Well, we celebrated our first month with Aspen this week. It is hard to believe that it has been a month since the birth...we have learned so much in such a short period of time.
10 things (raw and unfiltered) we have learned the first month:
1.) We quickly learned that neither of us function very well on a limited amount of sleep, but the hormones running through my body gave me an upper-hand in the sleep deprivation department.
2.) Breastfeeding is not always as easy or beautiful or joyful as everyone talks about it. Up until just a few days ago I would say it sucked (both literally and figuratively). Thank goodness we had a breastfeeding doula to help us through the challenging moments, because now we are exclusively breastfeeding her (no more formula--yeah!)
3.) We seem to believe that our daughter is "developmentally awesome" she began holding her head up at 2.5 weeks old and she began smiling around that time too. But, the best was when she giggled while sleeping at 3 weeks (so adorable!)
4.) While we both hoped for an angel baby...as karma will have it...we actually got somewhat of a colicky baby. Ugh! Aspen's little digestive system is still immature which means that most of our nights have been filled with bloody murder screaming and crying up to 3 hours in duration. Luckily, Charlie is able to cope with the crying, because my hormones simply send me into a crying mess too. You just feel helpless.
5.) Paternity leave is amazing! Charlie has been home the entire first month of Aspen's life which is such a blessing. During this time, we both experienced the ups and downs of bringing a newborn home and we grew even closer as a couple. This time together, as a new family, was a gift and we will cherish it forever! Now it's time for Aspen and I to experience the days together sans super-daddy/husband (Charlie goes back to work July 26).
6.) We have realized that friends (and family) are so very important during the first month (and probably months to come...) We are blessed to have a cadre of amazing international friends here who have helped us feel human in an otherwise chaotic existence. Of course, this first month has also made us miss our family like crazy!
7.) We never knew how much poop would become a topic of everyday conversation...really?! (My little kid bro is probably jumping up and down as he reads this, because until this moment of my life I refused to have these conversations!)
8.) Warm delicious meals...ha, what's that?! One love that Charlie and I have always shared is the love of cooking (together). Even though we attempt to cook almost every night (usually not together), cooking and eating has never been so unpleasant. The motto these days, "hurry up and cook/eat, before Aspen starts to cry."
9.)The best way to get over any germ-a-phobic tendencies: have a baby!
10.) Having a newborn is a major life transition filled with highs and lows, some days are better than other days...but in the end life is better with Aspen!
10 things (raw and unfiltered) we have learned the first month:
1.) We quickly learned that neither of us function very well on a limited amount of sleep, but the hormones running through my body gave me an upper-hand in the sleep deprivation department.
2.) Breastfeeding is not always as easy or beautiful or joyful as everyone talks about it. Up until just a few days ago I would say it sucked (both literally and figuratively). Thank goodness we had a breastfeeding doula to help us through the challenging moments, because now we are exclusively breastfeeding her (no more formula--yeah!)
3.) We seem to believe that our daughter is "developmentally awesome" she began holding her head up at 2.5 weeks old and she began smiling around that time too. But, the best was when she giggled while sleeping at 3 weeks (so adorable!)
4.) While we both hoped for an angel baby...as karma will have it...we actually got somewhat of a colicky baby. Ugh! Aspen's little digestive system is still immature which means that most of our nights have been filled with bloody murder screaming and crying up to 3 hours in duration. Luckily, Charlie is able to cope with the crying, because my hormones simply send me into a crying mess too. You just feel helpless.
5.) Paternity leave is amazing! Charlie has been home the entire first month of Aspen's life which is such a blessing. During this time, we both experienced the ups and downs of bringing a newborn home and we grew even closer as a couple. This time together, as a new family, was a gift and we will cherish it forever! Now it's time for Aspen and I to experience the days together sans super-daddy/husband (Charlie goes back to work July 26).
6.) We have realized that friends (and family) are so very important during the first month (and probably months to come...) We are blessed to have a cadre of amazing international friends here who have helped us feel human in an otherwise chaotic existence. Of course, this first month has also made us miss our family like crazy!
7.) We never knew how much poop would become a topic of everyday conversation...really?! (My little kid bro is probably jumping up and down as he reads this, because until this moment of my life I refused to have these conversations!)
8.) Warm delicious meals...ha, what's that?! One love that Charlie and I have always shared is the love of cooking (together). Even though we attempt to cook almost every night (usually not together), cooking and eating has never been so unpleasant. The motto these days, "hurry up and cook/eat, before Aspen starts to cry."
9.)The best way to get over any germ-a-phobic tendencies: have a baby!
10.) Having a newborn is a major life transition filled with highs and lows, some days are better than other days...but in the end life is better with Aspen!
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