Amy M.
As most people who read DotMoms know, parenting a newborn is, well, an experience. My daughter, Lauren, was born May 10. She joins her brother, Alex, who will be 5 in September. In the few minutes I can catch while the princess is content in her bouncer, I want to share some of the highlights (in the loosest sense of the word) of our first few weeks home with our adorable daughter and equally adorable but sometimes-jealous son.
The first night home from the hospital, the sleeping arrangements featured Lauren in the co-sleeper beside our bed, and the rest of us (mom, dad, Alex AND dog) in our king-size bed. The second night, Lauren joined us there (we have a special co-sleeping positioner to make sure she stays safe in our bed). Around the third or fourth night, after my parents brought over a blow-up mattress, I ended up spending part of the night on that ridiculous thing with Alex while Brian and the dog slept in the big bed and Lauren slept in the co-sleeper beside the bed.
I have written many times about Alex sharing a bed with us. Now he's just sharing a room -- I guess that's a start.
During the night I slept (or tried to sleep) on the blow-up mattress, I almost burst into tears but instead realized the whole situation was sort of humorous. The important thing was that I was actually managing to get some sleep with a newborn in the house!
I have also had some humorous breastfeeding experiences. For better or for worse, Lauren eats like a champ. She was actually above her birth weight by her weight check appointment, just four days after she was born. When she's awake, she wants to eat every hour. So when Alex, my mom and I decided to go get some ice cream, I knew there was a chance I would need to feed her while we were out, even though she had a full tummy and was due for a long nap. However, I forgot my nursing cover, or "Hooter Hider" (yes, that's what the company calls them). I also momentarily forgot that Alex picks up on just about anything I say, so when I said I forgot my Hooter Hider, he was instantly intrigued. I'm just waiting for his teachers to tell me Alex has been talking about hooters at school.
Later that afternoon, after I was able to steal a whopping 10 minutes in the grocery store before Lauren needed (or wanted) to eat (she was in the car with my mom and Alex), I came out and offered Alex a special ice cream bar that was supposed to be patterned like a cow. My mom jokingly said to Lauren, "This is what a cow looks like, and your mommy is a cow." Alex, of course, thought that was hilarious and began repeating, "My mommy is a cow." I think I may have to tell his teachers where he picked up these things.
Not a bad first few weeks home with a newborn. I even got to write this post in one sitting -- thank goodness for the bouncy seat!
Amy M. lives in Pennsylvania with her son and her husband. She works full time as a writer/editor for a large university.
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