End of the Babymoon

Baby Crabcakes is six weeks old today! Time has started to speed up. The rough moments don't seem so endless, and I'm treasuring the sweet ones because I know how short this time really is. He's napping more solidly during the day, at least part of the time, so I get a chance to catch my breath and do more than pee and eat before he needs me again. He's been a good sleeper at night the last couple weeks, which has really helped. I've been fairly rested even when I can't get anything else done.

I don't have a baby book for him yet, so I'm going to try to record more mundane details here than anyone else is really interested in.

Week One: Nursed, napped, changed diapers, enjoyed food from friends. Two outings to doctors on day 3. Slept all day 4. Went to favorite coffee house with mom and sister on day 5. Colic started that afternoon. Canceled plans to have friends over -- even though they were bringing dinner.

Week Two: "WHY is he crying? Why won't he just NURSE?" Paced the hardwood floors until my feet and arms ached. Sent UberDad to library to pick up "The Happiest Baby." Started swaddling. Realized he was outgrowing his newborn diapers already. Spent every free moment on Diaper Swappers.

Week Three: Walked or rocked my swaddled and slung newborn every waking moment. Watched a lot of "Bringing Home Baby" on TLC. Hid in my bedroom in between. Tried not to yell at Puffer and Grouper for being noisy. Tried not to bitch at UberDad about the house. Wrote postpartum poetry in my head while rocking baby to stay sane.

Week Four: First visit to a friend's house. Felt almost human. First trip to church. Came home exhausted. Shopped online for cute diapers as therapy.

Week Five: Friends brought me more food, washed my dishes, kept me company. Baby crabcakes cried through most of the visits. Mom brought over the baby swing that had been in storage. IT'S A MIRACLE -- HE LIKES IT!

Week Six: Started finding a routine. Played board games with the boys while baby napped in the swing. Watched a movie with UberDad. Picked up my knitting again, a few minutes at a time. Caught up on laundry. THEN... I finally got my first real, honest-to-goodness, happy-to-see-you BABYSMILE!!! Baby crabcakes recognizes his Mommy! And he actually LIKES me!!

So, there you have it. We can't remember life without him. Puffer and Grouper are totally in love with their baby brother, wanting to hug and kiss him all day long, whether he likes it or not.

I had my six-week postpartum doctor visit yesterday, so I guess I can officially go back to work now... (Can you hear the sarcasm?) I'm not even ready for UberDad to go back to work! He has three more weeks before school starts. He's still doing all the cooking, all the errands, and he braves the 100-degree weather to hang diapers on the line every other day. I am so spoiled. And I wouldn't have it any other way. ;)