Ten things I’ve learned about my newborn and motherhood so far:
- Meconium is not just the *first* poop it is the first three or so days of poops. Sophia had about five meconium diapers in the first 24 hours.
- Kurt is better at soothing the baby than I am
- Car rides put her to sleep, but only if you can get up to speed on the freeway. I can just see it now…She’s going to be like the kid in the movie, Talladega Nights - The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, “I wanna go fast! I wanna go fast!”
- Babies with Sophia’s skin pigment turn an orange color when they have Jaundice.
- The whites of Sophia’s eyes are naturally tinted blue and with Jaundice - Blue and Yellow make Green!
- My little pumpkin can go from orange to tomato red in .03 seconds.
- When my baby turns red it’s not just her face. She turns red all the way down to her legs!
- Most newborns have a quiet almost cute cry that sounds like, “ah la ah la”. Not my child. She screams as if her limbs spontaneously dislocated themselves.
- I didn’t want to use pacifiers at first because I had heard about babies having a hard time switching between that and breastfeeding. I heard about “Soothies” which supposedly force the baby to suck the same way as when breastfeeding and I bought some. My child hates them. She prefers a pinky.
- She loathes wearing hats. Placing a hat on her causes color changes and not so cute newborn screams.
- The instructor in the breastfeeding class I took while pregnant should receive the coveted “understatement of the year” award when she told us that our boobs and nipples will be “tender” the first few weeks. I have to cover my nipples when taking a shower because the water hitting them causes tons-o-pain!
October 16th, 2007 at 3:31am
I remember those days. I worked for a restaurant after I had my last child, and I refused to go into the walk-in freezer. Talk about nipple pain! OUCH!
Have a great Tuesday!
October 16th, 2007 at 8:25am
congratulations–now it’s time for me to have another one after reading your list. have a greatTuesday.
October 16th, 2007 at 9:42am
Oh yeah. Sore, cracked and bleeding nipples for 8 weeks with oldest. Well worth it once I was all healed up. It’s a huge adjustment esp. the first six weeks. The baby may sense some anxiety from you so try deep calmed breaths before you want to soothe her. Best wishes!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 16th, 2007 at 1:31pm
My ex was better at soothing our babies, too. Don’t feel bad about it.. it gives him some good bonding with her.
October 16th, 2007 at 1:50pm
Congrats on your beautiful baby Sophia. Good list … watch how much it changes over the next few months =)
October 16th, 2007 at 3:25pm
12. The kid sleeps through foosball.
Hang in there lady!
October 17th, 2007 at 4:52pm
Oh the joys of motherhood! You brought back a ton of memories.
February 15th, 2008 at 9:34pm
#11… soooo true. Thats the only piece of advice I give friends with babies. The first 6 weeks of breastfeeding were horrible, horrible, horrible!!! But after that, its the most wonderful thing ever. Why doesn’t anyone tell you how awful it is at first? I might have given up if I weren’t so convinced of the benefits. And I am now so totally non-judgmental of anyone who decides not to breastfeed. Its a serious commitment. Anyway. Love your blog… it makes us smile.
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February 17th, 2008 at 12:36am
Amber - I keep wondering why people don’t talk about the nasty stuff that goes on during pregnancy. I finally got an answer about that from one of my managers - Because no one will ever do it if they know! I still think it’s only fair to spread the word.