Two Weeks

Her first bow (See?  I listen, Catherine W!)

Seth picked out her (gender neutral) outfit, so I figured we'd better add a bow.  It lasted a few hours...

Official two week weigh in: 8 lbs. 2 oz. (and 20.5 inches) 

I chunk my babies up quickly.  

Here are some things I want to remember (for myself) about life at two weeks after delivery:

*You really can survive on not much sleep

*Better dress your kid up in those newborn outfits ASAP because by the next week you won't be able to get them on

One of the adorable outfits I got at my baby shower.  Love the booties!  

And no, she will not be able to get that chubby tummy inside the tiny onesie again...

*Keep your 32 oz. water bottle by you at all times.  You will empty it 3-4 times a day.

*Seth had a schedule: eat every two hours like clockwork.  Catherine has a schedule, too: if she wakes up (all the way--sometimes she'll go right back to sleep) it takes 90 minutes to two hours to get her back to sleep, regardless of what we try--pacifiers, swings, nursing, walking...  Fine at 9am.  Not so fun at 2 am.  At least she's happy while she's wide awake...

*Boppy-sitting and painkillers were done at about 10 days.  And I'm almost to the point where it doesn't take 30 minutes every time I use the bathroom.  I think that's officially my least favorite part of postpartum life.

*You can be within three pounds of your pre-pregnancy weight and still not be able to fit into your normal pants.  Which is totally okay since your maternity pants are super comfortable anyway.

*You eat only because if you don't you get lightheaded.  Food never sounds good.  But water...that always sounds good!

*You should probable just sleep on a towel since you'll be waking up sweating like you're in a sauna several times a night.

The first bath.  She was thrilled, as you can see.

Life was much better after being wrapped in her towel.

Looking a little battle-weary after surviving her first bath.

*Just buy the Lansinoh nursing pads.  Sure, they're more expensive, but TOTALLY WORTH IT. You can downgrade to the cheap ones later.  And buy the big box--you'll go through it in the first week.  Week #2 is much more manageable (and the nursing pain is gone!).

*By 6pm you will be totally beat (and brain-dead).  The idea of staying up to watch a movie makes you want to cry--you'd rather just go to bed at 7 pm.

*You will never love your husband more than when he (without hesitation) takes your baby at 3 am so you can go back to sleep.

Seth also looks stunning in Catherine's bow.

*You keep telling yourself that things will start getting better at 6 weeks and will be totally manageable by three months.  And then you realize that it's only been two weeks and you think you'll never make it.  But then you look at your two-and-a-half year old and think, "Wasn't he a newborn just a few months ago?"

*Your toddler will survive on dry cereal and Youtube clips of race car crashes/Baby Einstein DVDs.  You will feel slightly guilty, but then you'll take him to the park later to make yourself feel better.

*You swear you won't do this again until your mom can come help.  For two months.

*The best things people can do to help are bring food and play with Seth.  We've been blessed with awesome friends.

*Do whatever it takes to get that baby to sleep.  Pacifier, nursing, swing, rocking, cuddling...and don't feel guilty about it!  My babies have no trouble getting enough to eat, but they do have trouble falling asleep on their own.

*Just accept the fact that your current schedule is no schedule.  She eats when she wants to, sleeps when she wants to, and doesn't sleep when you want her to.  It will get better.  Hopefully.

The Princess